Amex India 2026: new card applications paused, points split by card from 15 November, and every change so far
American Express has paused new card applications in India while it moves to new card systems, and its biggest rule changes land on 15 November 2026. Here is every 2026 change in one place, and what to do as a cardholder.
In this article
Short answer: you cannot apply for a new American Express card in India right now. Amex's own India site says it is "temporarily pausing the acceptance of new card applications in India" while it updates the technology behind its Indian cards. Existing cards keep working. The biggest rule changes for current cardholders take effect on 15 November 2026: Membership Rewards points stop pooling across your cards, and the half-fee waiver on the Membership Rewards Credit Card goes.
Amex has not said when applications reopen. Its site gives no date.
Update, 11 November 2026: around 9 November Amex also removed Membership Rewards points it says belonged to cardholders' previously cancelled cards, leaving some balances negative. About 48 hours later it emailed those cardholders to say it will restore their 8 November balance, as reported by Live From A Lounge. What happened and what to do.
Every Amex India change in 2026
| Date | What changed | Our write-up |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 2026 | Better transfer ratios to Virgin Atlantic and Hilton Honors | Transfers improved |
| 10 Sep 2026 | Platinum Travel loses its ₹1.9 lakh milestone; the ₹7 lakh milestone points become a Taj voucher | Platinum Travel cut |
| 30 Sep 2026 | Reward Multiplier shut down (ShopWise remains) | Reward Multiplier ends |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Platinum Travel lounge access needs quarterly spend | Platinum Travel cut |
| 27 Oct 2026 | New supplementary card applications paused; the Additional Card ends | Points and fees |
| 15 Nov 2026 | Points kept separately per card, the 50% fee waiver band removed, milestones counted by posting date | Points and fees |
| 8 to 9 Nov 2026 | Points from previously cancelled cards removed; some balances went negative | Points removed |
| 11 Nov 2026 | Amex emails affected cardholders that it will restore their 8 November balance (reported) | Points to be restored |
| Now | New card applications paused | This post |
The one improvement in the list is the transfer ratios. Everything else takes value away from cardholders or makes it harder to reach.
Who is affected
- Anyone hoping to get an Amex card in India: you have to wait. There is no waiting list on the site and no reopening date.
- People with two or more Amex cards: from 15 November each card keeps its own Membership Rewards balance, so points you used to combine for one transfer or redemption will sit in separate pots.
- Membership Rewards Credit Card holders who spend in the middle band: the half-price renewal is gone. You either reach the full-waiver spend or pay the whole fee.
- Platinum Travel holders: fewer milestone points, and lounge visits now depend on spend.
What to do now
- Before 15 November, use or combine pooled points if you hold more than one Amex card, so you are not left with two balances that are each below a useful transfer.
- Check your renewal month. If your Membership Rewards Credit Card renews soon and your spend sits in the old half-waiver band, decide whether to push spend to the full waiver or let the card go.
- Give month-end purchases a few days to post if you chase monthly milestones, since milestones now follow the posting date.
- If you were planning a first Amex card, compare what Indian banks offer today. The Indian card catalog and Polo Match rank what you can actually apply for.
Common questions
Has American Express stopped issuing cards in India? Amex says the pause is temporary and tied to "planned updates to our technology platforms for domestic card issuing operations". It has not announced an exit, and existing cards continue to work.
When will Amex India accept new applications again? Amex has not given a date. We will update this post when its site changes.
Do my existing Membership Rewards points expire because of this? None of the Amex notices or reports we track mention a change to expiry. What changes on 15 November is that points stop pooling across your cards, so each card keeps its own balance.
Every cut on this list also appears in our Indian devaluation tracker, with dates and sources. Wondering whether your Amex still earns its fee after all this? Run your spending through Polo Match.
Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by a primary or reputable source.
Card figures on CardPolo come from our catalog, each with an issuer source and a verified date where we have checked it. Spot something out of date? Tell us at hello@cardpolo.com.
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