What are 3 things a credit card application will need?

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.

Yes, you can get a credit card for your teenager by making them an authorized user on one of your credit card accounts, or by helping them apply for their own credit card if they are 18 or older. For teens under the age of 18, becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account is the only way to get a credit card.... read full answer

Best Credit Cards for Teenagers

• Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Freedom® Student credit card

Ways to Get a Credit Card for Your Teenager

Make your child an authorized user on one of your credit card accounts.

Adding a teenager as an authorized user on your credit card account is the easiest way to help your teen build their credit. It’s easy to do, and usually it’s free, too. Your child will get their own credit card with their name on it, and purchases made with their card will come out of your account’s credit limit. All the bills will have your name on them, too, and you’re the only person who will be responsible for paying them.

As long as you pay your credit card bills on time, your child’s credit score will benefit from the card, even if they never use it. If you don’t pay your bills on time, your child will be able to successfully dispute the account and get it removed from their credit report.

Help your teenager apply for their own credit card if they are 18 or older.

If your teen is old enough and has the independent income required to make monthly bill payments, you can help them pick the best credit card to apply for. In most cases, this will be a student credit card, but there are plenty of other good starter credit cards to choose from as well.

It’s important to note that applicants who are under 21 years old can only list independent income on a credit card application. For example, they cannot include income from their parents, unless the money is in a shared account that the teen has access to.

Yes, credit cards do check your income when you apply. Credit card issuers are required by law to consider your ability to repay debt prior to extending a new line of credit. So, listing your annual income is a requirement on every credit card application. To that end, credit card issuers may also ask for proof of income, such as pay stubs, bank statements, or tax returns.... read full answer

That said, credit card issuers don't always check the accuracy of the income you write down. Unless your income is suspiciously high or low, credit card issuers will often skip the hassle of verifying the numbers. But that doesn't give you leeway to fabricate higher earnings.

What you should know before listing your income on a card application:

People sometimes inflate their income on credit card applications to increase their odds of approval or receive a higher credit limit. But knowingly lying on a credit card application is a federal crime and can result in expensive fines or prison time. So, it's best to stay honest when filling out a credit card application.

You can learn more about how your income impacts your credit limit and approval odds, right here on WalletHub.