No job, no payslip, no problem. These cards are built for students who want to start building credit history before they even graduate — with ₹0 annual fee.
Check Eligible Cards →Most cards are built around having a job. These are built around having a future.
Several lifetime-free cards skip the payslip entirely — some are even FD-backed instead of income-backed.
Starting a credit history in college means you're not starting from zero when you apply for a loan after graduating.
Lifetime free means exactly that — no surprise charge in year two, no "free for 12 months" fine print.
FD-backed cards let a parent or guardian secure the limit, so there's a safety net while you learn the ropes.
Answer honestly — this doesn't check your CIBIL or send any data anywhere.
All three are lifetime free — no joining fee, no annual fee, ever.
No credit history or income proof required — the limit is secured against a fixed deposit, making it one of the easiest first cards to get approved for as a student.
Apply Now →Zero joining fees plus ₹5,000 worth of joining benefits, with rewards on every UPI scan — useful for everyday campus spends like food, recharge, and shopping.
Apply Now →A welcome voucher worth ₹500, up to 75% off movie tickets, and complimentary lounge access — a solid first card from a full-service bank you can grow with after graduation.
Apply Now →40% off on Zomato, 10% off on BookMyShow, Blinkit & Myntra, plus EMI conversion on spends above ₹2,500 and 100% cashback up to ₹300 on your first utility bill — great for everyday campus spending.
Apply Now →A lifetime free card with reward points that never expire, complimentary airport lounge access, and a fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps.
Apply Now →Earn up to ₹18,000 in cashback — up to 5% on online spends, 1% on UPI via the IDFC FIRST app, 1% on in-store and essential categories, plus a fuel surcharge waiver.
Apply Now →Zero joining fee, unlimited airport lounge access, zero forex markup on international spends, and 10% coins back (5 coins = ₹1) — fully digital application.
Apply Now →Yes. Several lifetime-free cards either don't ask for income proof at all, or let you secure the card against a fixed deposit instead of a salary slip.
No — a credit card in your own name builds your own credit history. It only affects a parent's score if you're added as an add-on on their existing card instead.
Not for the cards listed here. FD-backed cards use the deposit itself as security, so no separate guarantor is needed.
Most banks let you upgrade to a higher-limit or rewards-focused card once you have income proof and a repayment history — usually with better terms than applying fresh.