IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Review 2026: Zero Forex for ₹3,000

The IDFC FIRST Zero-Forex Diamond Reserve is a travel card that pairs a 0% forex markup with domestic and international lounge access for ₹3,000 a year. Its best rewards come from hotels and flights booked in the IDFC FIRST app; general spends earn a modest 1.66%. It's a good fit for travellers who book through the app and want low-cost spending abroad, but the loss of reward points on international spends from 26 October 2026 takes some shine off.

Who this card is for

IDFC launched the Diamond Reserve in January 2026, aimed at affluent travellers who want premium-ish perks without a premium fee. It makes the most sense if you:

• Travel abroad a few times a year and want to avoid the usual 3.5% markup
• Are happy to book hotels and flights through the IDFC FIRST app
• Want both domestic and international lounge visits without paying ₹10,000 or more
• Earn at least ₹1 lakh a month

Fees and fee waiver

Item	IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve
Joining fee	₹3,000 + GST
Annual fee	₹3,000 + GST
Fee waiver	₹6,00,000 annual spend
Forex markup	0%
Minimum income	₹1,00,000 a month
Network	Visa

The ₹6 lakh waiver works out to ₹50,000 a month. That's achievable only if this is your main card.

Reward structure

All figures come from BestCard's latest card data. IDFC has made several changes to its cards in 2026, so check the current terms on IDFC's site before applying.

• Up to 10% value-back on hotel bookings made in the IDFC FIRST app
• 6.6% value-back on flight bookings made in the IDFC FIRST app
• 1.66% base rate on other eligible spends
• Point value: 25 paise per point
• International spends: stop earning reward points from 26 October 2026

Worked example: ₹50,000 a month

Category	Monthly spend	Rate	Value
Hotels in the IDFC app	₹10,000	10%	₹1,000
Flights in the IDFC app	₹5,000	6.6%	₹330
Other spends	₹35,000	1.66%	₹581
Total	₹50,000		₹1,911

That's about ₹22,932 a year. Annual spend is ₹6 lakh, so the fee is waived.

Worked example: ₹25,000 a month

Category	Monthly spend	Rate	Value
Flights in the IDFC app	₹5,000	6.6%	₹330
Other spends	₹20,000	1.66%	₹332
Total	₹25,000		₹662

That's ₹7,944 a year. Annual spend is ₹3 lakh, below the waiver, so you pay ₹3,000 plus GST (₹3,540). Net value is about ₹4,404, before counting lounges and forex savings.

The takeaway: at lower spend, the Diamond Reserve's value comes mainly from forex savings and lounge visits, not rewards.

Forex savings

On ₹2,00,000 of international spends, a 3.5% markup card costs ₹7,000 plus ₹1,260 GST, so ₹8,260. The Diamond Reserve charges nothing. That alone more than covers the annual fee for anyone taking a decent foreign trip each year. The trade-off is that, from 26 October 2026, those international spends won't earn points.

Lounge access

You get 2 complimentary domestic and 2 complimentary international airport lounge visits per quarter. That's up to 8 domestic and 8 international visits a year, enough for most people who fly a few times a year. Unused visits don't carry forward, so they're most valuable if your travel is spread through the year.

Who should skip it

Skip the Diamond Reserve if you don't want to book travel through the IDFC FIRST app, because without those bookings it's a 1.66% card with a ₹3,000 fee. It's also a weaker pick if you mainly want rewards on overseas spending, given the October 2026 change. And if you spend less than ₹25,000 a month, a lifetime-free zero-markup card like the Federal Bank Scapia gives you the forex savings without the fee, even if you lose the international lounge visits.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 0% forex markup at a relatively low ₹3,000 fee
• Up to 10% on hotel bookings and 6.6% on flights in the IDFC app
• 2 domestic + 2 international lounge visits every quarter
• Fee waivable at ₹6 lakh annual spend

Cons

• Best rewards need bookings in the IDFC FIRST app
• General spend earns only 1.66%
• International spends stop earning points from 26 October 2026
• ₹6 lakh waiver is demanding for many cardholders
• ₹1 lakh monthly income requirement

Eligibility

BestCard's data lists a minimum monthly income of ₹1,00,000. IDFC will also check your credit score and repayment history. Existing IDFC customers may see a pre-approved offer in the app.

How it compares with alternatives

IDFC FIRST Ashva: ₹2,999 a year with no spend waiver, 0% markup, and more lounges: 4 domestic, 2 international and 4 railway lounge visits per quarter, plus trip cancellation cover up to ₹25,000. Better for lounge-heavy travellers; weaker for in-app hotel bookings. See our IDFC FIRST Ashva review.

IDFC FIRST Mayura: ₹5,999 a year for up to 16 domestic and 16 international lounge visits annually (unlocked by ₹20,000 monthly spend) and Cancel For Any Reason cover up to ₹50,000. Higher income bar of about ₹2.08 lakh a month. Read our IDFC FIRST Mayura review.

RBL World Safari: ₹3,000 a year with an easier ₹3 lakh waiver, 0% markup, Priority Pass access and USD 100,000 travel insurance. It also doesn't earn travel points on international spends.

Federal Bank Scapia: lifetime free with 0% markup, but domestic lounges only. A good choice if you don't need international lounges.

For the wider lineup, see the best IDFC FIRST credit cards.

Verdict

The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve is a sensible, mid-priced travel card: zero forex markup, a fair lounge allowance and strong rewards if you book hotels and flights in the IDFC app. If you spend ₹50,000 a month and book travel through IDFC, it pays for itself comfortably. If you mainly want forex savings and lounges, the Ashva offers more visits for the same fee. And if you were counting on earning points abroad, the October 2026 change means you should weigh other options first.

To see which travel card suits your spending best, try the BestCard matcher.