How to get a credit card with no credit history

To get a credit card when you have no credit history, you follow the same application process as someone who does. Ultimately, approval decisions are up to individual credit card issuers. And cards they offer people with no credit history could require deposits or have lower credit limits.

What you’ll learn:

• Issuers look at credit history, among other factors, to determine whether to approve credit card applications.

• Secured credit cards and student credit cards are designed for people with no credit history and may be easier to qualify for than other unsecured credit cards. 

• Seeing whether you’re pre-approved for credit cards can give you an idea of whether you can get a card without a credit history.

Credit history shows how a person has used credit. It’s based on borrowing account activity. Lenders and credit card issuers use that history and other factors to determine creditworthiness. So with an established positive credit history, it might be easier to get a loan or credit card, rent an apartment or house, or qualify for better loan terms or insurance rates.

When you have no credit history, it means the major credit bureaus don’t have information about how you’ve used credit in the past. If you don’t have any credit accounts, there’s no activity to build a credit history. And that means credit bureaus can’t compile credit reports. This situation is also known as being credit invisible.

If you don’t have credit scores or reports, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. There are several starter cards and other methods that can help you start to build good credit with responsible use.

Here are some starter credit card options that can work for people with no credit history:

To open a secured credit card account, cardholders make a refundable security deposit. The credit card issuer holds the deposit as collateral. That’s why secured cards can be easier to get for people with no credit history. 

Sometimes, secured card credit limits are the same amount as the security deposit. So a $200 deposit might translate into a $200 credit limit. But some cards might have a credit limit that’s higher than the amount of the security deposit. 

With the Capital One Platinum Secured card, an initial security deposit of $49, $99 or $200 can open an account with a credit line of at least $200. The amount depends on creditworthiness. Cardholders can also increase their credit limit by adding more than the minimum security deposit amount.

Student credit cards, as you might guess, are typically for college students. This means being enrolled in a four-year university, community college or other higher education institution. High credit scores or extensive credit histories may not be necessary to qualify. And since the card is unsecured, there’s no security deposit required.

With the Capital One Savor Student card, cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases.

There may also be unsecured credit cards for people with no credit history. For example, Capital One Platinum cardholders can build credit if they use the card responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments every month. Plus, there’s no annual fee. View important rates and disclosures. And they’re automatically considered for higher credit lines in as few as six months.

Retail store credit cards may have more lenient requirements. But they may also have higher interest rates and lower credit limits than other types of credit cards. Before you decide on a retail card, it may be worth confirming whether the issuer reports card activity to the credit bureaus.

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a credit card. And if you’re under 21, you’ll have extra steps to prove you can independently make payments on the account.

When you apply for a credit card, issuers will ask for information like: 

• Full name

• Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

• Date of birth

• Address

• Income

Checking whether you’re pre-qualified or pre-approved for a credit card can be a great way to compare options and gauge your chances for approval. At Capital One, you can check with no impact to your credit scores.

Depending on the issuer, applying for a credit card online may be the quickest and easiest option. But you might also be able to apply in person, over the phone or by mail.

If you’re not ready for your own credit card or aren’t approved for one, there are still ways to build credit without a card.

If the credit card account is used responsibly, being an authorized user on a trusted friend’s or family member’s account could help you build credit. But irresponsible use—by the account holder or the authorized user—could do the opposite.

With a credit-builder loan, a lender establishes an account with a fixed amount of money. Borrowers make monthly loan payments, which are typically reported to the credit bureaus. Once the loan is paid off, the account holder gets access to the money in the account.

Self-reporting isn’t something you can technically do on your own. It typically means using a third-party service to send the credit bureaus information that isn’t already being reported. That information could include payments for things like rent, cellphone bills or utility bills.

Getting a credit card without a credit history is possible. Secured and student credit cards could be two options. Becoming an authorized user is another. If you’re new to credit or searching for your next credit card, Capital One could help you: 

• See whether you’re pre-approved for credit cards without harming your credit scores.

• Explore cards for people with fair credit. 

• Earn unlimited rewards on every purchase, every day with a cash back rewards card. 

• Monitor your credit report and score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free, even if you don’t have a Capital One credit card.