Can you get a credit card with no job?

You don’t have to be employed to get a credit card, but card issuers will likely want to see that you can afford your monthly payments.

Learn more about how your employment status can affect your credit card application, what might count as income and what card options could be available for you.

What you’ll learn:

• Having income from sources other than a traditional job could be enough for issuers to approve credit card applications.

• Beyond a full- or part-time job, income could come from self-employment, shared household income, government or retirement benefits, and savings.

• If you’re having trouble getting approved for a traditional credit card, secured cards typically have less strict eligibility requirements.

• Becoming an authorized user could be another way to access credit.

Yes, you can apply for a credit card when you’re unemployed. But when card issuers review applications, they will typically ask for information about annual income, debt and financial obligations. Without a cosigner, proof of sufficient income to make credit card payments is required by law for applicants who are younger than 21.

But income may not have to come from a traditional job.

Aside from a full- or part-time job, income could come from:

• Self-employment: Money you earn from a business you own or from independent work, such as freelance projects, may count as self-employment income.

• Partners or parents: Income earned by your partner or parents may count if you have a reasonable expectation of access to those funds.

• Government benefits: Unemployment or disability benefits, Social Security payments or money from public assistance programs may count as income on your application.

• Retirement: This may include distributions from a retirement account or Social Security payments.

• Scholarships, grants or student loans: If you have excess funds remaining after paying education expenses or tuition, that money could be included as a source of income on your application.

• Investments and savings: This source of income could apply if you’re earning interest, dividends or distributions on your balance in an investment or savings account. 

• Financial support or gifts: This might include financial support payments from alimony or child support, or monetary gifts.

Here are possible options for getting a card with no job:

A secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit as collateral to help establish the credit limit on the card. And the deposit makes secured cards easier to qualify for than traditional cards. 

At Capital One, using a secured card responsibly and making on-time payments could help you build credit and be upgraded to an unsecured credit card.

As an authorized user on the credit card account of a trusted friend or family member, you might get your own credit card. But the primary account holder is ultimately responsible for making payments. 

If you both use the account responsibly by making on-time payments and keeping balances low, it could help you build credit. But missed payments and other negative activity could have the opposite effect.

Not having a job doesn’t have to keep you from getting a credit card. But it could make it even more important to be purposeful about how you use and manage a credit card. Here are a few things that could help if you’re using a credit card while you’re unemployed:

• Staying mindful of due dates. Late payments can hurt your credit scores. But setting up alerts or automatic payments could help you make payments on time. 

• Keeping an eye on interest. If you’re only able to make the minimum payment on your credit card, interest charges could cause your balance to grow over time. You can typically avoid interest on new purchases by paying off your statement every month.

• Monitoring your credit. This can help you track your progress as you build credit. CreditWise from Capital One is a free tool that lets you monitor your credit score and report. You can also get free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

You may be able to get a credit card without a full-time job. If you’re considering applying, you can compare cards from Capital One, including secured and unsecured options. You can also check whether you’ll be approved. It’s quick, and it won’t impact your credit scores.