India does not really have a student credit card market, and pretending otherwise wastes your time. Issuers underwrite on income and on credit history, and a student has neither. Of the cards we track, the one that actually works is SBI Card Unnati, because it is issued against your own fixed deposit and needs no income proof or credit score. It carried no joining fee and no annual fee on our card data dated 15 August 2026. The reward rate is poor. That is not the point. You are buying a credit history, not cashback.
What are the real options for a student in India?
There are three, and only three. Each has a different cost and a different effect on your credit file. The last column is the one that matters at your age.
| Option | Fee | Key condition | Builds your own credit history? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secured card against an FD, such as SBI Card Unnati | ₹0 joining and ₹0 annual, as of 15 Aug 2026 | You must lock up a fixed deposit | Yes |
| Add-on card on a parent’s account | Usually nil | Parent carries the full liability | No |
| Entry-level card after your first job | Often nil on lifetime-free cards | Income and score criteria apply | Yes |
Read the last column carefully. An add-on card gives you a card in your name and a bill in your parent’s name. It is convenient and it is safe. It does nothing at all for your own score.
Why is a secured credit card the right first card?
Because it removes the only thing standing in your way. A secured card is issued against a fixed deposit you place with the bank. The bank’s risk is covered, so it does not need your salary slip.
On our card data as of 15 August 2026, SBI Card Unnati requires no minimum income and no minimum credit score, and is issued against a fixed deposit. It carries a low reward rate and the credit limit is capped at a share of the deposit value. Both are true and neither should stop you.
The deposit keeps earning interest while it secures the card, so the real cost is the loss of access to that money. Check what your bank pays on it against our fixed deposit rates. Six months of on-time payments on a secured card is the cheapest credit history available in India.
What does the RBI say about issuing a card to a student?
The rules sit in the RBI Master Direction on Credit Card and Debit Card issuance and conduct, 2022, updated in March 2024. Three clauses are worth knowing before you sign anything.
An add-on card is defined as “a supplementary credit card to the principal or primary credit card, issued to person/s with predefined relationship with the primary cardholder, within the credit limits and liability of the latter”. So the liability sits entirely with the primary cardholder. A parent giving you an add-on card is guaranteeing every rupee you spend.
The Direction also says an issuer cannot breach the sanctioned credit limit “without seeking explicit consent from the cardholder”, and it prohibits unsolicited cards. If someone on a campus stall offers to raise your limit or hands you a card you did not ask for, those clauses are the ones to quote back.
What happens to a student card when you start working?
You upgrade, and you keep the old account open. Closing your first card shortens your credit history, which is one of the things bureaus score. Keep it, use it once a quarter, and pay it in full.
Once you have a salary, real cards open up. On our card data dated 15 August 2026, the Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card is lifetime free and lists a minimum salaried income of ₹3,00,000 and a minimum credit score of 700. IDFC FIRST Select is also lifetime free, with ₹3,60,000 and a score of 730. Those two numbers are the bar you are working towards.
Our first credit card guide covers the step after this one. Note that advertised annual fees exclude the 18% GST charged on top, so a ₹499 fee costs ₹589 when it is billed.
How should a student actually use the card?
Small, regular, and paid in full. Put one predictable bill on it, such as a phone recharge, and set a standing instruction to clear the statement. That single habit produces a clean file.
Keep the utilisation low. Spending close to your limit each month drags the score down even when you pay on time, because bureaus read a high balance as strain. Our credit utilisation calculator shows where you stand, and what affects a credit score explains the weights.
Never pay only the minimum due. Interest on a revolving credit card balance is among the most expensive money you can borrow in India. A student who revolves a balance for a year has bought a lesson far more expensive than the tuition.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a credit card without a job?
Yes, if it is secured against a fixed deposit. On our data as of 15 August 2026, SBI Card Unnati is issued against an FD and lists no minimum income and no minimum credit score. Unsecured cards will decline you, because the issuer has nothing to underwrite. Applying to several and collecting rejections leaves enquiry marks on your file.
Does an add-on card on my father’s account build my credit score?
No. Under the RBI Master Direction, an add-on card sits within the credit limit and the liability of the primary cardholder. The account reports to the bureau in your parent’s name. It is useful for convenience and for teaching you the habit, but your own credit file stays empty.
How much fixed deposit do I need for a secured credit card?
Banks set their own minimum, and the credit limit is a share of the deposit rather than the full amount. Ask the bank for both figures before opening the deposit. Also ask what happens to the FD if you close the card, and how long the lien takes to lift.
Will a credit card hurt my chances of an education loan?
A card used well helps, because it gives the lender a repayment record to look at. A card with missed payments hurts, and more than most people expect. If you are applying for an education loan soon, keep the card clean and the balance low in the months before you apply.
Is a student credit card different from a normal credit card?
In India, mostly in name. Issuers market entry-level cards to students, but the underwriting is the same as any unsecured card. There is no separate regulatory category and no relaxed income rule. Treat “student card” as marketing, and judge the card on its fee, its limit and whether it is secured.
Sources
- Reserve Bank of India — Master Direction on Credit Card and Debit Card, Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2022, updated March 2024: rbi.org.in
- Credsir credit card data, as of 15 August 2026. Fees are shown before the 18% GST charged on top. Issuer terms change without notice — verify on the issuer’s site before applying.
- Our methodology and editorial policy.
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