March 15, 2025 · 14 mins read
Santosh Kumar
Most of the personal credit cards available in India offer add-on credit cards as an additional facility for the cardholders.
An add-on credit card essentially contains the same features of the primary credit card and can be availed by the immediate family members of the primary cardholder.
Typically, credit card issuers provide a limited number of cards, say 2-3, for free. This means no annual fee or joining fee will be charged on the add-on cards. However, some cards do come with a cost. They carry an annual fee, typically much less than the annual fee of the primary credit card.
Most banks offer this facility but the number of add-on credit cards one can avail and the credit limit is decided by bank. The application process varies from one bank to another. Even the eligibility criteria also differ based on the bank.
Application for an add-on card could be filed online through the bank's official website or through their net banking app. Follow the steps below to apply for an add-on credit card online:
1: Login to net banking or the mobile app of your bank account
2: Under the Credit card section, select 'Add-on cards' or 'Supplementary cards'.
3: Provide basic information like like Name and Address of the additional card holder, Credit Limit, Cash limit of the Add-on card and the relationship with the primary holder.
4: Upload the documents that need to be submitted; in some cases, detail or primary cardholder would be enough.
5: Click submit, and you will receive the card in a few days
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Again, different credit card providers might require a different set of documents to process your add-on credit card application. Listed below are some common documents sought by most of the providers.
1: A duly filled-in add-on credit card application form.
2: KYC documents of add-on card applicant
3: A self-attested identity proof (Aadhaar, Passport, driving license, ration card, student ID card, insurance or Mediclaim card, bank passbook with photo, senior citizen ID, any government-recognised ID card)
4: Date of birth proof
5: Address proof
6: PAN card or Form-60
7: A passport-size photo of the add-on card applicant
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Primarily, add-on credit cards share all the features of the main credit card. All the benefits offered by the primary card are available on the supplementary card. However, there are a few aspects you need to understand while using an add-on credit card.
Credit limit of an add-on credit card: Add-on credit cards have the same credit limit as that of the primary credit card. You can use an add-on credit card up to the total credit limit on the card account. Some card issuers also allow primary cardholders to set a limit on each add-on credit card. It could be the same or less than the total credit limit on the account. The same stands true for cash withdrawal limit or cash limit. While most banks provide a default cash limit of 100% on add-on cards, a few, like HDFC, provide a lesser cash limit to add-on cardholders.
Reward points on add-on credit cards: Add-on credit cardholders earn the reward points at the same rate as that of the primary cardholder. This means the number of reward points, minimum transaction amount, redemption options, etc., remains the same. The accrued reward points get credited to the primary cardholders account. While redeeming the points, you can use the consolidated points.
Airport lounge access on add-on cards: Not all credit card providers allow the add-on cardholders to enjoy the complimentary airport lounge access provided to the primary cardholder. Especially, the free membership offered on airport Priority Pass Program and others are exclusive for primary cardholders. However, there are a few card issuers that allow primary and supplementary cardholders to share the free visits.
Offers on add-on credit cards: Most of the card issuers consider add-on credit card as another card in providing the offers. If it is the case with your card as well, the primary cardholder and the add-on cardholder can avail the offer separately. Typical credit card offers include discounts, cashback, free gifts, vouchers, etc.
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Add-on credit card application: Though the add-on credit cards are offered as complimentary for the primary cards, unless the bank receives an application for the cards, you cannot have one.Thus, the eligible family members of the primary cardholder should apply for an add-on credit card to get one.
Add-on credit card billing/statement: Irrespective of the number of add-on cards, the bank will generate only one consolidated credit card statement. It includes all the purchases or transactions made on the primary card as well as on all add-on cards.The primary cardholder can thus track all the withdrawals and spends made by the add-on credit cardholders. He/she, however, remains responsible for all dues on the card/s.
Add-on cards: Effect on Credit score: As supplementary credit cards are connected to the primary card, all the transactions and bill payments regarding the cards will be recorded similarly to that of primary credit cards. If the primary cardholder is unable to clear the due or pays only the minimum amount due repeatedly, he/she runs the risk of racking up a debt. If payments are delayed, late charges will be deducted from the account of the primary cardholder. Any defaults on the account will also be reported to credit agencies like CIBIL and Experian. Therefore, primary cardholders need to be very careful about the supplementary cardholder's spending because if anything goes wrong, it will reflect on the primary cardholder's account and might affect the credit score.
Although the supplementary cardholder does not have complete control over the add-on card, he/she will be able to experience an equal number of perks and advantages as that of the primary member. Some other benefits of add-on cards are provided here -
1: Avoids the need for multiple credit cards within the family, thus bringing down the overall credit card maintenance costs.
2: Enables minors below the age of 18 to have a credit card.
3: Add-on cardholders can enjoy the features offered by the credit card at no additional cost. Primary cardholders can set the credit limit on all the add-on cards thus can have full control over the cards.
4: Keeping a track on the expenses of your dependants becomes much easier as all the transactions on the add-on cards would be billed to the primary account.
5: Provides financial independence to dependent family members.
6: Enables add-on cardholders to enjoy the offers on the credit card.
