Best Credit Cards Without SSN Requirements

Most credit card companies let you add an authorized user without providing that individual's Social Security Number. You only need their name, birthday and address in most cases.

But requirements vary by credit card company, and not all of them will allow you to add an authorized user with no SSN. To give you a better sense of what, exactly, is required to add an authorized user, we looked into some of the most popular issuers' policies.

• Capital One – SSN, Birthday and Phone Number
• Discover – SSN, Birthday, Address and Phone Number
• Citi – Name and Address
• Chase – Name, Birthday and Address
• Barclaycard – Name, Birthday, Relationship to Primary Cardmember and Citizenship status

Before adding an authorized user, you should also make sure to weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks of doing so. On the one hand, it will help the authorized user build credit. And if you mess up, the authorized user can have the negative records removed from his or her credit report. On the other hand, you're the one who's responsible for paying the bill every month.

You can find more information in WalletHub's authorized user guide.

You can get business credit cards without a Social Security number, but it's not easy and will limit your options. Approval for nearly all business credit cards is heavily reliant on the state of a small business owner's personal finances, which is why your SSN is important for card approval. It's also important because you are personally liable for all business card balances. If you don't have a Social Security number and aren't able to get one, you could apply for a business credit card with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of an SSN. But there are some steps you must take first.

First, if you don't already have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you must apply for one. You can then use your ITIN to apply for an EIN. Then, compare offers from credit card companies that will accept an EIN in place of a Social Security number. Some credit card issuers – like American Express, Bank of America, and Citibank – will accept ITINs, foreign passports, or other government-issued IDs in place of a Social Security number. Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank will allow you to apply with an ITIN in place of an SSN, but only for their secured cards.

Still, there are only certain cards you can apply for without an SSN, and issuers usually exclude business cards.

Easiest Business Credit Cards to Get Without a Social Security Number:

• Shell Small Business Credit Card: $0 annual fee. No rewards. Can apply with an EIN in place of an SSN.
• Office Depot Business Credit Card: $0 annual fee. $50 statement credit after making your first purchase of $150 within 60 days. 2% back in rewards on Office Depot purchases. Can apply with an EIN in place of an SSN.
• Sam's Club® Business Credit Card: $0 annual fee. 5% cash back on gas (up to $6,000 spent per year), 3% cash back on dining, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Must be a Sam's Club member to apply. Can apply with an EIN in place of an SSN.

Finding a suitable business credit card that will let you apply with an EIN and not an SSN is difficult. This is largely because applying with an EIN means the issuer isn't able to run a personal credit check on you. For the best chances of approval without an SSN, you'll want your business finances to be in excellent shape and very established.

Another business credit card option that doesn't require an SSN is a corporate card. Corporate cards are business credit cards that are issued to a corporation as opposed to an individual. Corporations generally need at least $10 million in annual revenue to qualify for a corporate card, however. Issuers will review the company's financial track record and use company assets like CDs and bank accounts as collateral.

It is possible to get a Citibank credit card without SSN. For certain cards, Citi will accept a copy of one of the following: passport, national ID card or other valid government-issued ID. But it really depends on your specific situation. If you don't have an SSN, the only way to apply is in a branch. So, to find the nearest branch go to: https://online.citi.com/US/JRS/pands/detail.do?ID=FinancialCenters.

No, unfortunately you can't get a Discover credit card without an SSN. Discover requires a Social Security number as part of the application process for all of its cards. So you're left with two options – either obtain a SSN or apply for a credit card that doesn't require it. Let's look at the companies that will offer you a card without an SSN first. You'll still need identification, but you can often use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or even a passport.

Here's how to get a non-Discover credit card without an SSN:

• American Express: Apply with your ITIN or passport
• Bank of America: Apply with your ITIN or passport
• Capital One: Apply with your ITIN
• Citibank: Apply with your ITIN or passport (only certain cards)
• U.S. Bank: Apply with your ITIN (secured cards only)
• Wells Fargo: Apply with your ITIN (secured cards only)

If you'd like to obtain an SSN in order to have a wider range of credit card choices, that's pretty easy to do too. We'll walk you through the application process.

Here's how to get an SSN:

1. Get authorization to work in the United States, or have another valid reason to get an SSN like having U.S. investments or income (such as scholarship money).
2. Go to a Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
3. Provide the SSA with evidence of your work authorization, identity, and age (i.e. work papers, immigration documents, passport, birth certificate).
4. Fill out the application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5).
5. Wait for approval. Your Social Security card should arrive within 2 weeks after the SSA approves your application.

So there are quite a few options available, both if you get an SSN or if you just use your ITIN or passport. If you choose the latter option, you can learn more which cards are best for you in WalletHub's article on credit cards without SSN requirements.

