Tonymathew
TF Premier
I have created this post out of necessity and not just for curiosity.
I am planning to stay in UK, for few years (not sure how much, depends on how satisfactory it's there), from this year end.
Since I need to surrender all of my 16 LTF credit cards, once I become NRI (which will happen by FY 2026 only), I need to plan for a revamp of my CC's. Getting a premium credit card from UK did make sense, until I considered NRI for infinia, for its unlimited lounge for primary and add-on, as well as for the most rewarding rates, I have ever came across.
Now HDFC does issue this only on FD backing, over 11L, which I am okay to (eventually your savings from UK goes to Indian banks as FD, and once all the Small Finance Banks are filled with 5 L FD, you'd eventually be going to big ones. So this 11L FD is no big deal)
Now comes the questions part:
1) Would infinia for NRI be still usable in the smartbuy app for my overseas flight travels and hotels? For eg, I used my NRI infinia for a flight ticket from Paris to Heathrow, using smartbuy. Would I be getting 16.6% CB as RP?
2) In the scenario of Smartbuy, would that be considered as international transaction or domestic? (Consider the same situation of flight from Paris to Heathrow as in question 1)
3) Would all of my international spends be deducted with 20% TDS, even for an NRI card? I understand it will happen on all spends beyond 5L with an Indian CC. But since this is an NRI card, would there be a 20% TDS still? Its true that all of it would be refundable, but why pay that much money upfront only to recieve it a year later refunded, thereby meeting an average of 3-4% loss.
4) Since in one article somewhere I read that all NRI cards will have pre-enabled Autopay debit feature linked to an NRO account. So is there any way to pay the bill via other ways? Eg: Can I use sbiunipay/canara setu (if they are still rewarding in 2026), to pay the infinia NRI card bill, using IDFC wealth DC (NRO account with wealth programme)?
5) Also, if payment via other way is possible, can I use any of my UK bank's DC to pay off the due of NRI infinia across any UK bill payment portal?
6) Can I apply for an NRI Infinia, even before I attain the NRI status. Eg, to obtain NRI status you need to stay in India for less than 182 days in an year. So as soon as I leave to UK and start living there can I apply for NRI status and apply for NRI infinia?
7) With NRI Infinia can I apply for an add-on for my parent residing in India, for their domestic use? So that I can accrue rewards from my personal domestic+international transactions, and my parents domestic transactions?
8) If my landlord in UK accepts CC for rent payment, would it be a wise idea to use NRI Infinia to pay off my rents? I will definitely try for one month, get the MCC and assess the situation. Still if anyone does this please do opine.
As I said, these questions are asked for better financial management, and not just out of curiosity.
Hence, I expect honest opinions and constructive criticisms.
Thanks in advance.
I am planning to stay in UK, for few years (not sure how much, depends on how satisfactory it's there), from this year end.
Since I need to surrender all of my 16 LTF credit cards, once I become NRI (which will happen by FY 2026 only), I need to plan for a revamp of my CC's. Getting a premium credit card from UK did make sense, until I considered NRI for infinia, for its unlimited lounge for primary and add-on, as well as for the most rewarding rates, I have ever came across.
Now HDFC does issue this only on FD backing, over 11L, which I am okay to (eventually your savings from UK goes to Indian banks as FD, and once all the Small Finance Banks are filled with 5 L FD, you'd eventually be going to big ones. So this 11L FD is no big deal)
Now comes the questions part:
1) Would infinia for NRI be still usable in the smartbuy app for my overseas flight travels and hotels? For eg, I used my NRI infinia for a flight ticket from Paris to Heathrow, using smartbuy. Would I be getting 16.6% CB as RP?
2) In the scenario of Smartbuy, would that be considered as international transaction or domestic? (Consider the same situation of flight from Paris to Heathrow as in question 1)
3) Would all of my international spends be deducted with 20% TDS, even for an NRI card? I understand it will happen on all spends beyond 5L with an Indian CC. But since this is an NRI card, would there be a 20% TDS still? Its true that all of it would be refundable, but why pay that much money upfront only to recieve it a year later refunded, thereby meeting an average of 3-4% loss.
4) Since in one article somewhere I read that all NRI cards will have pre-enabled Autopay debit feature linked to an NRO account. So is there any way to pay the bill via other ways? Eg: Can I use sbiunipay/canara setu (if they are still rewarding in 2026), to pay the infinia NRI card bill, using IDFC wealth DC (NRO account with wealth programme)?
5) Also, if payment via other way is possible, can I use any of my UK bank's DC to pay off the due of NRI infinia across any UK bill payment portal?
6) Can I apply for an NRI Infinia, even before I attain the NRI status. Eg, to obtain NRI status you need to stay in India for less than 182 days in an year. So as soon as I leave to UK and start living there can I apply for NRI status and apply for NRI infinia?
7) With NRI Infinia can I apply for an add-on for my parent residing in India, for their domestic use? So that I can accrue rewards from my personal domestic+international transactions, and my parents domestic transactions?
8) If my landlord in UK accepts CC for rent payment, would it be a wise idea to use NRI Infinia to pay off my rents? I will definitely try for one month, get the MCC and assess the situation. Still if anyone does this please do opine.
As I said, these questions are asked for better financial management, and not just out of curiosity.
Hence, I expect honest opinions and constructive criticisms.
Thanks in advance.
