HDFC Global Value Program: 1% Cashback on International Spends

I have an HDFC Infinia, and I gave the add-on card to Shruti. Whenever we travel outside India, we don't bother with forex cards or currency exchange anymore. We just tap the Infinia everywhere and don't think twice about it.

That's because of a little-known HDFC add-on called the Global Value Program.

What is GVP?

The Global Value Program is a paid add-on for HDFC credit cards that gives you 1% cashback on all international transactions. It costs ₹199 + GST per year (about ₹235), and the cashback is capped at ₹1,000 per statement cycle.

On top of that, if you spend ₹1.5 lakh or more internationally in a year, you get a ₹2,000 travel voucher from MakeMyTrip, ClearTrip, Yatra, or EaseMyTrip. This repeats every year.

You also get 500 bonus reward points on your first international transaction after enrolling (first year only).

The program is available on all HDFC credit cards, from entry-level ones to Infinia and Diners Black. The 1% cashback stacks with whatever rewards your card already earns.

The math on Infinia

Here's why this makes the Infinia a no-brainer for forex:

• Base rewards: 3.3% (you earn 3.3 reward points per ₹150, and each point is worth ₹1)
• Forex markup fee: 2% + GST (roughly 2.36%)
• GVP cashback: 1%

So you're earning 3.3% + 1% = 4.3% back, while paying 2.36% in fees. That's a net gain of nearly 2% on every international transaction.

Most forex cards give you 0% markup but also 0% rewards. With the Infinia + GVP combo, you're actually coming out ahead.

What counts as international spending

Any transaction billed in foreign currency qualifies. This includes:

• Shopping while traveling abroad
• International websites (even if accessed from India)
• Software subscriptions billed in USD

That last one is interesting. If you pay for ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro, those subscriptions are charged in USD. Which means you're earning cashback on them every month without even traveling.

How to activate

You can check the official HDFC GVP page for offer details. To actually enroll:

Email: Write to HDFC customer support asking them to activate the Global Value Program on your card. Include your card's last 4 digits.

SMS: Some sources mention sending "GVPYES" to 5676712, but this may not work anymore. If you try it, let us know in the comments whether it went through.

Phone: Call HDFC customer care and request activation.

The program needs to be active before you spend. It won't apply retroactively.

One thing to remember

Always pay in foreign currency. If a merchant or website offers to convert the price to INR before charging you (Dynamic Currency Conversion), decline it. Let your card handle the conversion. If you pay in INR, it won't count as an international transaction and you won't get the cashback.

Is it worth it?

For ₹235 a year, you break even at just ₹23,500 in foreign spending. If you travel internationally once a year, or even just pay for a couple of USD subscriptions, you'll make that back easily.

The program is valid until 2030. Once you activate it, you're set.