How Credit Card Reward Points Expire
Updated 7 February 2026
Unlike cashback, which is credited and simply yours, reward points on most Indian cards carry an expiry — and losing track of it is one of the most common ways cardholders lose value they've already earned.
Common expiry structures
Points commonly expire after a fixed period from the date they were earned (often somewhere in the 2–3 year range, though it varies widely by issuer), or on a fixed calendar date each year regardless of when in the year they were earned. Some issuers instead expire points after a period of full account inactivity.
How to avoid losing them
Check your points balance and expiry date on the app or statement periodically rather than only when you decide to redeem — by the time you notice a large balance, some of it may already be past its window. If a card shows points nearing expiry, redeeming for even a modest option (statement credit, a smaller voucher) beats letting them lapse to zero.