Key Highlights
- Fully digital application - complete at etihadguest.bobcard.in using Aadhaar or PAN. Video KYC required. Most applicants need no physical document uploads.
- Eligibility: Indian resident, age 21–60 years, salaried or self-employed. No income figure published by BOBCARD officially - third-party estimates indicate ₹18 LPA+ net income for the Premium variant.
- Documents: PAN (mandatory), Aadhaar (for digital verification). Additionally: identity proof, address proof, income proof (salary slips / bank statements / ITR for self-employed).
- Two card variants: BOBCARD Etihad Guest (standard, ₹2,500 fee) and BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium (metal, ₹5,000 fee). Apply at etihadguest.bobcard.in - select your variant on the page.
- Apply URL: etihadguest.bobcard.in - the dedicated application portal for both Etihad card variants.
- Initial rejections for existing BOBCARD holders: Community reports suggest some existing BOBCARD cardholders face automated rejection, followed by approval a few days later. Do not assume a rejection is final.
Applying for the BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card is entirely online - BOBCARD's product page states that the application journey is fully digital and most applicants do not need to upload any documents, with required details verified automatically through the system using Aadhaar and PAN. The process involves three steps: filling the online application, identity verification via Video KYC, and card delivery.
The application portal for both Etihad card variants is a dedicated page: etihadguest.bobcard.in. This is separate from the main BOBCARD application page at bobcard.co.in/apply-for-credit-card-online, though both routes lead to the same application process for the Etihad cards.
Choose Between the Two Etihad Card Variants
Before applying, decide which variant suits your profile. The two cards are structurally different - the Premium is a metal card with significantly higher earn rates, lounge access, and a higher fee. The standard Etihad Guest is plastic with a lower fee and reduced earn rate.
| Feature | BOBCARD Etihad Guest (Standard) | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹5,000 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual spend | ₹5,00,000 annual spend |
| Earn on Etihad flights | 3 miles per ₹100 | 6 miles per ₹100 |
| Earn on all other spends | 1 mile per ₹100 | 2 miles per ₹100 |
| Welcome miles | 7,500 miles (5,000 + 2,500) | 15,000 miles (10,000 + 5,000) |
| Domestic lounge visits | 8/year (2 per quarter) | 12/year (3 per quarter) |
| International lounge visits | 4/year (1 per quarter) | 8/year (2 per quarter) |
| Monthly bonus miles | 250 miles at ₹25,000/month | 500 miles at ₹50,000/month |
| Quarterly bonus miles | 2,000 miles at ₹2,00,000 | 4,000 miles at ₹3,00,000 |
| Annual bonus miles | 12,000 miles at ₹7,50,000 | 24,000 miles at ₹12,00,000 |
| Card material | Plastic | Metal (name engraved) |
| Forex markup | 1% | 0% |
Source: bobcard.co.in and etihad.com/etihadguest/our-partners/financial/bob-cards. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
Who should choose the Premium: International travellers spending ₹2,50,000+ per year abroad (0% forex saves the fee), Etihad flyers who will use the 6 miles/₹100 rate, and high spenders who can hit the ₹5,00,000 annual fee waiver threshold.
Who should choose the standard: Occasional Etihad flyers who want to accumulate miles at lower commitment, travellers with international spend under ₹2,50,000 annually, or those who want the Etihad miles ecosystem at a lower entry cost.
Eligibility Criteria
BOBCARD publishes the following eligibility requirements on the Etihad card product pages:
| Criteria | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian resident | NRI applications not confirmed as supported |
| Age | 21–60 years | Primary cardholder age range |
| Employment type | Salaried or Self-Employed | Both categories accepted |
| Income - Premium variant | Not officially published by BOBCARD | Paisabazaar estimates ₹18 LPA+ net income based on card tier positioning |
| CIBIL score | Not officially stated | Benchmark for premium credit cards in India is typically 750+ |
| Existing BOBCARD cards | May face initial rejection | Community reports: existing holders sometimes rejected initially, then approved within days |
Note: BOBCARD does not publish a minimum income requirement on the Etihad product page. The ₹18 LPA estimate is from Paisabazaar's independent analysis based on the card's fee structure and positioning. Actual approval is at BOBCARD's discretion.
Important note for existing BOBCARD cardholders: Multiple community reports on CardExpert suggest that applicants who already hold another BOBCARD credit card (Eterna, Tiara, Cashback) sometimes receive an initial automated rejection when applying for the Etihad card. However, several of these applicants later received approval a few days later, often after a call from BOBCARD's team. If you face an initial rejection and believe you are otherwise eligible, wait a few days before assuming the application has failed.
Documents Required
BOBCARD's product page explicitly states the application is 'fully digital' and that most applicants will not need to upload any documents - details are verified automatically via Aadhaar and PAN. However, the application system may request documents in some cases. Keep the following ready:
| Document Type | Accepted Documents | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity proof | PAN card | Mandatory - required for all applications |
| Digital verification | Aadhaar - used for automated verification with consent | Mandatory - enables digital KYC |
| Address proof (if required) | Aadhaar (auto-verified), Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence, utility bills | May not be required - Aadhaar covers this digitally |
| Income proof - salaried | Salary slips (last 2–3 months), bank statements (last 2–3 months) | Required if system cannot auto-verify income |
| Income proof - self-employed | ITR (last 2 years), bank statements (last 3 months), business registration | Required if system cannot auto-verify income |
| Etihad Guest membership number | Etihad Guest account number | Highly recommended - required to receive miles |
Source: BOBCARD product page (bobcard.co.in), Paisabazaar eligibility guide. Documents may vary by applicant profile. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
Before You Apply: Create an Etihad Guest Account
Etihad Guest membership is free and takes under 3 minutes to create at etihad.com/etihadguest.
