To apply for a credit card and get approved, you should first check your credit score and compare credit card offers, then get pre-qualified and pick the best card for your needs. After that, you can submit an application online, by phone, in person or by mail. Once you submit your application, you will need to wait anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks for a decision.
How to Apply for a Credit Card & Get Approved
- Check your latest credit score
- Compare credit card offers
- Pick the best card for your needs
- Get pre-approved / pre-qualified
- Fill out an online credit card application
- Submit your application and wait for a decision
- Get your card in the mail
Check Your Latest Credit Score
Your credit standing will tell you which credit cards to focus on. You’ll be able to apply for a card with high approval odds and avoid wasting time on cards you can’t get. Plus, credit scores can change a great deal in a short period of time, so even if you’ve checked your score recently, it’s worth checking again.
You can check your latest credit score for free right here on WalletHub.
Even if you don’t think you’ve established any credit history yet, it’s still worth checking just to be sure. It’s possible your parents could have made you an authorized user on one of their cards, for example.
How to Apply for a Credit Card With No Credit
If you truly have no credit history, you should stick to starter credit cards, including secured cards and unsecured cards for people with no credit. Also go for cards with no annual fees so you can build credit at a low cost.
If you’re a college student, there are plenty of enticing student credit card offers to consider, too. They won’t require any credit history and tend to give better terms and rewards than other cards for people with no credit.
Compare Credit Card Offers
You don’t know what you’re missing unless you look. Comparing credit cards based on their minimum credit score requirement and the features you’re most interested in will allow you to quickly identify the best deals.
In general, if you plan to pay your monthly bill in full, we recommend a rewards credit card. If not, look into low-interest credit cards, particularly those offering a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. It’s best not to carry a credit card balance from month to month for too long.
All else being equal, no annual fee is usually better than the alternative. But you might be able to get better rewards and save more money overall by paying a fee.
Get Pre-Approved / Pre-Qualified
Most major credit card companies allow you to see which of their cards you’re pre-approved or pre-qualified for before actually submitting an application. Pre-approval (or pre-qualification, which is essentially the same thing) only involves a soft credit pull, which will not hurt your credit standing. And if you do get pre-approved, you’ll know your chances of being approved for an account will be very high.
Pick the Best Card for Your Needs
WalletHub’s editors have already done the heavy lifting, comparing more than 1,500 offers to identify the best credit cards in the most popular categories. Just pick the card from the table below that best aligns with what you’re looking for. Alternatively, if you’d like a more customized recommendation, try WalletHub’s free CardAdvisor tool.
This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
Popular Credit Cards to Apply for in 2025
| Best For | Card Name | Min. Credit |
| Limited Credit | Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Limited History |
| Limited Credit & Cash Back | Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card | Limited History |
| Students | Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Limited History |
| No Credit Check | opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card | Bad |
| Bad Credit | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Bad Credit |
| Fair Credit | Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Fair Credit |
| Travel Rewards | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Good Credit |
| Cash Back | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Good Credit |
| Initial Bonus | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Good Credit |
| International Travel | U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card | Good Credit |
| Balance Transfer | Citi Simplicity® Card | Good Credit |
| Small Business | Ink Business Premier® Credit Card | Good Credit |
For more great offers, check out the rest of WalletHub’s best credit card picks.
Fill Out a Credit Card Application
You can apply for a credit card online, over the phone, by mail or in person. The best way to apply for a credit card is online because it’s the fastest, most convenient method and you can do it any time, from anywhere. It also makes the most sense after comparing credit card offers online, which you really need to do if you want to find the best deal. Plus, it gets your application to the card’s issuer sooner and gives you the chance to be approved instantly.
Below, you can see how the different application methods compare in a handful of key categories.
| Category | Credit Card Comparison Website | In Person | By Phone | By Mail | Bank Website |
| Quick & Easy | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Instant Decision | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Compare Offers Across Issuers | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Objectivity | Yes | No | No | No | No |
However you decide to apply for a credit card, you typically need to list your name, address, Social Security number, income, bank account information, and monthly housing payment on the application. Some credit cards are available without an SSN (using an ITIN or passport instead), and some credit card companies may require additional information (but nothing major).
All of this information serves the dual purpose of helping a credit card issuer verify that you’re a real person and determine whether you can afford a new line of credit.
Submit Your Application and Wait for a Decision
You could receive a decision immediately, depending on the issuer and whether you’re an obvious candidate for either approval or denial. If you’re not approved immediately, it could take up to 30 days to receive a decision, though you’re likely to hear back much sooner than that.
If your application for a credit card is declined, you should first figure out the reason for the rejection and see if it’s accurate. If it’s not, you may be able to ask for reconsideration. Otherwise, you should look into applying for a credit card that’s easier to get approved for. You could also consider becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account.
Learn more about what to do if your credit card application gets denied.
Get Your Card in the Mail
It generally takes around 7-10 business days to get a credit card in the mail after you’re approved. Many credit card companies offer expedited delivery if you ask for it, though, and it’s often free.
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