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ICICI Emeralde Credit Card Review 2026
Unlimited domestic and international lounge access, up to 4 golf rounds/month, ₹750 off BMS tickets 4x/month, 2% forex markup, and ₹12,000 cancellation cover - at ₹12,000/year.
3.8
/5
Card24 Score
Rewards 2.8
Travel 4.8
Fees 3.2
Last reviewed July 2026 · Card24.ai editorial team
Joining Fee
₹12,000 + GST (one-time) | Annual fee ₹12,000 + GST (Year 1: Nil)*
Reward Rate
4 RP per ₹100 on retail spends (2% at ₹0.50/RP); 1 RP/₹100 on utilities & insurance
Lounge Access
Unlimited domestic + international (DreamFolks + Priority Pass) - primary & add-on
Golf
1 free golf round/lesson per ₹50,000 prev-month spend (max 4/month)
Forex Markup
2% on all international foreign currency transactions
Credit Card Verdict ICICI Emeralde
What we like
- Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders - no spend gate, no quarterly caps, no Priority Pass visit limits. Available via DreamFolks (domestic) and Priority Pass (international).
- Flight, hotel, and movie ticket cancellation cover of up to ₹12,000 per transaction on 2 transactions per year - a genuinely useful benefit that offsets real-world booking losses that most premium cards don't cover.
- Up to 4 complimentary golf rounds or lessons per month via Golftripz - earned at 1 round per ₹50,000 spent in the previous month. For cardholders who spend ₹2L+/month, this translates to 4 free premium golf rounds every month.
- ₹750 off on second BookMyShow ticket purchase for movies and non-movie events - up to 4 times per month. For regular moviegoers, this is up to ₹3,000 in monthly BMS savings.
- 2% forex markup - significantly lower than the standard 3.5% charged by most Indian premium cards. On ₹5 lakh in annual international spend, this saves ₹7,500 compared to a 3.5% card.
Watch out for
- Base reward rate of 4 RP per ₹100 (2% at ₹0.50/RP on iShop) is below peers - HDFC Infinia earns 3.3% and Axis Reserve earns 3.75% at comparable fee brackets. The Emeralde is best paired with a higher-earn card for everyday spend.
- Golf benefit is spend-gated - requires ₹50,000 in the previous month per round (max 4 rounds). Cardholders spending less than ₹50,000/month earn zero golf access.
- High ₹12,000 annual fee (from Year 2) waived only on ₹10 lakh annual spend (₹83,333/month) - a threshold only achievable for high-income professionals who use this as their primary card across all categories.
- Reward points earned at a 1:1 redemption rate on iShop portal - no airline mile transfer partners comparable to HDFC Infinia or Axis Reserve, limiting the flexibility for cardholders who want air mile redemptions.
Card24.ai's review covers the ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card (joining ₹12,000+GST; annual ₹12,000+GST from Year 2). Not the Emeralde Private Metal (₹12,499). Annual fee waived on ₹10L spend. Golf benefit requires ₹50,000 previous-month spend per round. This is not financial advice. Verify all terms at icicibank.com before applying.
Credit Card Achievers ICICI Emeralde
Is the ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card Worth It in 2026?
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card is built for lifestyle-first cardholders who want unlimited lounge access without conditions, premium golf access, and real-world travel protection - rather than maximising reward points. Its unlimited domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders (no spend gate, no cap) is one of the strongest lounge benefits available on any ICICI Bank card, and its 2% forex markup is materially lower than the 3.5% charged by most peers.
The monthly golf benefit - 1 complimentary round per ₹50,000 previous-month spend, up to 4 rounds per month - is the card's most financially significant benefit for active golfers. At ₹2 lakh spend, four premium green fee rounds worth ₹8,000–12,000 each add ₹32,000–48,000 in monthly value, making the ₹12,000 annual fee irrelevant. The ₹12,000 flight and hotel cancellation cover on 2 transactions per year and the ₹750 BookMyShow discount on up to 4 tickets monthly further strengthen the lifestyle value case. The 12,500 joining and annual renewal reward points also partially offset the fee.
The Emeralde's primary weakness is its 2% base reward rate - below peers at the same fee point. Cardholders who want stronger dining rewards to complement the Emeralde's travel and lifestyle perks should consider the BOBCARD Eterna for 5X dining and supplementary unlimited lounge access.
