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How to Apply for the ICICI Emeralde Credit Card in 2026

Rahul Dabhi's profile photo Rahul Dabhi
4 min read
Reviewed by Rahul Dabhi Last reviewed 13 October 2026 Data verified 13 October 2026
ICICIEmeraldePremiumGolfLounge Access

Apply for the ICICI Emeralde Credit Card if you earn ₹1.5 lakh or more each month. The annual fee is ₹12,000. It is waived on ₹8 lakh spends a year. You get 4 reward points per ₹100 on dining and entertainment. You get unlimited golf games. You get 4 international lounge visits a year.

Why this matters

Emeralde is the only card in India that pays 4% back on dining. If you spend ₹20,000 a month on dining, the 4X gives you 80,000 points a year — worth about ₹2,000 in vouchers. Add 4 international lounge visits and unlimited golf, and the ₹12,000 annual fee is covered by 2 international lounge visits at most airports.

How to Apply for the ICICI Emeralde Credit Card in 2026

How to apply Total time: 15 min · Estimated cost: ₹12,000 (joining fee) · You’ll need: PAN, Aadhaar, salary slips, bank statement, Form 16, Form 26AS

Apply for the ICICI Emeralde Credit Card with 4X reward points on dining and unlimited golf games. Income, eligibility, and the application process.

  1. Check Emeralde eligibility — You must be 21–60 years old, a resident Indian, with a minimum monthly income of ₹1.5 lakh for salaried. CIBIL score of 760+ is preferred. Self-employed applicants need a minimum annual income of ₹25 lakh.

  2. Apply through iMobile Pay or NetBanking — Existing ICICI customers get a higher approval rate when applying through iMobile Pay → Cards → Apply. The form is pre-filled with your KYC data.

  3. Complete the application — Provide your personal details, employment information, monthly income, and existing credit relationships. Choose the Emeralde variant and number of supplementary cards (up to 3).

  4. Complete Aadhaar eKYC — Authorize Aadhaar OTP eKYC. The verification completes in 60 seconds.

  5. Upload income documents — Upload the latest 3 months’ salary slips, last 6 months’ bank statement, Form 16, and a recent Form 26AS. Self-employed applicants must upload 2 years’ ITR with computation and a business proof.

  6. Wait for credit committee approval — Emeralde applications are reviewed by the ICICI credit committee. Approval takes 10–15 working days. The decision is communicated via SMS and email.

  7. Pay the joining fee and receive the card — Once approved, ICICI will charge ₹12,000 + GST as the joining fee. The card is delivered within 5 working days via BlueDart. Activate it via IVR, iMobile Pay, or at any ICICI ATM.

  8. Register on Dreamfolks and the golf app — Emeralde requires separate registration on Dreamfolks (lounge access) and the iMobile Pay Golf section. Complete both registrations within 7 days of card activation.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Having 3 or more ICICI cards already — ICICI enforces a per-customer card cap. If you already hold 3 ICICI credit cards, your Emeralde application will be rejected outright.
  • Hitting the 4X dining cap without knowing it — The 4X dining multiplier is capped at 10,000 points per month. Spending ₹2.5 lakh a month on dining earns you nothing beyond the cap. That is ₹10,000 in lost points a year for a big spender.
  • Paying only part of the bill in year one — The annual fee is non-waivable in the first year. ICICI charges 3.75% per month (45% APR) on outstanding balances. Leaving ₹50,000 unpaid for 3 months costs ₹5,625 plus GST in interest.

Pro tips

  • Time the application 30 days after a salary credit for a stronger bank statement
  • Use the card for dining and entertainment to chase the 4X multiplier
  • Use iMobile Pay to track your Dreamfolks lounge visits and golf games
  • Plan the year to spend ₹8 lakh and waive the ₹12,000 annual fee

Frequently asked questions

What is the annual fee on Emeralde?

₹12,000 + GST, waived on ₹8 lakh spends in the previous 12 months.

How are golf games redeemed?

Emeralde includes unlimited golf games at partner courses in India and Dubai. Book via the iMobile Pay Golf section.

What is the minimum income for Emeralde?

₹1.5 lakh/month for salaried. Self-employed need a minimum annual income of ₹25 lakh.

Disclosure: FinWiz24 may earn a commission when you apply through links on this page. This does not influence our editorial independence — every card is scored against the same rubric.

Sources

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