ICICI Bank Travel Card is a multi-currency prepaid forex card with 15 currencies and a Rs 150 issuance fee — the cheapest entry among full-feature multi-currency cards. Aimed at ICICI savings account holders, it offers in-app reload, EMV chip security, and Travel-Card-only access to ICICI’s overseas customer service line. Cross-currency markup is 3.5%; same-currency is 0%. Best for ICICI customers who want a no-frills forex option for occasional international trips.
At a glance
The 15-currency lineup
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, SGD, JPY, AED, CHF, HKD, NZD, SEK, ZAR, SAR, THB. Notably missing from this list compared to HDFC’s 22-currency card: Korean Won, Turkish Lira, Norwegian Krone, Danish Krone, Chinese Yuan. For typical Indian outbound destinations (US, Europe, Singapore, UAE, Australia, Thailand), the 15-currency support is sufficient.
Why the lower issuance fee matters
At ₹150 issuance, ICICI Travel Card is the lowest-entry-cost forex card from a major Indian bank. HDFC charges ₹500, Axis ₹300, BookMyForex ₹150. For a single-trip-per-year traveller, this saves ₹350 vs HDFC for similar functionality (covering the major currencies you’ll use).
Existing ICICI savings account customers occasionally get issuance fee waived during promotional periods — check the iMobile app’s offers section before applying.
Issuance via iMobile app
- iMobile Pay app → Cards → Forex Travel Card → Apply
- Select currencies and amounts to load
- Confirm — debit happens from your linked ICICI savings account at the locked rate
- Card delivered to your registered address in 3-7 days
- Or visit any ICICI Bank branch with passport, visa, and travel ticket for instant issuance
Real cost comparison: 10-day Singapore + Dubai trip
Trip with SGD 500 in Singapore + AED 1,500 in Dubai (~₹65,000 total):
- ICICI Travel Card: Load SGD 500 + AED 1,500. Issuance ₹150. Same-currency spend at 0% markup. Net cost: ₹65,150.
- Niyo Global: Spend ₹65,000 across days at interbank. No issuance. Net cost: ₹65,000.
- HDFC Multi-Currency: Same load. Issuance ₹500. Net cost: ₹65,500.
- Regular ICICI credit card (Coral): ₹65,000 + 3.5% markup = ₹67,275.
For this trip, Niyo edges out by ₹150-500 but the difference is minor. ICICI Travel Card is the cheapest entry point if you want rate-lock; Niyo wins for pure cost.
Reload from abroad
This is ICICI Travel Card’s strong point. You can reload via iMobile from anywhere in the world (no need for someone in India to do it for you). Reload via:
- iMobile app on your phone connected to international roaming or local WiFi
- From any ICICI savings account; reload reflects within 1-4 hours
- Reload fee ₹75 + same-day rate
Niyo Global also allows this. BookMyForex’s reload via app works but is sometimes laggy from international networks.
Customer service: a real differentiator
If your ICICI Travel Card is lost abroad, ICICI has 24×7 dedicated international helpline reachable via toll-free numbers in 22 countries. Replacement card couriered to your overseas address in 2-7 days. Cash advance in emergencies up to USD 500 against the card balance.
This level of overseas support is hard to beat — Niyo Global’s app-only support has more friction during international emergencies.
Drawbacks
- Cross-currency 3.5% markup — locked in if you spend in a currency you didn’t pre-load.
- 15-currency limit excludes Korean Won, Turkish Lira, Chinese Yuan, Norwegian Krone — visit these destinations and you pay markup.
- No rewards — pure forex card.
- Inactivity fee ₹100/month after 12 months of zero use.
- Card validity: 5 years from issuance; you must use or unload the balance within validity.
Who ICICI Travel Card is best for
- ICICI Bank customers — issuance is friction-free; iMobile integration is the most polished among Indian bank forex cards
- Single-trip-per-year travellers — low ₹150 issuance vs ₹500 for HDFC
- Travellers prioritising overseas customer service — ICICI’s 24×7 international helpline is genuinely useful when things go wrong abroad
- Family use — multiple cards on the same savings account, easy to manage
When to choose alternatives
- Frequent traveller with unpredictable destinations → Niyo Global
- Multi-country trip including Japan/Korea/Turkey → HDFC Multi-Currency (22 currencies)
- Want to lock in today’s USD rate for a future trip → BookMyForex
- Don’t bank with ICICI but want a credit card that does forex 0% → Scapia Federal Credit Card (also earns rewards)
Verdict
ICICI Travel Card is the strongest forex card for existing ICICI banking customers. The combination of low ₹150 issuance, iMobile-integrated reload, 15-currency support (sufficient for 90% of Indian outbound destinations), and best-in-class overseas customer service makes it the most-recommended forex card for ICICI account holders. For non-ICICI customers, the friction of opening an ICICI savings account isn’t worth it — better options exist (Niyo Global for cost, HDFC for breadth, BookMyForex for rate lock).