
The HDFC Multicurrency Foreign exchange Card is designed to be a handy journey companion for frequent worldwide travellers. Designed to carry a number of foreign exchange in a single card, it eliminates the trouble of carrying money or managing a number of forex wallets.
With zero foreign exchange markup for same-currency transactions and vast international acceptance, this pay as you go journey card is an economical various to utilizing a typical debit or bank cards overseas.
On this evaluation, we’ll dive into its options, charges, and whether or not it’s the proper selection on your journey wants.
Charges & Costs
Kind | Pay as you go Foreign exchange Card |
Issuance Price | 500 INR + GST |
Reload Price | 75 INR + GST |
Foreign money Supported | – Multi-Foreign money Pockets – Helps 22 Currencies |
Utilization | – POS / Contactless – ATM – On-line |
Foreign exchange Markup Costs (For Load/Re-load) |
~2.5% (Financial institution says no expenses) |
Cross forex markup Costs | – 2% (pockets to pockets switch) – 2% (when funds low on one pockets) |
Each day ATM withdrawal Restrict | USD 5,000 (or equal) |
TCS | – Nil upto 7L per FY – 20% past 7L per FY (function: private spends) |
Reload Technique | Consumer pleasant, through On-line Portal |
The way it works?
The HDFC Multicurrency ForexPlus Card helps you to load a number of currencies onto a single card, appearing like a digital pockets for hassle-free worldwide spends.
You may load and reload funds as wanted, making it a versatile possibility for frequent travellers. Right here’s a pleasant video by the financial institution on how the cardboard works.
Whereas HDFC markets this card as having 0% foreign exchange expenses, it’s vital to notice {that a} ~2.4% markup is already utilized on the time of loading.
So, whilst you keep away from transaction charges on same-currency spends, the conversion value is constructed into the alternate fee. Right here’s a deeper have a look at the way it works.
Arms on Expertise
I’ve talked about hidden expenses on load/reload earlier than – again after I first wrote this text ~8 years in the past.
However not too long ago, I obtained the HDFC Multicurrency Foreign exchange Card myself, and right here’s a dwell instance of the particular distinction in expenses right now:
- 1 EUR in INR (as on google.com): 90.01 INR
- 1 EUR in INR (HDFC fee): 91.7 INR
- Distinction together with expenses: ~2.4% (hidden markup payment)



That’s roughly a 2.4% markup payment – nowhere talked about by the financial institution – however according to the lowest foreign exchange markup on HDFC’s super-premium bank cards like Infinia.
Nonetheless, needless to say the HDFC Multicurrency Foreign exchange Card could be an costly selection when you’re touring to a rustic the place the native forex isn’t supported.
In that case, you’ll get hit with markup charges twice – as soon as whereas loading the cardboard and once more whereas spending.
5X/10X Rewards
The HDFC Foreign exchange Card gained reputation between 2016-2018, due to profitable reload affords on HDFC Financial institution bank cards – together with 1% cashback, 5X rewards, and even 10X rewards.
Nonetheless, these affords stopped for practically 5 years. Now, in 2025, HDFC has lastly introduced them again.
A 5X rewards promo on foreign exchange reloads is at present energetic (Jan-March 2025), right here’s hyperlink to t&c. Because it hasn’t been extensively examined but, it’s finest to load a small quantity first and verify for rewards within the first week of subsequent month earlier than going all in.
Whereas that’s good, it’s to be famous that I didn’t even obtain 1X factors on my take a look at load of 100 EUR when the supply was not dwell.
Must you take it?
It relies on the wants. For many, 0% foreign exchange debit playing cards like IndusInd Pioneer or IndusInd Unique debit playing cards are enough.
However If there are reload affords like 5X rewards, it does make sense to go for it although the financial institution expenses ~2.4% payment, as it’s going to nonetheless lead to internet achieve.
On different facet, when you maintain HDFC Infinia and has solely POS spends and don’t require Money withdrawal possibility, you’re higher off with the Infinia Credit score Card with World Worth Program enabled so that you just’ll not solely get 3.3% rewards but in addition extra 1% cashback on the spends.
Bottomline
The HDFC Multicurrency Foreign exchange Card is straightforward to use for, load, and use, nevertheless it comes with hidden expenses that aren’t explicitly talked about by the financial institution. That stated, it’s nonetheless a first rate possibility when you’re visiting just a few choose international locations.
Nonetheless, when you journey to a number of international locations regularly, a 0% foreign exchange debit card is a significantly better selection – eliminating advanced calculations and double markup charges. Merely withdraw native forex from any financial institution ATM overseas, identical to I’ve been doing for the previous eight years.
Personally, I used to depend on the IndusInd Unique Debit Card, however I’ve now switched to the IndusInd Pioneer Debit Card – each of which have zero expenses on foreign exchange transactions, together with markup and ATM withdrawals. This makes my travels utterly cashless, hassle-free, and cost-effective.
What’s your expertise with Foreign exchange Playing cards? Be happy to share your ideas within the feedback under!