Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card

Key Features & Benefits

The Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card is designed for individuals who value elevated rewards on lifestyle spending. With 4 reward points for every ₹150 spent on hotels, restaurants, travel bookings, airlines, and international transactions, you earn meaningful returns on categories that matter most to premium cardholders. This translates to an effective reward rate of 2.67%, which is competitive in the mid-premium segment. For all other purchases, you still earn 2 points per ₹150, ensuring every rupee spent contributes to your rewards balance.

Beyond rewards, the card offers 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits annually (2 per quarter) with no spending criteria attached, making your travel experience more comfortable. The annual fee of ₹999 plus GST is easily waived when you spend ₹1 lakh in a year, a threshold most active cardholders naturally cross. Additional perks include 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹5,000 (capped at ₹3,500 annually), comprehensive insurance coverage up to ₹2.5 lakh against card fraud and loss, and welcome benefits of 2 BookMyShow vouchers on your first swipe.

Recent updates effective June 1, 2025, have introduced reward caps on specific categories including education, insurance, utilities, and government spends, along with exclusions on wallet loads, fuel, rent, and online gaming transactions. While the cash redemption value has been adjusted to ₹0.20 per point (minimum 2,000 points required), the card still delivers solid value for those who align their spending with the rewarded categories and take advantage of the travel and dining accelerators.

All You Need to Know About: Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card

The Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card is a Visa-powered mid-premium credit card issued by Kotak Mahindra Bank, designed specifically for affluent earners who prioritize lifestyle spending and travel experiences. The card targets individuals with a minimum annual income of ₹24 lakh across salaried, business, and self-employed segments, offering them a balanced mix of rewards, perks, and protections that justify its positioning in the premium lifestyle category.

At its core, the card’s value proposition centers on accelerated rewards for high-value spending categories. Cardholders earn 4 reward points for every ₹150 spent on hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, package tour operators, airlines, and all international transactions—translating to an effective reward rate of 2.67%. For all other eligible purchases, the card offers 2 points per ₹150 spent, maintaining a base reward rate of 1.33%. The current variant comes with zero joining fee as the paid variant has been discontinued, making it accessible from the start. The annual fee stands at ₹999 plus GST, but this is waived entirely when you spend ₹1 lakh or more in your card membership year—a threshold most active users naturally cross through regular spending.

Welcome benefits include 2 BookMyShow vouchers upon your first transaction, adding immediate value from day one. The card provides 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits annually, distributed as 2 visits per quarter, with no spending criteria required to access this benefit. This makes every travel experience more comfortable without the hassle of tracking quarterly spending thresholds. Additionally, you receive a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹3,500 per year, helping offset fuel costs. The card also includes comprehensive insurance coverage up to ₹2.5 lakh against card fraud and loss, providing peace of mind for your financial transactions.

However, significant changes took effect from June 1, 2025, that cardholders should be aware of. Reward earning limits were introduced, capping points at ₹70,000 each on education and insurance spends, ₹50,000 on utility bills, and ₹40,000 on government-related payments per statement cycle. More importantly, the card no longer offers rewards on wallet loads, fuel purchases, rent payments, and online skill-based gaming spends. The cash redemption value has been reduced from ₹0.25 to ₹0.20 per reward point, with a minimum redemption requirement of 2,000 points. The interest rate increased from 3.5% to 3.75% per month (45% per annum), and a 1% transaction fee now applies to wallet loads, fuel, and utility/education spends exceeding the specified limits. Foreign currency transactions continue to attract a 3.5% markup plus GST. Other fees include an auto-debit failure charge of 2% on outstanding amounts (minimum ₹450, maximum ₹5,000), along with standard cash withdrawal fees, card replacement charges, and over-limit penalties. Credit limits typically start from ₹1 lakh and vary based on individual income profiles and creditworthiness. The application process takes 7 to 21 days and can be completed entirely online through the Kotak Mahindra Bank official website. The card is best suited for those who can leverage the accelerated rewards on travel and dining while remaining mindful of the categories where rewards are limited or excluded.

