How do I apply for a Visa credit card?

Visa credit card requirements include being at least 18 years old, having enough income to pay the bills, and living in a U.S. territory. Applicants also need a Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to get approved for a Visa, though not all Visa card issuers will accept an ITIN. Certain Visa cards have requirements beyond this list of essentials, too.... read full answer

Common Requirements for a Visa Credit Card

• 18+ years old
• Steady income
• U.S. mailing address (P.O. boxes may not qualify, depending on the issuer)
• Social Security number (some cards will also accept Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers)
• Qualifying credit score (depends on the issuer and the specific card)
• Relatively low debts and housing costs

Despite being a common requirement, having a certain credit score isn’t always necessary to get approved for a Visa card. There’s technically no minimum credit score needed for a Visa credit card, since cards on the Visa network are offered to people with all types of creditworthiness. Some Visa card issuers don’t even check an applicant’s credit. Still, the best cards generally require good or excellent credit for approval.

Similarly, only some cards require information about housing costs. Your card issuer may use this information to estimate the monthly payment you can afford.

All in all, as long as you fulfill the basic eligibility requirements and apply for credit cards that align with your creditworthiness, you’ll have a good shot at getting approved for a Visa. For an even better idea of your approval odds before you apply, you can always search for pre-qualification from card issuers that offer Visa credit cards.

There is no minimum credit score requirement for Visa credit cards overall. A good credit score is recommended, though you will need a credit score of 700 or higher to be approved for some of the best Visa credit cards. You can get a Visa credit card with a bad credit score or no credit score at all.... read full answer

Generally, a credit card network does not actually set credit score requirements for any of its cards. Credit scores and other requirements for approval are the responsibility of the banks and credit unions that issue Visa credit cards in the United States.

Credit Score Needed for Notable Visa Credit Cards

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Excellent credit (a credit score of 750+)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Good credit (a credit score of 700+)
• Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®: Fair credit (a credit score of 640+)
• Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card: Limited History (less than 3 years of credit history)
• OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Bad credit (a credit score of 300+)
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit (Unsecured): Bad credit (a credit score of 300+)

You can check your credit score to be sure you’ll have high odds of being approved for a Visa credit card before you apply. Once you have your credit score, you can then search for appropriate Visa credit card offers online to get a better idea about which cards best fit your needs.

One of the best first Visa credit cards is the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card. This card is designed for people with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history). Plus, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to 1.25% back after 6 months of on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after 12 consecutive months of paying on time. The card’s annual fee is $0.

If you’re a student, a good first Visa card is the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students. It offers $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. You can also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Plus, this card has a $0 annual fee.... read full answer

Here are some of the best first Visa credit cards:

Things you should know before applying for your first Visa credit card:

• Requirements for approval: Although first Visa credit cards are available for people with little to no credit history, you must still meet certain requirements to get approved. For instance, you must be at least 18 years old and have your own income to apply for any credit card.
  
  Plus, if you are under 21, the law emphasizes that you must show that you have enough independent income to afford a credit card. In case you're under 21 and don’t have an income, you will need an adult to co-sign the application for you.
• What having a Visa card means: Visa is the network that handles the processing of your credit card and determines where the card is accepted. Visa is one of the four major credit card networks.
  
  Also, your Visa card is serviced by a bank or issuer, such as Chase, Citibank, or Bank of America. The credit card company handles billing, payments, and rewards, if applicable. The issuer is also the one that will review your credit history to see if you qualify for a card. If approved, the credit card company sets your credit limit, and your starting interest rate.
• Visa credit card acceptance: You can use your Visa credit card both in person and online at around 46 million merchants worldwide and in more than 200 countries and territories. This means that if a merchant accepts credit cards, it is very likely that they will accept Visa.
  
  Within the United States, you’ll be able to use your Visa credit card at nearly 11 million merchants.

Make sure to check out all of the best first credit cards for first-time credit users, regardless of the network they're on. Getting approved for a card with no annual fee and good rates is more important than the card’s network . Plus, if you're a student you can take advantage of it by applying for one of the best student credit cards.

Feel free to also check out WalletHub's guide on how to build credit with a credit card to set yourself on the right track from the beginning. Once you've established a credit history and built good credit, feel free to set your sights on some of the best credit cards on the market.