The monthly golf benefit - 1 complimentary round per ₹50,000 previous-month spend, up to 4 rounds per month - is the card's most financially significant benefit for active golfers. At ₹2 lakh spend, four premium green fee rounds worth ₹8,000–12,000 each add ₹32,000–48,000 in monthly value, making the ₹12,000 annual fee irrelevant. The ₹12,000 flight and hotel cancellation cover on 2 transactions per year and the ₹750 BookMyShow discount on up to 4 tickets monthly further strengthen the lifestyle value case. The 12,500 joining and annual renewal reward points also partially offset the fee.
The Emeralde's primary weakness is its 2% base reward rate - below peers at the same fee point. Cardholders who want stronger dining rewards to complement the Emeralde's travel and lifestyle perks should consider the BOBCARD Eterna for 5X dining and supplementary unlimited lounge access.
Best For: High-spending professionals who value unlimited lounge access for all cardholders, monthly golf access, real-world cancellation cover, and 2% forex - and pair this with a higher-earn card for everyday spend.
ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card Benefits
How to Get the Most Out of Your ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
Spend ₹50,000+ Each Month to Unlock Golf - Golf access (1 round per ₹50,000 previous-month spend) is the highest-value monthly benefit on the Emeralde. At ₹2 lakh monthly spend, you unlock 4 complimentary rounds at courses that typically charge ₹8,000–₹12,000 per round. Register on Golftripz using the email linked to your ICICI Bank account, and check for available rounds after the 10th of each month.
Book All Flights and Hotels Directly for Cancellation Cover - The ₹12,000 cancellation cover applies to direct flight and hotel bookings - not OTA bookings in all cases. Book flights through airlines and hotels through hotel websites or ICICI Bank's iShop travel portal to ensure eligibility. You have 2 cancellation claims per year, so save them for your highest-value bookings where cancellation risk is real.
Use BMS ₹750 Discount Every Month Across 4 Tickets - The ₹750 BookMyShow discount applies to both movie and non-movie events - sports, concerts, theatre - making it broader than a standard BOGO. Use all 4 monthly discounts (movie + non-movie) to maximize the ₹3,000 monthly BMS value. The discount applies from the second ticket onwards per booking, so always buy in pairs.
Earn Joining + Renewal 12,500 RP Immediately - The 12,500 joining RP (worth ₹6,250 on iShop) are credited on card activation. Redeem them immediately via the iMobile app for a flight or hotel booking on iShop at ₹0.50/RP - don't let them sit idle while you evaluate the card. The same 12,500 RP are credited each annual renewal, making it a recurring ₹6,250 value every year.
Pair With BOBCARD Eterna for Dining Rewards - The Emeralde's 2% reward rate on dining is lower than dedicated dining cards. For 5X rewards on restaurant spends and additional domestic lounge access without a spend gate, the BOBCARD Eterna is an ideal daily dining complement to the Emeralde's travel and lifestyle perks.
Book All Flights and Hotels Directly for Cancellation Cover - The ₹12,000 cancellation cover applies to direct flight and hotel bookings - not OTA bookings in all cases. Book flights through airlines and hotels through hotel websites or ICICI Bank's iShop travel portal to ensure eligibility. You have 2 cancellation claims per year, so save them for your highest-value bookings where cancellation risk is real.
Use BMS ₹750 Discount Every Month Across 4 Tickets - The ₹750 BookMyShow discount applies to both movie and non-movie events - sports, concerts, theatre - making it broader than a standard BOGO. Use all 4 monthly discounts (movie + non-movie) to maximize the ₹3,000 monthly BMS value. The discount applies from the second ticket onwards per booking, so always buy in pairs.
Earn Joining + Renewal 12,500 RP Immediately - The 12,500 joining RP (worth ₹6,250 on iShop) are credited on card activation. Redeem them immediately via the iMobile app for a flight or hotel booking on iShop at ₹0.50/RP - don't let them sit idle while you evaluate the card. The same 12,500 RP are credited each annual renewal, making it a recurring ₹6,250 value every year.
Pair With BOBCARD Eterna for Dining Rewards - The Emeralde's 2% reward rate on dining is lower than dedicated dining cards. For 5X rewards on restaurant spends and additional domestic lounge access without a spend gate, the BOBCARD Eterna is an ideal daily dining complement to the Emeralde's travel and lifestyle perks.
ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card Annual Fees
| Joining Fee | ₹12,000 + GST |
| Annual Fee – Year 1 | Nil (first year annual fee waived) |
| Annual Fee – Year 2+ | ₹12,000 + GST | Waived on ₹10,00,000 annual spend in preceding anniversary year |
| Monthly Mode Option | ₹1,000/month alternative to annual fee. Monthly fee waived if spend ≥₹83,333 in that month. |
| Supplementary Card Fee | Nil (complimentary add-on cards) |
| Reward Earn Rate | 4RP/₹100 retail; 1RP/₹100 utilities+insurance; no points on fuel |
| Forex Markup | 2% on all international foreign currency transactions |
| Finance Charge | 3.40% per month (40.8% p.a.) |
| Cash Advance Fee | 2.5% of amount, minimum ₹300 |
| Golf Spend Gate | 1 golf round/lesson per ₹50,000 eligible spend in previous calendar month. Maximum 4 rounds/lessons per month. |
| Cancellation Cover Cap | Maximum ₹12,000 per transaction, maximum 2 transactions per calendar year. |
| Interest-Free Period | Up to 48 days from date of purchase (on full balance payment) |
ICICI Emeralde Credit Card Eligibility & Documents
Age 21 years or above (primary cardholder)
Minimum annual income ₹1,50,000 per month (₹18,00,000 per annum)
Documents required PAN card · Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID · Latest 3 months salary slips · 3-month bank statements
Residency Indian Resident
Applying when ineligible creates a hard credit inquiry that may lower your CIBIL score. Verify your eligibility before applying.
How to Apply for ICICI Emeralde Credit Card
The application process is entirely online and takes about 5-7 minutes.
1
Visit icicibank.com → Cards → Credit Cards → Emeralde Credit Card - Click 'Apply Now'. Alternatively, log in to iMobile app and navigate to Cards → Apply for Credit Card → Emeralde.
2
Verify mobile number via OTP - Existing ICICI Bank customers can pre-fill personal and income details via their net banking credentials.
3
Upload income documents: latest 3 salary slips (salaried) or latest 2 years ITR + P&L (self-employed) - Attach PAN and address proof (Aadhaar/Passport/Utility bill).
4
ICICI Bank reviews your application - typically 3–7 working days - Approval communicated via iMobile app, email, and SMS. Card dispatched within 7–10 working days.
5
Activate via iMobile app - Register on Golftripz (teetimes.truztee.com) using the same email ID linked to your ICICI Bank account. Spend ₹2,00,000 in first 2 months to receive ₹7,500 Trident + ₹5,000 Da Milano birthday vouchers.
*T&C Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlimited domestic and international lounge access (primary + add-on, DreamFolks + Priority Pass); up to 4 golf rounds/lessons per month (1 per ₹50,000 previous-month spend via Golftripz); ₹750 off BMS second ticket × 4/month; 2% forex markup; ₹12,000 cancellation cover × 2/year; 4RP/₹100 retail (2%); 12,500 joining + renewal RP; ₹3 crore air accident insurance. Annual fee: ₹12,000 (Year 1 nil), waived at ₹10L spend.
Unlimited complimentary domestic lounge access via DreamFolks membership - swipe card at lounge entry. Unlimited international lounge access via complimentary Priority Pass membership. Both primary and add-on cardholders are eligible. No spend gate, no quarterly cap, no annual limit. The Emeralde's unlimited lounge for add-on members (not just primary) is one of its key advantages over peer cards at this fee.
1 complimentary golf round or lesson for every ₹50,000 spent in the previous calendar month, via Golftripz (teetimes.truztee.com). Maximum 4 rounds/lessons per month. Spend ₹2L/month to earn all 4 rounds. Register on Golftripz using the email ID linked to your ICICI account. Benefits appear after the 10th of the following month and are valid for 2 months.
4 ICICI Reward Points per ₹100 on all eligible retail spends - equivalent to 2% value-back when redeemed on iShop at ₹0.50/RP. 1 RP per ₹100 on utility bills and insurance premiums (these categories earn on the Emeralde, unlike most premium cards). No points on fuel. 12,500 bonus RP on joining and each annual renewal.
Joining fee: ₹12,000 + GST. First-year annual fee: Nil. From Year 2: ₹12,000 + GST, waived on ₹10,00,000 annual spend. Supplementary cards: free. Monthly mode alternative: ₹1,000/month (waived on ₹83,333 monthly spend). Note: Emeralde Private Metal card (different card) charges ₹12,499 + GST.