Hey folks, I’m looking at the IndusInd Tiger Credit Card for overseas use do you know what the forex markup rate is when spending abroad? Is it a flat rate or does GST get added on top? Any recent user insights would help!
I used the IndusInd Tiger Credit Card for a couple of trips abroad last year once to Thailand and another time to Europe. Honestly, the forex charges weren’t as straightforward as I thought they’d be. Tiger charges around 3.5% forex markup plus GST on top, which ends up being roughly 4.13% total when you factor in the 18% GST on the markup.
Sometimes IndusInd would run special forex offers (like reduced rates or waived charges) during certain periods, but my regular international spending always got hit with that standard rate.
| What I actually spent money on abroad | Forex markup | Additional charges | What showed up on my statement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant bills (Eating out, local food) | 3.5% + GST | Nothing extra | Showed as “Intl Transaction Fee” |
| Hotel payments (Accommodation, room service) | 3.5% + GST | Nothing extra | Same forex charge as everything else |
| ATM withdrawals (Getting local cash) | 3.5% + GST | ₹150 per withdrawal | Double hit - markup plus withdrawal fee |
| Online shopping (International websites) | 3.5% + GST | Nothing extra | Even for stuff shipped to India |
| Transport (Taxis, metro, local travel) | 3.5% + GST | Nothing extra | Contactless payments worked fine |
Stuff I learned while using it internationally:
- The GST thing wasn’t clear upfront only realized the total was 4.13% when I got my statement back.
- ATM withdrawals were expensive because of both the forex markup and that ₹150 flat fee per transaction.
- Some merchant terminals abroad gave me the option to pay in INR, but that was even more expensive.
- Compared to my friend’s HDFC Regalia (3.5% flat), Tiger was slightly more expensive because of the GST.
So basically: 3.5% forex markup plus 18% GST on that markup, which works out to about 4.13% total not the most expensive but definitely not the cheapest option for international spending.
