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What are the Requirements to Sign Up for a Credit Card?

6 min read

Last Updated: November 7, 2024

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Credit card companies have minimum credit card eligibility requirements for your age, income, and credit score.
Student and secured credit cards have different requirements than standard credit cards.
It’s possible to sign up for some credit cards even if you have no credit history.

You can sign up for a credit card online by filling out an application or by calling customer service over the phone. For some lenders, you can also see if you’re pre-approved before applying.

That may sound easy but getting a credit card after you apply often represents years of responsible credit use. That’s because credit card issuers will review your credit history to see if you meet the necessary requirements for the card before accepting or denying your application. They want to know that you’re able (and likely) to pay them back.

But even if you have little to no credit history, you still have options to sign up for a new card.

Review the basic credit card requirements to sign up

Not everyone can sign up for a credit card and obtain approval. Every credit card issuer has their own unique eligibility criteria you’ll have to meet. Here are four examples:

First, you need to be old enough to get a credit card. The federal Credit CARD Act of 2009 mandates that if you’re under 21, you will need to have an independent income to get approved for your own credit card account. There are also student rewards cards, like the Discover it^® Student Card, for young adults who qualify. In most cases, you must be at least 18 years old to open your own credit card account.

Credit card issuers want to know that you have your own source of income to be able to pay your bills. If you’re twenty-one or older, you can include spouse or partner income (along with your own) to qualify for a student credit card. Unfortunately, if you’re under twenty-one you can only report your own independent income or assets. The exception is for borrowers in community property states where spouses (and some domestic partners) share income by law.

Credit card issuers want to know how much debt you have so they can evaluate whether your debt is manageable at your income level. A good rule of thumb is to use only a small percentage of your available credit—which is measured by your credit utilization ratio. If you already have a credit card (or another line of credit or loan) under your name, you may want to try paying down your existing debts before applying for new credit cards.

Credit card issuers evaluate your credit history and the likelihood you’ll be able to pay your bills by looking at your credit score. If you have never had a credit card or taken out a loan before, you might not have any credit history.

Credit score requirements for first-time cardmembers

With each credit application, a credit card company assesses your complete financial picture—including your credit report, income, expenses, and other criteria. Then the card issuer decides whether to extend you an offer based on that full picture. If you’ve responsibly managed other forms of credit in the past, you may qualify.

But if you’re starting out with no credit history at all, you may be a risk in the eyes of the credit card issuer because it can’t gauge your ability to make payments on time. The good news is that you have options to build your credit profile.

How to sign up for a credit card with no credit history

If you’re a college student, one option is applying for a student credit card to start your credit history.

A second option is to apply for a secured credit card. If you’re approved, a secured card requires a security deposit equal to your line of credit.

You can also become an authorized user on someone’s account, such as a parent or spouse. As an authorized user, you can make purchases and pay down a balance on the account, which can help you build credit.

Did you know?

Discover has options for people with little to no credit history. You’ll also get the benefit of earning cash back for everyday purchases, like when shopping for groceries or filling up a tank of gas.

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What to consider when signing up for a credit card

If you’ve decided to sign up for a credit card, here are some things to consider to find the best credit card for you.

Reasons you want the credit card

You should determine what your goal is for getting a new credit card. Are you hoping to use it to build your credit history? Do you want to take advantage of a promotional APR offer with a credit card balance transfer? Understanding what purpose the card will serve can help you target your search.

Your credit score

Some credit cards are built for people with excellent credit, while others may be more appropriate for someone with fair or good credit. You can review your credit card statements, as well as your credit report, to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes that could impact your credit score.

Familiarizing yourself with what’s in your credit report can help you know where you stand with an issuer’s credit card eligibility requirements. Look for areas where you can improve your score that may boost your chances of approval.

You can request your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com (the only website authorized by the federal government). Federal law allows consumers to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. And, beyond this law, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that the three credit bureaus have permanently extended the program to include one free report per week.

Rewards

A reward credit card can be a valuable tool for earning miles or cash back on eligible purchases. Someone who does a lot of flying, for example, may want a travel rewards card. On the other hand, if you make most of your credit card purchases at the grocery store, a cash back credit card might make more sense. Note that some rewards cards charge you an annual fee just for using the card, but Discover has no annual fee on any of our cards.

Fees and APR

Along with an annual fee, check whether the card has foreign transaction fees or a high APR. Signing up for a card with these fees (or a high interest rate) can increase the cost of using a credit card significantly.

Introductory bonuses

Rewards cards may offer an introductory rewards bonus for new members. If you’re interested in a particular card because of the bonus offer, you need to be clear on whether you can meet the credit card requirements to get the reward.

Discover has unlimited Cashback Match, where we’ll automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.²

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Signing up and having your credit card application approved can be an exciting way to gain access to credit and start building your financial future. You can set yourself up for success by researching the best credit card for you and using the tips above to help you use the credit card responsibly.

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What are the Requirements to Sign Up for a Credit Card?

Key Takeaways

Review the basic credit card requirements to sign up

Age

Income

Low debt

Credit score

Credit score requirements for first-time cardmembers

How to sign up for a credit card with no credit history

See if you're pre-approved

Did you know?