Best Credit Cards for Visa and Passport Fees in 2026

The best credit card for visa and passport fees depends on the currency you're charged in. If the visa fee is billed in a foreign currency on an overseas government portal, use a zero forex markup card. If it's a rupee payment at a visa centre or on Passport Seva, the card matters less for rewards, because many issuers exclude government payments, so pick the card that keeps your fee waiver or milestone on track.

Visa fees for a family can run into tens of thousands of rupees, so the small percentages add up. Here's how the charges work and which cards make sense.

How visa and passport fees are charged

There are three common payment types, and each behaves differently on a credit card.

Rupee payments at visa application centres. Many embassies outsource applications to centres that collect the visa fee and a service charge in rupees. These are domestic transactions on your card, with no forex markup.

Foreign-currency payments on overseas portals. Several countries ask you to apply and pay online on their own government website, where the fee is charged in that country's currency. Your bank treats this as an international transaction, so forex markup applies.

Passport fees. Passport applications are paid in rupees online. The merchant is a government body, which matters for rewards (more on that below).

There's one more wrinkle. Some issuers charge a markup or cross-border fee even when a payment is billed in rupees, if the merchant is registered abroad. Check your card's Most Important Terms and Conditions for a "cross-currency" or "foreign transaction in INR" fee.

Why reward points often don't apply

Many Indian cards exclude government payments from earning rewards. Some examples from BestCard's card data:

• The Kotak Air+ excludes government payments from base earning, along with utilities, insurance, rent and international spend.
• The Axis Select stops counting government services towards its ₹3 lakh milestone from 1 October 2026.
• Most HDFC consumer cards exclude government-related payments from earning.
• Several AU Small Finance Bank and Bank of Baroda cards earn nothing on government spends.

So for a passport fee, don't expect points. Visa centre service charges may be coded differently from the visa fee itself, but there's no guarantee, so treat any points as a bonus.

Worked example: what forex markup costs on visa fees

Say a family of four pays the equivalent of ₹60,000 in visa fees on an overseas portal that charges in its local currency:

Card markup	Markup fee	GST on fee (18%)	Total extra
3.5%	₹2,100	₹378	₹2,478
1.99%	₹1,194	₹215	₹1,409
0%	₹0	₹0	₹0

That ₹2,478 is pure cost, and it lands before you've even booked flights. The same logic applies to the rest of the trip, which is why a zero-markup card earns its place for international travel. Our breakdown of hidden forex costs goes deeper.

The shortlist

All figures below come from BestCard's latest card data. Issuers update terms often, so confirm on the issuer's site before applying.

IDFC FIRST Ashva

The IDFC FIRST Ashva has a 0% forex markup, a ₹2,999 annual fee with no spend waiver, and 4 domestic plus 2 international lounge visits per quarter. Trip cancellation cover up to ₹25,000 (twice a year) helps if a visa delay forces you to cancel bookings. Income requirement is ₹1,00,000 a month. IDFC has said international spends stop earning reward points on several of its cards from 26 October 2026, so value this card for the forex savings and lounges.

Federal Bank Scapia

The Federal Bank Scapia is lifetime free with a 0% markup. Scapia Coins are worth about 2% on eligible spends and about 4% on flights and hotels booked in the Scapia app. The income bar is ₹25,000 a month, making it the easiest zero-markup card to get.

Niyo Global

The Niyo Global card is free, has a 0% markup, and offers markup-free ATM withdrawals abroad on the linked Niyo Global account. Rewards are minimal (0.5% base), but it's a clean way to pay a foreign-currency visa fee without paying extra.

RBL World Safari

The RBL World Safari costs ₹3,000 a year, waived at ₹3,00,000 of annual spend, with a 0% markup, Priority Pass access with 2 international visits a year and travel insurance cover of USD 100,000. International spends don't earn travel points, but for visa fees the zero markup is what counts.

SBI Card Miles ELITE

The SBI Card Miles ELITE charges a 1.99% markup, roughly half the usual rate, and adds 8 domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year. The ₹4,999 fee is reversed only at ₹15 lakh of annual spend. It's a better fit if visa fees are part of a bigger travel spend that benefits from lounge access.

Summary table

Card	Annual fee	Forex markup	Lounge access	Best for
IDFC FIRST Ashva	₹2,999	0%	4 domestic + 2 international per quarter	Frequent travellers
Federal Bank Scapia	₹0	0%	Domestic only, on ₹5,000 monthly spend	Free option
Niyo Global	₹0	0%	None	Pure forex savings
RBL World Safari	₹3,000 (waivable)	0%	2 international a year	Insurance cover
SBI Card Miles ELITE	₹4,999	1.99%	8 domestic + 6 international a year	Lounge-heavy travel

Practical tips

Check the currency before you pay. The checkout page usually shows whether the amount is in rupees or a foreign currency. If it's foreign, use your zero-markup card.

Watch for convenience fees. Some portals add a card processing fee. Compare it with UPI or net banking if those options exist.

Use a card with enough limit. Group visa applications can be a large single transaction. A declined payment close to an appointment slot is stressful.

Keep the receipt. Visa fees are generally non-refundable, but service charges for optional add-ons sometimes are. A clear receipt makes any dispute easier.

Think about TCS and reporting. Rules on TCS for international card spends have changed in recent years. Confirm the current position with your bank or a tax advisor if you're making large foreign-currency payments.

How to choose

If you only need a card for one trip's visa fees, the Federal Bank Scapia or Niyo Global saves the markup at no cost. If you travel abroad a few times a year, the IDFC FIRST Ashva or RBL World Safari adds lounges and insurance. And once the visa is sorted, our guide to the best credit cards for a Europe trip covers what to carry on the trip itself.

To find the card that fits your full spending pattern, try the BestCard matcher.