Axis Bank is making the Magnus Credit Card more expensive for new applicants, and that is the headline change here. From May 1, 2026, the annual fee for new applications rises from ₹10,000 to ₹12,500 + GST. If you were planning to apply, this is the kind of update that can change the value equation pretty quickly.
There is one important relief for existing cardholders: they will retain the current fee until their next renewal. So this is not an immediate fee shock for people who already hold the card. Axis has also kept some of the core premium perks intact, including complimentary Meet & Greet and 8 Priority Pass visits per year.
The fee increase matters because Magnus has always been positioned as a premium travel and lifestyle card, and premium cards live or die by whether their benefits justify the price tag. Moving the fee to ₹12,500 + GST makes the card a tougher sell for new customers unless they are already getting strong value from the travel and lounge side of the package.
At the same time, the fact that Axis has retained the Meet & Greet benefit and the 8 Priority Pass visits per year shows that the bank is not stripping the card bare. Instead, it is asking new users to pay more for the same broad experience. That can still work for heavy travelers, but casual users will need to think harder before jumping in.
For us cardholders, the practical question is simple: does the card still earn back enough value to justify the higher fee? If you are someone who can use the travel benefits regularly and extract value from the premium ecosystem, the card may still make sense. If you were already on the fence, this fee hike pushes the card further into “only if you really use it” territory.
This also makes timing important. If you were eligible and planning to apply anyway, doing it before the new fee structure takes effect could save you money on the first-year cost. That is especially relevant for people who want to test the card before committing long term.
What You Should Do: If you were considering Magnus, apply before May 1, 2026 if you want to avoid the higher fee. Existing cardholders should check their renewal cycle and decide whether the card still justifies ₹12,500 + GST once the new fee applies.