Your Etihad Guest membership number must be linked to your BOBCARD Etihad account to receive miles. If you do not have a membership number at time of application, miles from welcome bonuses and ongoing spend cannot be credited until you link the account.
Create your Etihad Guest account first, note the membership number, and have it ready when filling the application form.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Go to the Application Portal
Navigate to etihadguest.bobcard.in - the dedicated BOBCARD Etihad application page. This page is linked directly from the BOBCARD Etihad product pages at bobcard.co.in/credit-card-types/bobcard-etihad-guest-premium. Do not use the generic BOBCARD apply page for Etihad cards - use the dedicated Etihad portal for accurate routing.
Step 2: Select Your Card Variant
The portal shows both card options - BOBCARD Etihad Guest (standard) and BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium. Select the variant you want. Review the joining fee, annual fee, and welcome miles for each before proceeding.
Step 3: Fill the Online Application Form
The form captures personal details: full name as on PAN, date of birth, mobile number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification), PAN number, Etihad Guest membership number, employment type, income details, and current address. Enter your Etihad Guest membership number here - this is the account your miles will be credited to.
Step 4: Consent-Based Aadhaar Verification
BOBCARD's system uses Aadhaar-based digital verification with your consent to confirm identity and address details. You do not manually upload an Aadhaar copy - the system pulls details via the UIDAI API with a consent OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, you may need to provide documents manually.
Step 5: Video KYC
After the form is submitted, you will be directed to complete a Video KYC (VKYC) session. This is a live video call with a BOBCARD representative, typically scheduled within a few hours to the next business day. Keep your PAN card physically available during the VKYC - you will be asked to hold it up to the camera. The representative will verify your identity, confirm details, and collect any outstanding information.
VKYC tips: Complete the VKYC in good lighting, with stable internet, and in a quiet environment. Have your PAN card ready. The call typically takes 5–10 minutes. If the VKYC fails or times out, you can reschedule through the BOBCARD application tracking portal.
Step 6: Application Review and Approval
After VKYC, BOBCARD reviews the application. Most digital approvals are communicated within 1–3 business days. BOBCARD may also require a credit bureau check (CIBIL pull) - this is standard for all credit card applications and is a hard enquiry on your credit report. If approved in principle, a physical verification may follow for some applications.
Step 7: Card Delivery
Approved cards are dispatched by courier to the registered address. Standard delivery timeline is 7–10 business days from approval for the metal Premium card. The card comes with activation instructions. Activate the card via the BOBCARD app, net banking portal, or by calling BOBCARD customer care at 1800 103 1006. PIN generation is available via the BOBCARD app, net banking, or the first ATM swipe.
How to Track Your Application Status
Once you have applied, track your application at bobcard.co.in/get-in-touch/track-application. You will need your application reference number (provided at time of submission) or your registered mobile number. The tracker shows the current stage: submitted, under review, approved, dispatched, or delivered.
If you do not receive any communication within 5 business days of submitting, contact BOBCARD customer care at 1800 103 1006 or 1800 225 100. Have your application reference number or registered mobile number ready when calling.
First Steps After You Receive the Card
1. Activate the card immediately
Activate your card within the first few days of receipt. Activation can be done via the BOBCARD customer portal at portal.bobcard.co.in, the BOBCARD app, or by calling customer care. The card cannot be used until it is activated.
2. Verify your Etihad Guest account is linked
Log in to etihad.com/etihadguest and verify your account shows the BOBCARD card as a linked earning partner. If it does not, contact BOBCARD customer care to link your Etihad Guest membership number to your card account. This step is critical - without the link, no miles will be credited from card spend.
3. Pay the joining fee in your first statement
The joining fee of ₹5,000 + GST (Premium) or ₹2,500 + GST (standard) will appear on your first statement. Pay it in full by the due date. The welcome miles of 10,000 (Premium) are conditional on BOTH the joining fee being paid AND ₹25,000 spend within 60 days. Not paying the joining fee forfeits the welcome miles.
4. Hit ₹25,000 spend within 60 days
The 60-day clock starts from the card issuance date, not the card receipt date. Route your regular purchases - grocery, dining, travel bookings, online shopping - through the card to reach ₹25,000. Do not include fuel, wallet loads, or excluded category spends - these do not count toward the milestone and earn no miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All eligibility criteria, fees, document requirements, and application processes are subject to change. Data sourced from BOBCARD's official product pages (bobcard.co.in), BOBCARD MITC, Paisabazaar, and CardExpert as of 9 May 2026. Final approval is at BOBCARD Limited's discretion. Readers are advised to refer to the MITC available at bobcard.co.in before applying. BOBCARD Limited (formerly BOB Financial Solutions Limited) is a 100% subsidiary of Bank of Baroda and an RBI-regulated entity.
