How do I get a credit card for the first time?

To get a credit card with no credit, apply online for a starter credit card, student credit card or other type of credit card for people with limited credit history. By choosing a card designed for people with no credit, newcomers who are at least 18 years old with enough income to afford monthly bill payments will have good approval odds. You don’t need credit history to get credit. But you do need to demonstrate the ability to repay future balances.... read full answer

It’s actually easier than you might think to get a credit card with no credit. You just need to follow a few simple steps. We’ll tee them up below and then explain each in more detail.

How to Get a Credit Card with No Credit

1. Check for a credit report/score to confirm you really have no credit
2. See if your school email still works, as student credit cards are the best available to beginners
3. Compare starter credit cards to find the lowest fees and highest approval odds
4. Apply online and get a decision within days, if not instantly
5. Activate your starter credit card

So, if you want to get a credit card without credit history, start by making sure you really have no credit, then compare credit card offers, select the best one for your needs and submit an application. You could have a new card in your hands within 7-10 business days of applying.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s go through the steps involved in getting a credit card for the first time with no credit history in greater detail.

Step 1: Confirm you have no credit. You might have credit history without even realizing it. This could have come from being an authorized user on a parent’s credit card account. Or, it could be some sort of a mistake. And it could either put you in line for a better starter credit card or make it harder to get approved. You can check your credit report and score for free on WalletHub.

Step 2: See if your school email still works. College students typically get much better credit cards than other people with no credit. So if you have an active “.edu” email address, it will be an asset in your credit card search.

Step 3: Compare starter credit cards. You have to comparison shop if you want to find the best credit card deal. Your top priority should be getting a card with no annual fee whose other terms complement your spending and payment habits nicely.

Step 4: Submit your application. Actually applying for a credit card is the simplest part of the process. Just click “Apply Now” when you find your favorite offer, and we’ll redirect you to the issuer’s secure online application page. Applying online is the fastest application method. You could even be approved instantly.

Step 5: Activate your new credit card (or place a deposit on a secured card). If you don’t get approved the first time you apply for a starter credit card, place a refundable deposit on a secured credit card. Secured cards have the highest approval odds because your deposit usually matches your spending limit.

It’s simple to get a credit card with no credit. But once you open a credit card account, make sure to use it responsibly. Above all else, that means paying your bill on time every month and keeping your credit utilization as low as possible. That will ensure your credit score starts strong and stays headed in the right direction. You can track your progress for free on WalletHub, the first and only site with free daily credit score updates.

One of the easiest unsecured cards to get approved for is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. You can get approved for it even with bad credit. This card offers a $300 starting spending limit. And you can use it wherever Visa is accepted.

Easiest Unsecured Credit Cards to Get Approved For

The easiest unsecured credit cards to get generally work best for minor emergencies. You will only receive a small amount of spending power, after all.... read full answer

Unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit also tend to be very expensive, charging lots of fees and high interest rates. So, if you don’t need a small emergency loan, the best course of action is to improve your credit inexpensively with a secured card. Secured cards are cheaper than unsecured cards, build credit just as effectively, and offer the closest thing you’ll find to guaranteed approval.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's complete list of the year’s easiest credit cards to get approved for​.

To get a credit card, you need a Social Security number, a non-P.O. Box U.S. mailing address, some form of income, and to be at least 18 years old. If you’re under 21 years old, you will need your own independent income, rather than shared income, to get a credit card. Your legal name, phone number, email address and date of birth will be required, too. In some cases, an ITIN or passport will be accepted in place of a Social Security number.... read full answer

Even though people who are under 18 years old can’t get their own credit card account, they can easily become an authorized user on an adult’s account. This enables the authorized user to get a card with their name on it and to begin building credit, but they won’t be responsible for paying bills.

Here’s what you need to get a credit card:

• Social Security number. ITIN or passport is acceptable, in some cases.
• Street address. P.O. Box addresses are not accepted.
• Annual income. For applicants under 21 years old, this can’t be shared income.
• Age. You must be at least 18 years old. If under 18, you can become an authorized user.
• Credit history. You don’t need credit history to get a credit card, but a good credit score will make it possible to get the best cards.

You can get a credit card with just the bare minimum qualifications, but you may not be able to get any credit card. There are credit cards for all categories of creditworthiness, so credit cards have vastly different approval criteria from card to card.

To see what credit cards you might qualify for, start by checking your credit score for free on WalletHub. You’ll also get personalized offers for credit cards that suit your personal financial situation, with approval odds included.