You can get a credit card once you turn 18, but the card issuer will also check your income and credit history

Credit card companies have two hard rules: you must be at least 18 years old, and you must have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Beyond that, the issuer looks at your income (which can come from a job, student loans, or other sources) and your credit history. If you have no credit history yet, many issuers offer cards designed for first-time cardholders. If you have a poor credit history, you may need to start with a secured card that requires a cash deposit.

The specific income threshold varies by card and issuer. Some cards have no stated minimum income requirement, while others may require $15,000 to $25,000 annually. Student cards often accept lower income because they assume parents may help with payments. The key point: issuers want evidence that you can pay your bills, not proof of a specific dollar amount.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 18 or older and have a valid Social Security number or ITIN to open any credit card account.
  • Income requirements vary widely by card type, but many issuers accept income from employment, student loans, scholarships, or household income you have access to.
  • If you have no credit history, student cards and first-time cardholder cards are designed to accept you; if you have poor credit, secured cards require a deposit but help you rebuild.
  • The issuer will pull your credit report and score during the process process, so explore multiple times in a short period can temporarily lower your score.
  • You can begin building credit as soon as you turn 18, even if you have never borrowed money before.

Age and Legal Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old to sign a credit card contract. This is a federal requirement, not a choice by individual issuers. When you explore, you will provide your date of birth, and the issuer will verify it against your process.

You also need a valid Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The issuer uses this to check your credit history and report your account activity to the credit bureaus. If you do not have an SSN yet, you cannot open a credit card account until you do.

If you are between 18 and 21, the CARD Act of 2009 adds one more rule: the issuer must verify that you have independent income, or that a parent or guardian co-signs the account. This rule exists to prevent young adults from taking on debt they cannot repay. Independent income means money in your own name—from a job, student loans, or a scholarship you control.

Income Requirements and What Counts

Most credit card issuers do not publish a minimum income requirement. Instead, they use income as one factor in deciding whether to approve you. A typical range for standard cards is $20,000 to $30,000 annually, but this varies widely. Student cards may accept $10,000 or less. Secured cards often have no stated income minimum because the deposit itself is the security.

Income does not have to come from a job. The issuer will accept:

  • Wages or salary from employment
  • Self-employment income
  • Student loans (the full amount disbursed to you counts as income)
  • Scholarships or grants you receive directly
  • Alimony or child support
  • Social Security or disability benefits
  • Household income you have access to (such as a parent's income if you live with them and share expenses)
  • Investment or rental income

When you explore, you will enter your annual income on the process form. The issuer may ask for proof—a recent pay stub, tax return, or bank statement—but often does not verify it before approval. If you are approved and later the issuer discovers your income was significantly lower than stated, they can close the account, but this is rare for first-time applications.

Credit History and Credit Score

If you have never borrowed money before, you have no credit history. This is not the same as having bad credit. Many issuers have cards specifically for people with no credit history, and approval rates for these cards are often higher than for standard cards.

The issuer will pull your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Your credit score (usually a FICO score ranging from 300 to 850) is calculated from the information in that report. If you have no history, you will have no score, and the issuer will make a decision based on other factors—your income, employment history, and whether you have any accounts at all (such as a utility bill in your name).

If you have a poor credit score (typically below 620), standard cards will likely deny you. Your options are a secured card, which requires a cash deposit of $200 to $2,500, or a card designed for people rebuilding credit. Secured cards report to the credit bureaus just like regular cards, so on-time payments help you build a better score over time.

Each time you explore for a credit card, the issuer performs a hard inquiry on your credit report. This inquiry temporarily lowers your score by a few points. Multiple applications within a short period (say, within two weeks) can add up and make approval harder. Space out applications by at least a few weeks if you are explore to multiple cards.

Special Situations: Students, Young Adults, and First-Time Cardholders

If you are a student under 21, you have two paths. You can explore for a student card, which is designed for people with little or no income and no credit history. Student cards typically have lower credit limits (often $500 to $2,500) and may offer rewards on categories like dining or bookstores. You do not need a co-signer for a student card.

Alternatively, you can ask a parent or guardian to co-sign your process for a regular card. A co-signer is legally responsible for the debt if you do not pay. This option gives you access to cards with better rewards or lower interest rates, but it puts the co-signer at risk.

If you are 18 or older but have never had a credit card, many issuers offer first-time cardholder cards. These cards have more lenient approval standards than standard cards and are designed to help you build credit from scratch. They may have higher interest rates or annual fees, but they report to the credit bureaus, so responsible use helps you may have access to for better cards later.

Secured Cards: Building Credit When You Have Little or None

A secured card requires you to deposit cash with the card issuer. That deposit becomes your credit limit. For example, if you deposit $500, you get a $500 credit limit. You use the card like a regular card, and the issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers will convert your account to an unsecured card and return your deposit.

Secured cards are useful if you have no credit history or a poor credit score. The deposit reduces the issuer's risk, so approval is much easier. The catch: you must have the cash available to deposit, and you will pay interest on any balance you carry (typically 18% to 24% APR). If you can pay your full balance each month, you avoid interest and build credit quickly.

Secured cards are not the same as prepaid cards. With a prepaid card, you load money onto the card and spend only what you have loaded. Prepaid cards do not report to credit bureaus and do not help you build credit. A secured credit card is a real credit card that reports to the bureaus and charges interest if you carry a balance.

What Happens During the process Process

When you explore for a credit card online, by phone, or in person, you will provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, employment information, and annual income. The issuer will perform a hard inquiry on your credit report and may verify your identity by asking security questions or requesting documents.

Approval or denial usually comes within minutes for online applications, or within a few business days for phone or mail applications. If you are approved, the issuer will tell you your credit limit and interest rate (APR). If you are denied, you have the right to know why—the issuer must send you a notice explaining the reason, such as "insufficient credit history" or "income too low."

If you are denied, you can explore again after addressing the issue. For example, if your income was too low, you might wait until you have a job or higher income. If your credit score was too low, you might explore for a secured card first, use it responsibly for several months, and then explore for an unsecured card.

Once approved, you will receive your card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Before you use it, you must set up it by calling the number on the back or using the issuer's app or website. Some issuers set up cards automatically when they arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card before I turn 18?

No. You must be 18 or older to sign a credit card contract. If you are younger and want to build credit, you can ask a parent to add you as an authorized user on their account. You will receive a card in your name, but the parent is responsible for the bill. This does not count as your own account, but it may help you build credit.

What if I have no income?

If you have no income at all, most issuers will deny you. However, if you are a student and your parents support you, you can list household income on your process (the income you have access to). Some student cards accept this. If you have no income and no household income to claim, a secured card is your best option because the deposit replaces the need to prove income.

Does being denied for a credit card hurt my credit score?

The hard inquiry itself lowers your score slightly (usually 5 to 10 points), but the denial itself does not appear on your credit report. However, if you explore for many cards in a short time, the multiple inquiries can add up and make your score lower. Space applications at least a few weeks apart.

Can I get a credit card with a co-signer if I am under 21?

Yes. A co-signer is legally responsible for the debt if you do not pay. This option is available for people under 21 and gives you access to cards you might not be approved for on your own. The co-signer's credit will be checked, and the account will appear on both your credit reports.

How long does it take to build enough credit to get a regular card after using a secured card?

Most issuers will consider converting your secured card to an unsecured card after 6 to 18 months of on-time payments. However, you can explore for a regular unsecured card from a different issuer sooner if you want. After 6 months of responsible use of a secured card, your credit score may improve enough to may have access to for a standard card, though this varies by issuer and your overall credit profile.