Pros & Cons

How to Apply

Applying for the Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card is straightforward and can be completed entirely online. Visit the official Kotak Mahindra Bank website and navigate to the credit cards section. Select the Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card and click on “Apply Now.” Fill in the application form with your personal details, employment information, and income proof. You’ll need to meet the minimum income requirement of ₹24 lakh per annum for salaried, business, or self-employed individuals. Submit the required documents including identity proof, address proof, and income verification. The bank will process your application within 7 to 21 days, and upon approval, the card will be delivered to your registered address. Once you receive the card, activate it through the Kotak mobile app or by calling customer service, and make your first transaction to claim your welcome benefits of 2 BookMyShow vouchers.

Detailed Fee Structure

The Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card comes with a joining fee of ₹0 for the current lifetime free variant, as the paid variant has been discontinued. The annual fee is ₹999 plus applicable GST, which is waived if you spend ₹1,00,000 or more during your card membership year, making it accessible for regular users. Beyond the basic fees, be aware of additional charges that may apply based on your usage patterns.

The card charges 3.75% per month (45% per annum) on outstanding balances if you don’t pay your bill in full. Foreign currency transactions attract a 3.5% markup plus GST. From June 1, 2025, a 1% transaction fee applies to wallet loads, fuel purchases, and utility and education spends that exceed the specified reward earning limits. Cash withdrawal fees, card replacement charges, and over-limit penalties may also apply. There’s an auto-debit failure fee of 2% on the outstanding amount (minimum ₹450, maximum ₹5,000) if your automatic payment doesn’t go through. The card offers a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹3,500 per year. Understanding these fees helps you optimize card usage and avoid unexpected charges while maximizing the benefits.

Who Should Get This Card?

The Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card is ideal for mid-to-high income earners with a minimum annual income of ₹24 lakh who regularly spend on travel, dining, and lifestyle categories. If you frequently book hotels, dine at restaurants, purchase airline tickets, or make international transactions, the accelerated 4X rewards structure will deliver meaningful value. The card suits frequent travelers who appreciate complimentary airport lounge access without having to meet spending thresholds each quarter.

This card is also a good fit for those looking for a premium lifestyle card without an exorbitant annual fee, especially if you can comfortably spend ₹1 lakh annually to waive the fee. However, if your primary spending is on fuel, rent, wallet loads, or online gaming, you won’t earn rewards on these categories effective June 2025, making this card less suitable. Similarly, if you heavily use credit cards for education, insurance, utilities, or government payments, be mindful of the newly introduced reward caps that limit earnings on these categories. Overall, the card rewards those who align their spending with travel, dining, and international purchases while maintaining disciplined payment habits to avoid high interest charges.

Alternatives & Competitor Comparison

Feature	Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card	HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Card Image
Card Network	Visa	Visa
USP	The Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card delivers accelerated rewards of up to 2.67% on travel, dining, and international spends, complemented by complimentary airport lounge access and a reasonable annual fee waiver threshold, making it an excellent choice for lifestyle enthusiasts and frequent travelers.	The HSBC Live+ Credit Card offers up to 10% cashback on dining, groceries, and food delivery, plus unlimited 1.5% cashback on other retail spends, making it a great choice for everyday essentials and food lovers, with added perks like domestic lounge access and attractive welcome benefits.
Annual Fee	999 Plus GST	999 plus GST
Joining Fee	N/A	999 plus GST
Welcome Benefits	2 BookMyShow vouchers on first swipe	Get ₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹20,000 within the first 30 days plus a ₹250 Amazon eGift Voucher on online application with video verification.
Lounge Access	Domestic: 2 per quarter	Domestic: 1 per quarter
Reward Rate	Earn 4 reward points per ₹150 spent (2.67%) on hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines, and international spends. Earn 2 points per ₹150 (1.33%) on all other categories. From June 1, 2025, rewards capped at ₹70,000 on education and insurance, ₹50,000 on utilities, and ₹40,000 on government spends per statement cycle. No rewards on wallet loads, fuel, rent, and online gaming.	Earn 10% cashback on dining, groceries, and food delivery (up to ₹1,000/month), and unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other retail spends excluding select categories
Interest Rate	3.75% per month (45% per annum)	3.75% per month (45% per annum)
Best For	Travel	Dinning, Food Ordering
Apply Now	Apply Now	Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions