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How to Apply for a Credit Card Online

8 min read

Last Updated: May 9, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Credit card applications may result in a hard inquiry on your credit history, which can impact your credit score.
Factors like your income and credit score may influence your credit card eligibility and interest rates.
Ask credit card providers clarifying questions to help you choose the best credit card for you.

Applying for a credit card can be intimidating for some people. With so many credit card options and requirements to consider, you may not know exactly where to start. Before you start applying, take the time to understand your credit card needs, the application process, and possible effects on your credit score. That way, when the time comes to make your decision, you could apply with confidence in minutes by filling out a Discover^® credit card application online.

What to consider before applying for a credit card

If you’re thinking about applying for a credit card, consider your credit needs, financial habits, priorities, and lifestyle.

If you’re new to managing credit, or you want to improve a less-than-ideal credit score, you may consider an option designed to help you build credit history with responsible use, like secured credit cards or student credit cards.

Or maybe you’ve worked hard to build a strong credit history, and now you want to earn more rewards on your everyday purchases. If you often drive long distances, you may want a gas rewards card. Or if you’re always checking out the local food scene, you might want a card that offers bonus rewards at a restaurant. You should also consider whether you’d be willing to pay an annual fee for a rewards card, or if you’d prefer a no annual fee option.

Maybe you’re a frequent traveler who needs a card with travel rewards redemption options and no foreign transaction fee. Perhaps you have high-interest credit card debt and you’re looking for a balance transfer credit card offer with a lower interest rate.

You could find cards tailored to your credit profile and find the best credit card rewards program for you, whether that’s one with cash back, travel rewards, no annual fees, or some combination of features.

Did you know?

You can compare Discover^® credit cards to other industry-leading cards to choose the one that’s best for you. Find Discover^® Cards that offer rewards in specific categories and everyday spending, all with no annual fee on every credit card.

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How to apply for a credit card

Once you’ve chosen the right credit card, you typically have a few options for applying. Choose whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Online: You can typically apply for a credit card online on the card issuer’s website. Many people choose this option because it’s convenient and quick.
In-person: If your desired credit card issuer has a local branch, you may be able to make an appointment to apply or walk in.
Over the phone: You can generally apply for a credit card by phone. Just make sure you’re in a secure location so no one overhears sensitive financial information.
By mail: You may be able to fill out a physical credit card application that you’ve received and send it to the card issuer. Keep in mind that you may wait longer for a response if you apply for a credit card by mail.

Is it safe to apply for a credit card online?

Applying for a credit card online is safe as long as you take the appropriate steps to protect your data.

A vital way to protect your personal information when applying for credit cards online is to ensure the website is secure. You can do that by making sure that the URL in the address bar begins with “https” rather than “http”. The “s” stands for “secure” and means the connection between the web server and your browser is encrypted. According to the U.S. Chief Information Officers Council, encryption obscures your information from third parties, protecting it from hackers.

You should also avoid completing a credit card application while you’re using unsecured, public wi-fi networks. It’s safer to apply at home or at a trusted friend’s house than to apply at a café or airport, for example. Public wi-fi networks aren’t always encrypted, so they may leave you vulnerable to identity theft.

Applying for a credit card can affect your credit score

Before you apply for a new credit card, it’s important to understand how it may affect your credit score. When you apply for a new credit card, the card issuer may conduct what’s known as a “hard inquiry” to view your credit file. Generally, hard inquiries appear on your credit report.

The impact that a hard credit inquiry has on your credit score depends on your unique credit history. A hard credit inquiry may stay on your credit report for two years, but it may only affect your score for several months to about one year on most scoring models.

Additionally, the FDIC says hard inquiries tend to have a small impact on your credit history, with new accounts accounting for only 10% of your total score. But if you apply for multiple new credit accounts in a short timeframe, hard inquiries may have a more significant effect on your score. It’s usually a good idea to apply for a credit card only if you think you’re likely to qualify. That way, you can avoid unnecessary hard inquiries.

You may receive a pre-approved credit card offer from a card issuer. Pre-approval means that a lender has looked at your credit report to determine whether you’re likely to qualify for a certain credit card offer, including a credit limit and annual percentage rate (APR). When a card issuer views your credit report for pre-approval or pre-qualification, they conduct a “soft inquiry”. Soft inquiries don’t affect your credit score because they’re not connected to a credit application.

Although getting a card may be more likely if you’re pre-approved, there’s no guarantee. You’ll still need to complete a full application to qualify.

How to accurately fill out your credit card application

Filling out a credit card application doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking.

Take your time and read through the application questions carefully. If a section of the application is unclear and you’re not sure how to answer, contact the credit card issuer for clarification. Answering a question incorrectly may delay the application process, so it’s better not to take a guess.

When you apply for a credit card account, all details must reflect your current financial and personal situation. For example, if something might be changing in a few weeks (like you’re getting a pay raise or starting a new job) you still need to state the details that currently apply to you. If you’d like your application and credit limit to reflect changes in your income, you may want to wait to complete the application until after those changes happen.

What information do you need for a credit card application?

Each credit card issuer may require slightly different information as part of the application process, whether you’re filling it out online or another way. In most cases, though, you’ll have to provide some combination of the following:

Social Security number (SSN)
Full legal name, as well as any other names you’ve used
Home address
Email address
Date of birth
Employment information (employment status, company name, and business address)
Annual income
Housing costs

Why do lenders require this information?

Credit card issuers have to verify your identity before opening a new credit card account in your name. They use personal information like your legal name, address, email, date of birth, and Social Security number to confirm that you are who you say you are.

Generally, credit card companies use information about your employment, income, housing costs, and credit history to determine whether you’re likely to repay your credit card debt in time. If housing costs like your rent or mortgage payment leave you without much money left from your paycheck, you may not be able to afford credit card payments. Your income and credit history can also determine the credit limit and interest rate you receive.

Likewise, if your credit history shows bad credit habits, like frequently maxing out your credit cards or missing payments, card issuers may view you as a risky applicant and deny your application.

How long does a credit card application take?

Filling out a credit card application online or over the phone may not take long if you’ve already gathered the documents and information you need.

Once you submit your application, credit approval might come within minutes. It could take longer if the credit card company needs you to provide additional information not available in your credit profile, like income verification.

Applying by mail may take longer, since your application might take time to reach the card issuer.

How do I check my credit card application status?

There are a few ways to check your credit card application status, depending on the credit card company you apply to. You may be able to call customer service or check a page on the issuer’s website to determine your approval status.

If you’ve applied for a Discover Card, you can easily check the status of your application through our online banking platform. Once you’ve received credit approval, you’ll be able to access your credit account with the Discover mobile app.

How to get a Discover® Card

You can apply for a Discover credit card online. You may want to fill out a pre-approval form to see the APR and offers you might qualify for before you apply. But again, keep in mind that even if you receive a pre-approved offer, you’ll still need to complete an application.

The bottom line

While every credit card application is different, understanding the application process and how to avoid common mistakes may increase your chances of approval and set you up for success.

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