By Evelyn Waugh
Edited by Peggy BennettHow to Get Approved for a Credit Card
By Evelyn WaughEdited by Peggy Bennett
Quick Answer
- You can get approved for a credit card by knowing your credit score, managing your credit well before you’re ready to apply, picking cards that are well-suited to your credit profile and getting prequalified before you apply.
- Improving your credit can help your approval odds, so aim to make on-time payments, keep balances low and limit new credit applications.
Getting a credit card can unlock opportunities to build your credit and access credit card perks, such as cash back rewards. But if you're new to credit or your score could use improvement, you may be nervous about whether you'll get approved when you apply.
While it can be more difficult to get approved if you have limited or damaged credit, it's not impossible. Whatever your score, you can maximize your odds of approval by doing some upfront preparation, knowing what cards you're most likely to be approved for and getting prequalified before you apply. Here are 10 steps to help you get approved for a credit card.
1. Check Your Credit Score
It's always a good idea to check your credit scores before you apply for a credit card. Lenders look at your credit score to determine how responsible you are with borrowing and repaying money. A higher credit score can make it easier to qualify for a range of cards, whereas a low or fair score can limit your options—more on this below.
You can check your credit report for free through Experian to see where you stand. Determining what range your score falls into will help you understand whether you're ready to apply for credit now and what card to apply for, or if you could use some more time to build credit.
Learn more: Follow This Checklist Before You Apply for Credit
2. Make On-Time Payments
The best thing that you can do for your credit—and your approval odds as an applicant—is to pay your bills on time every month.
Your debt payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. Late payments remain on your credit report for up to seven years, so avoiding them is important, especially if you plan to apply for a credit card or other loan in the future. Consider setting up autopay to ensure you don't forget to pay by the due date.
Learn more: How to Improve Your Payment History
3. Keep Your Balances Low
Credit card companies look at your credit utilization rate when weighing how reliable or risky you appear as an applicant. Your credit utilization is defined as how much revolving credit you're using compared to your total available credit.
Using no more than 30% of your available credit can help you avoid more substantial knocks to your credit score. Even better, aim to keep your utilization in the single digits.
Learn more: Ways to Keep Your Credit Utilization Low
4. Avoid Applying for Too Many Cards at Once
Try to keep your credit applications to a minimum and avoid applying for multiple credit cards in a short period of time. Having many hard inquiries on your credit report can temporarily lower your score and may make you appear risky to lenders.
5. Consider Experian Boost®ø
If you're new to credit or your score could use some help, Experian Boost can give you credit for monthly bills you already pay, such as eligible utility, cellphone, insurance, rent and streaming service bills. On-time payments can factor into credit scores powered by Experian data and could instantly boost your scores.
Instantly raise your credit scoresø
Add any bank accounts you use to pay your bills. Your information remains private.
We’ll detect bills with on-time payments, and you can add them to your Experian credit file.
You’ll find out right away if your credit scores increased and by how many points.
6. Apply for Cards in Your Score Range
Knowing whether you fit the credit profile for approval with a certain card can help you avoid credit denial—and unnecessary inquiries on your report. Depending on what range your score falls into, you may have your pick of many cards, or you may be limited to those designed for improving credit.
- If you have no credit, bad credit or fair credit, it can be challenging to qualify for many credit cards. It may make sense to spend some more time building up a positive credit history or consider credit-builder credit cards.
- If you have a good credit score, it becomes easier to be approved for a broader range of cards. If you have excellent credit, you'll likely qualify for most cards, so you should focus on those with features you seek, such as rewards credit cards.
Best rewards cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn points, cash back or miles on everyday spending.
Offers from our partners
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:
As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 3% (cash back)
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:
$100
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR
Rewards:
2% (Cash Rewards)
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Annual Fee:$0
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Intro APR:0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
Annual Fee:$0
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
Annual Fee:$0
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$95
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
100,000 Bonus Points
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$650
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
85,000 Bonus Points
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$250
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:29.99%*
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Cash back will be awarded as points redeemable for a statement credit
Annual Fee:$0*
See all our best rewards credit cards for 2026.
7. Consider a Secured Credit Card
If you haven't had much time to build credit yet, or if you need to recover from some hiccups in your credit history, consider applying for a secured credit card. These cards are designed specifically to give low-credit borrowers the opportunity to qualify for a card and use it to build up a history of on-time payments.
You'll need to put down a deposit to get approved, and that deposit will serve as your credit limit. Over time, these cards give you the opportunity to graduate to an unsecured credit card.
Learn more: How to Get a Secured Credit Card
8. Know What You'll Use Your Card For
You don't just want to get approved for a new credit card—you want to be happy with the card you chose, and confident that it aligns with your credit goals. So before you submit an application, be sure you've considered all your options and chosen a card in a category that covers your needs.
- Credit cards for students: Some student credit cards are designed specifically to offer students rewards tailored to their spending needs, and all student cards can provide a bridge from college into financial adulthood.
- Rewards credit cards: If you want a credit card to earn points, cash back or miles on the spending you already do, focus on rewards cards. Look for a card with a generous rewards structure in the areas where you spend the most, such as retail, dining, transportation or grocery shopping. If the spending you'll do with your card will be varied, pick one with a competitive overall rewards structure.
- Intro bonus credit cards: If you're interested in a credit card for a large purchase, such as new home appliances, pick a card that offers either a generous introductory 0% APR period or a generous welcome bonus for spending a certain amount shortly after opening the card—or, ideally, both. That way, you'll get money back on your purchase and avoid any interest charges as you pay back your purchase.
9. Get Prequalified Before You Apply
Before you apply, it's wise to get prequalified for a credit card. While prequalification isn't a guarantee of approval, it can eliminate some guesswork. It uses a soft credit inquiry, which doesn't affect your credit scores, to determine your odds of approval.
Start by reviewing cards you're likely to qualify for based on your credit profile. You can also narrow down your prequalified card search by category, breaking down matches to find what's most relevant to you. For example, you could check out balance transfer credit cards or gas rewards credit cards.
10. Submit an Application
When you're ready to apply, you'll need to provide information to the card issuer to verify your identity, as well as information on your income and monthly housing payment.
Once you submit the application, you may receive a decision right away. If you're approved, you'll receive information on how long you should expect to wait for your card to arrive in the mail, and you'll sometimes receive instant access to a virtual credit card to make purchases in the meantime.
If you're denied credit, the issuer is required to provide you with a reason and tell you which credit report they used to make their decision. Denial is disappointing, but there are steps you can take to help your odds of approval the next time you apply. A few options include becoming an authorized user on a family member's credit card, applying later after you've had a chance to improve your credit or applying for a secured credit card.
Stay the Credit Course
Getting approved for a credit card comes down to knowing where your score falls before you apply, selecting a credit card based on your score and needs and then prequalifying before you formally apply. If you can't qualify for the card you want now, maintaining good credit habits can open the door to a wider range of credit cards down the line.
Sign up for free credit monitoring through Experian to watch how your score changes over time. Within your account dashboard, you'll also have access to personalized insights into credit moves you could make to have a positive impact on your score.
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About the author
Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh is a personal finance writer covering credit, budgeting, saving and debt at Experian. She has reported on finance, real estate and consumer trends for a range of online and print publications.
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