Credit Card Welcome Bonuses: What to Actually Check
Updated 10 August 2026
A welcome bonus can be the single largest chunk of value a card offers in its first year — but it almost always comes with a spend condition that, if missed, means getting nothing.
The condition that trips people up
Most welcome bonuses require hitting a minimum spend within a set window (commonly 30–90 days) after card issuance. Miss the threshold and the bonus is typically forfeited entirely, not prorated. Some cards instead credit the bonus on the first transaction or the first billing cycle regardless of amount — read the specific card's terms rather than assuming.
How to judge whether it's worth chasing
Only count spend you were going to make anyway — moving planned purchases earlier to hit a bonus threshold isn't free money if it changes your normal spending pattern. Convert the bonus (points, miles, or cashback) to a rupee value and compare it honestly against the card's joining and annual fee before treating it as the deciding factor.