To get a Bank of America credit card without an SSN, go to a Bank of America branch to apply in person or call 800-932-2775. Applicants with no Social Security number cannot apply for a BofA credit card account online, and they must have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number when applying in person or by phone. In addition, the only cards you'll be able to apply for without an SSN are the Bank of America Cash Rewards and Travel Rewards cards.

You'll need to fulfill Bank of America's normal eligibility requirements to be approved for a credit card, too. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must agree to a hard credit pull on their credit report. During the application process, you'll also be asked for your annual income, source of income, and date of birth. If you're opening the account in person, you'll have to bring two forms of ID as well, such as a passport and a driver's license.

Yes, you can apply for a business credit card with an EIN only, but it's very rare. Two of the only business credit cards you can get with just an EIN, and no SSN required, are the Office Depot Business Credit Card and the Shell Small Business Credit Card. Most business credit cards require an EIN, or Employer Identification Number, which the IRS assigns every U.S.-based company that applies for one. But most business cards also require a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

The EIN shows that you're legitimately a business owner. The SSN, or ITIN, allows the credit card company to review your personal credit history when evaluating your application and hold you personally accountable for paying the bill if you're approved. Almost all business credit cards require personal liability. But there are a few exceptions.

Business credit cards you can apply for with EIN only:

• Office Depot Business Credit Card: You can apply with without an SSN if your company makes over $5 million per year and has been in business for at least three years. Or, if you are a government entity (including schools) or a nonprofit, you can apply without personal liability also. This card only works for OfficeMax and Office Depot purchases. This card requires fair business or personal credit.
• Sam's Club® Business Credit Card: You can apply without an SSN if your company makes $5+ million per year, is more than 2 years old and has more than 10 employees. You can only get this card if you're a Sam's Club member, and you need good business or personal credit to be approved. You can use the card anywhere that accepts Mastercard.
• SuperAmerica Fleet Credit Cards: You can apply for these cards without an SSN if you've been in business for at least three years. You can use it at all SuperAmerica gas stations and 45,000 partner stations nationwide. Both cards require good business or personal credit.
• Shell Small Business Credit Card: You can get this card without any personal liability if you're applying on behalf of a government entity or non-profit, or if your business has been open for at least three years and does $1+ million in yearly sales. This card requires fair business or personal credit, and you can use it at any of the 12,000 Shell gas stations nationwide.

If you want to apply for a business card with only an EIN, the choices are slim. But your options become far greater when you consider the full range of cards that require personal liability.

If you're worried that your personal credit isn't good enough to qualify for a business credit card, remember that you can apply for a secured business card, or even consider applying for a secured personal card and use it for business expenses. So, consider personal options such as the Discover it® Secured Credit Card as well as the likes of the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. Both are available to people with bad credit.

Unfortunately, you cannot get a Capital One credit card without an SSN.

With this said, Capital One will allow you to open a regular bank account with a debit card by using your ITIN.

If you're an international student, you'll be able to get the Deserve Edu Mastercard without an SSN. Otherwise, Bank of America offers two cards that accept applicants without an SSN and without credit history: Bank of America Cash Rewards and Bank of America Travel Rewards, but you must go to a local branch to apply.

You can't apply online for the Capital One QuicksilverOne with an ITIN. Apparently, they only allow applicants with SSNs to submit applications online. So you will have to fill out an application at a Capital One branch. Use this locator or the Capital One app to find the nearest branch.

Two of the Bank of America student credit cards accept applicants without an SSN or without credit history: Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students and Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students. But you must go to a local branch to apply. They will ask for your ITIN.

The best credit card for new immigrants is the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One. This credit card has an annual fee of $0, does not require a Social Security number to apply, and accepts applicants with limited credit history. Recent immigrants should have a good shot at approval as long as they are at least 18 years old and have a U.S. mailing address and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

While the Capital One Platinum card is a cheap way for new immigrants to start building credit in the United States, it's certainly not the only good option.

Best Credit Cards for New Immigrants

• Secured Mastercard® from Capital One: Best Overall
• OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for No Credit Check
• Secured Mastercard® from Capital One: Best for Low Security Deposit
• Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for Rewards
• Jasper Cash Back Mastercard: Best for No Annual Fee
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for Applicants with International Credit History

American Express, which requires good or excellent credit for approval, might seem like an odd fit for this list. However, Amex can use its Credit Passport tool to issue personal credit cards to new immigrants who have yet to build credit in the U.S., but have credit history from select international countries. Applicants can authorize American Express to access their international credit history, which can increase their approval odds for Amex credit cards.

Building a positive credit history with the U.S. credit bureaus is important for anybody who intends to stay in the United States long-term. Your U.S. credit score will impact your ability to rent an apartment, purchase a car, buy a house, and even get a job. Getting one of these credit cards and using it responsibly is a great first step toward building an excellent credit score.