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1: Fuel Credit Cards
2: Lifetime Free Credit Cards
3: Kisan Credit Card
4: Student Credit Cards in India
5: Shopping Credit Cards
6: Contactless Credit Cards
7: Travel Credit Cards
8: Co-Branded Credit Cards
9: Lifestyle Credit Cards
10: Rewards Credit Cards
11: Business Credit Cards
12: NRI Credit Cards
13: Cashback Credit Cards
14: Lounge Access Credit Cards
1: Given Below are the Methods to Close a Credit Card
2: Cancel a credit card by calling customer care
3: By submitting a written request to the credit card issuer
4: Sending an e-mail to cancel the credit card
5: Submitting an online request for closing the credit card
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Each bank or card issuer offers different methods to apply for an add-on credit card. One thing to remember while applying for the card is that only primary cardholders can send an application on behalf of the applicants. However, the signatures of the add-on card applicants are also required on the application.
Listed below are some common procedures for applying the card. Check your bank's website to find out which option is available.
1: Through credit card net banking account
2: By submitting an add-on card application
3: By calling credit card customer care
4: By sending an SMS
1: If you have net banking access to your credit card, you can apply for an add-on card by logging in to your account.
2: You might have to fill the required details such as the applicant's name, contact details, address and identity proof, etc., and submit it.
3: The concerned department will give you a confirmation call and inform you about further procedures.
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Most banks have a separate application form for add-on credit cards. You can visit the bank branch and get the form, or you can also download it from the bank's website. Once you have the form, fill the required details, get it signed by the applicants, affix the photographs, if required, attach the self-attested KYC documents and send it through post or hand it over at the nearest bank branch.
1: Calling credit card customer care helpline of the respective bank is another way to apply for an add-on credit card.
2: The bank may not accept applications or requests over the phone call, but they would guide you with the application process.
1: Some banks like Kotak Mahindra, Axis Bank, and others allow you to send an SMS to raise a request for an add-on card.
2: If your card issuer is providing the facility, you need to send an SMS in the required format to the designated number from your registered mobile number (only).
3: Once the bank receives the SMS, it will contact you on your registered mobile number and will inform you about the rest of the application process.
4: For instance, to apply for a Kotak Mahindra add-on credit card, send an SMS in the following format.
5: SMS < ADDON > to 5676788
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1: Tracking and monitoring the transactions of all the add-on cards is imperative for the primary cardholder because:
2: All expenditures will be reflected in the account of the primary holder, and the bill payment has to be made by the primary holder
3: Any interest payment and penalty have to be paid by the primary cardholder in case of non-payment or misuse of the add-on cards.
4: The credit score will be affected for the primary holder in case of misuse of add-on cards. Hence, the primary holder should keep track of their credit score to avoid any negative impact.
5: The primary cardholder has to educate and explain to all the add-on card holders about the potential danger of improper handling of the card so that all the add-on cards are handled properly and with responsibility.
6: In case the benefits on add-on cards are different from the primary card, the primary holder should be aware of those and explain the same to add-on card users
7: Cash withdrawal should be avoided or minimised as much as possible since the interest charged on the amount is excessively high.
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Immediate family members of the primary cardholder can apply for an add-on card. All such applicants should be above 18 years of age. The list of eligible members includes primary cardholders
1: Spouse
2: Children
3: Siblings
4: Parents
5: Parents-in-law
6: Sister/Brother-in-law
7: Daughter/Son-in-law
Some issuers might have some exceptions. Please check with your provider for exact information.
1: Supplementary card applicants must be 18+ years of age.
2: Supplementary card applicant must be directly related to the Primary cardholder (Spouse/Parents/Children/Siblings).
3: No separate credit limit will be assigned to the Supplementary card(s).
4: No joining/annual fee will be charged on the supplementary credit card(s)(except Digi Smart).
5: All limits on cashback/ offers applicable on the primary card account will be for the combined usage of Primary and Supplementary card(s).
6: All the product-specific T&Cs will remain the same for both Primary and Supplementary card(s).
7: Nothing expressed or implied in the program shall in any way waive or amend any of the terms and conditions of the existing cardmember agreement with the Bank.
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The number of supplementary credit cards availed on a credit card vary for each bank. Listed below are the number of cards offered by major credit card issuers.
Credit Card Issuer: HDFC Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 3 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: SBI Cards
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 2 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: YES Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 3 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: Axis Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 4 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: HSBC Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 3 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: IndusInd Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 2 add-on cards
Credit Card Issuer: Kotak Bank
No. of add-on cards permitted: Up to 3 add-on cards
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An add-on card is simply an additional card which shares the same credit limit of the primary cardholder and can be issued to a family member who does not have a source of income. This responsibility of payment still lies with the primary holder; thus, it becomes important to see who all are being issued an add-on card and how it is being used.
It typically takes 10-15 days to process an add-on credit card application after submitting a duly filled-in application and completing KYC documents.
Yes, a separate PIN will be generated for every add-on credit card and the same will be sent to your mailing address along with the card.
Although add-on credit cards are used by the family members, all the transactions on the card will be billed to the main card member. Thus, any late payments, nil payments, and defaults on the account would affect the primary cardholder's credit score.
It depends on the card you're using. Not all the card issuers allow you to share the airport lounge access benefits. However, there are a few cards such as HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card, HDFC Bank Regalia First Credit Card that offer free membership to airport priority pass program and allow you to share the free visits.
The process to cancel or close an add-on credit card is similar to that of the primary card. You need to contact the issuer and raise a request for card cancellation.
Your add-on cards may include immediate family members that include the following:
1: Spouse
2: Parents
3: Children (above 18 years)
4: Siblings (above 18 years)
Yes, every expense made by the supplementary card member earns reward points according to the eligibility of the primary card. The consolidated rewards may be redeemed at any of the assigned points.
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