What are the Mastercard Black Card requirements?

The Mastercard Black Card’s requirements for approval include a 700+ credit score, U.S. residency, and enough income to afford the card’s $495 annual fee plus monthly bill payments. Barclaycard (the issuer of the Mastercard Black Card) doesn’t publish specific income requirements, but the more you earn and the less you owe already, the better your chances for approval. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old.

Even if you do meet the requirements for the Mastercard Black Card, it’s likely not your best option. It has a huge annual fee, and the rewards don’t quite live up to what you can get with other cards. You get a simple 1 point per dollar on all purchases, which is less than the average rate for rewards credit cards.

While the card offers an introductory balance transfer APR of 0% for 15 months, it has a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5). So it may be a cool looking card with its stainless-steel design, but there are better cards that will give you more bang for your buck.

The Mastercard Black card’s requirements are pretty easy to meet. The twist is that you need to travel a lot to make the annual fee worth it. In my opinion, there are better options that may not carry the "luxury" badge, but offer a better value, like Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Preferred.

700 will give you pretty good chances for approval.