Best Credit Cards with No SSN Requirement for 2019:
As you can see, people can still get great credit cards without SSNs. But if you’d like to see what other offers are out there…
Credit Card SSN Requirements by Issuer:
5 Tips for Getting a Credit Card With No SSN
There are quite a few things you can do to increase the likelihood that you’ll be approved for a credit card. Depending on which route you take, certain credit card companies will be preferable over others.
- Double-Check Your SSN Eligibility
If you’re authorized to work in the United States, you can apply for an SSN. To apply, you’ll need to go to an SSN office in person and prove your age, identity, immigration status, and employment. Having an SSN will enable you to get a credit card from any major U.S. issuer.
- Look Into Getting an ITIN
You’re eligible for an ITIN if you need to file U.S. taxes without being employed in the U.S. For example, you might have investments, property, or non-compensatory income such as scholarship money. Of the top 10 credit card issuers, seven accept an ITIN, including American Express, Bank of America, and Capital One.
- Use Your Passport
Three of the top 10 issuers will consider you for a credit card as long as you have a passport, a secondary form of identification and proof of income. They are American Express, Bank of America, and Citibank (select cards only).
- Find a Cosigner
If you can find someone with an SSN to cosign your application, your lack of an SSN or ITIN won’t be an issue. Your cosigner’s personal info and credit history will determine whether or not you get approved. You’ll be able to build credit and have full use of a card, but just irresponsibility on your part could hurt your cosigner’s credit score. That person will also be liable for any missed payments.
- Become an Authorized User
You can ask a close friend or family member to list you as an authorized user on their credit card. This will help you build credit, first and foremost. But you can also take advantage of the convenience of using plastic if you and the primary accountholder can work out a process for how you’ll pay your end of the bill.
If you want to get your own credit card rather than share an account, you may want to take another look at the top offers as well as the forms of identification they require applicants to have. For your convenience, we’ve put together a short summary.
For more tips on choosing the right card, check out WalletHub’s
guide on how to get a credit card.
Ask The Experts: No SSN FAQ
You don’t need a Social Security number to get a credit card. But not having an SSN can make the process more difficult. You can’t get just any credit card without an SSN, after all. And providing a valid form of identification is only just the beginning of anyone’s credit card journey.
So to help international students, immigrants and other people who might want to apply for a credit card with no SSN, we posed the following questions to a panel of experts. You can check out who they are and what advice they had to share below.
- Why do most credit cards require applicants to provide a Social Security number?
- What tips do you have for immigrants looking to establish credit in the U.S.?
- Should undocumented immigrants be able to get U.S. credit cards?
- Should people be able to get any credit card with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)?
Methodology for Selecting the Best Credit Cards With No SSN
To identify the best credit cards available to people without a Social Security number, WalletHub’s editors compare the approval requirements, rewards, rates and fees for 1,000+ credit card offers. After excluding cards that require applicants to have an SSN, we pick the best options in a range of popular categories.
We give preference to cards that offer the most flexibility when it comes to the types of identification applicants can use in place of an SSN. We use expected net two-year earnings, after annual fees, as a tiebreaker.
Stephen C. Henry
Francine J. Lipman
William Mahnic
Kent S. Belasco
Alisa Callahan
In general, Capital One credit cards tend to be among the top offers for people with no SSN. And the Capital One Platinum Card is one of the best credit cards overall for non-student newcomers. The only downside is you won’t earn rewards with Capital One Platinum. But you can save money while building the kind of credit score needed to get a truly great rewards card. To learn more, check out WalletHub’s Capital One Platinum Card review.