The Citi PremierMiles Card earns 1.2 Citi Miles for every S$1 spent in Singapore dollars and 2.2 miles for every $1 spent in foreign currency, with no minimum spend, no cap and no expiry. This Citi PremierMiles Card review finds it is a simple way to collect miles on general spending, but the rate is modest, and the $196.20 annual fee only pays for itself if a mile is worth about 2 cents to you.
All figures are from Citibank’s own pages and pricing guide, as at November 2026.
What the Citi PremierMiles Card Earns
| Spending | Citi Miles per $1 |
|---|---|
| Singapore dollar spend | 1.2 |
| Foreign currency spend | 2.2 |
| Annual fee paid at renewal | 10,000 miles, once a year |
Citibank also runs higher rates on hotel bookings made through specific partner links. Those are dated promotions, so we do not count them here. Check Citibank’s card page for what is running.
There are no categories to track. The same rate applies to dining, groceries, shopping and online purchases, as long as the merchant is not on Citibank’s exclusion list.
How we reviewed it
We read Citibank’s card page, its card FAQ document, its Points Transfer page and its October 2026 pricing guide, and took every number from those. We then costed a year of spending with our own figures.
We ignore sign-up gifts, which change often. We are not paid by Citibank, and this is not a recommendation to apply.
A Year of Spending, Worked Through
An illustrative cardholder spends $1,500 a month in Singapore dollars and $300 a month in foreign currency.
Miles earned in a year
- Local: $18,000 × 1.2 = 21,600 miles
- Foreign currency: $3,600 × 2.2 = 7,920 miles
- Total: 29,520 Citi Miles
Costs
- Foreign currency fee: Citibank charges an administrative fee of up to 3.25% on foreign currency transactions. On $3,600 that is up to $117.
- Transfer fee: $27.25 for each transfer to an airline programme.
What it is worth
A mile has no fixed value. Assume, for illustration only, 1.5 cents a mile.
- 29,520 miles × 1.5 cents = $442.80
- Less $117 and $27.25 = about $299 a year with the fee waived
If you pay the annual fee instead
- 39,520 miles × 1.5 cents = $592.80
- Less $196.20, $117 and $27.25 = about $252 a year
At 1.5 cents a mile, paying the fee leaves you worse off. The 10,000 renewal miles cost $196.20, or 1.96 cents each.
Compared with a flat cashback card
The same $21,600 on a 1.6% cashback card, such as the Citi Cash Back+ Card, earns $345.60, or about $229 after the same foreign currency fee. On these assumptions the miles card is ahead by about $70 with the fee waived, and by about $24 with the fee paid.
Change the value of a mile to 1 cent and cashback wins. Put your own figures into the cashback vs miles calculator.
The short version: The Citi PremierMiles Card is a flat-rate miles card. It beats 1.6% cashback only if you value a mile above roughly 1.3 cents and will actually redeem. Paying the annual fee for 10,000 miles makes sense only above about 2 cents a mile.
Fees and Eligibility
- Annual fee: $196.20 including 9% GST. Citibank’s pricing guide gives a one-year waiver on new applications. Some welcome offers require you to pay the first-year fee, so read the offer terms.
- Supplementary cards: free, according to the pricing guide.
- Renewal miles: 10,000 Citi Miles when the fee is paid. They are reversed if the fee is later waived.
- Minimum income: $30,000 a year for Singaporeans and permanent residents, $42,000 for foreigners. Minimum age 21.
- Foreign currency fee: up to 3.25% of the converted amount.
- Lounge access: two Priority Pass visits per calendar year for the principal cardholder. A guest counts as one visit. Extra visits cost US$35 each.
- Travel insurance: only on the World Select Mastercard version, and you must register before you travel.
Converting Citi Miles to Airline Miles
Citi Miles transfer one for one. Citibank’s Points Transfer page lists 10,000 Citi Miles for 10,000 miles or points at each of its 11 partners: KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, British Airways, Etihad Guest, EVA Air, Flying Blue, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and IHG.
Each transfer costs $27.25 including GST. Citibank says the miles arrive within 14 business days, and a transfer cannot be reversed.
Two practical points follow. Transfer in fewer, larger batches so the fee is paid once. And leave miles with Citibank until you have a booking in mind, because they do not expire there but may expire once they sit in an airline account.
The Catches
- Exclusions. Citibank publishes a list of merchants and merchant categories that earn nothing. Check it before putting insurance, education, government or utility payments on the card.
- Overseas spend is not free miles. At 2.2 miles per dollar and a fee of up to 3.25%, you are paying up to about 1.5 cents for each mile earned abroad. Our guide to overseas card fees explains the charge.
- The rate is general, not high. Cards with bonus categories earn far more in those categories, up to a cap.
- Interest. Citibank’s effective interest rate is 27.9% a year, and the late payment charge is $100. MoneySense notes that interest also applies to new purchases once you do not pay in full. No miles rate covers that.
Who the Citi PremierMiles Card Does Not Suit
- People who rarely fly, or who would not use miles within a few years. Cashback needs no planning.
- People whose spending sits mostly in a few categories such as online shopping or dining. A category card earns more on that spend.
- Anyone carrying a balance from month to month. Start with the debt payoff calculator instead.
It fits best as a general card for spending that earns no bonus elsewhere, for someone already collecting miles with one of Citibank’s partner airlines.
Cards to compare it with
- The Citi Rewards Card earns 4 miles per dollar on online and clothing spend, capped at $1,000 a month.
- The DBS Altitude Card is another general miles card, reviewed separately.
- The HSBC Revolution Card has no annual fee and a higher capped rate on contactless and online spend.
- Our air miles cards comparison and travel cards comparison set these side by side.
What To Do Next
- Work out what a mile is worth to you from one real trip, using the method in our cashback or miles guide.
- Check the current rates and exclusion list on Citibank’s PremierMiles page.
- Before renewal, decide whether 10,000 miles are worth $196.20 to you, and ask for a waiver if they are not.
- Pay the statement in full every month.
