How to apply for a credit card

Key takeaways

• Choose a credit card type based on your needs and your financial situation

• When applying for a credit card you're likely to be asked to provide you personal details, such as your address, income, outgoings, bank account and contact details

• You’ll receive your card by mail (usually within 7-10 working days)

• Avoid applying for more credit cards immediately after rejection to prevent further damage to your credit score

A credit card can be a way for you to spread the cost of your purchases into monthly payments and can also come with financial protection if something goes wrong. But using a credit card is a financial commitment – so it’s important to take time to understand how they work and find the best card for your needs.

How do I apply for a credit card?

Applying for a credit card should be a straightforward process. Decide on the type of credit card you’re after and compare deals with a site such as MoneySuperMarket.

We’ll show you credit card deals from leading providers across the market, to find the right credit card for you. 

Here, we’ve outlined the step-by-step journey to applying for a credit card:

1. Decide on the type of credit card you want: Are you looking for a credit card to build your credit rating? Or do you want to spread the cost of a larger purchase over a few months without paying extra with a purchase credit card? You’re likely to be asked what you’ll use the credit card for when you apply.  

2. Provide any information asked for: Lenders will ask for some of your personal details, including your salary so you can prove you’ll be able to repay what you owe. 

3. See your eligibility: When you compare credit cards with MoneySuperMarket, you’ll be shown your chances of being accepted for the card so you can apply with confidence. 

4. Choose the card: You’ll need to pick which lender and card you want – different lenders offer different deals, incentives, and interest rates, depending on your financial circumstances. 

5. You’ll receive your card: Once you’re accepted for the credit card, you should receive your card quickly through the post. You can then follow the simple instructions to activate the card and start using it.

What information will I need to provide on my credit card application?

You’re likely to be asked for the following when you apply for a credit card:

• Personal details: You’re likely to be asked for your name and date of birth to confirm you’re over the age of 18 

• Address: Lenders usually ask for your current address, as well as any previous addresses over the last three years  

• Income: You’ll be asked your income (before tax, known as your gross salary) for lenders to know you have a way to pay back the money you’re borrowing

• Outgoings: You may be asked how much your monthly outgoings are to help card providers assess your affordability

• Bank account details: These could be used to set up a direct debit for payment

• Contact details: You’ll need to provide an email address and phone number so the card provider can contact you about your application

When applying for a credit card through MoneySuperMarket, we’ll also ask you what you’ll use your new credit card for – whether it’s to transfer an existing balance or for interest free spending. That way we can match you with credit card deals that best suits you.

Am I eligible for a credit card?

To be accepted for a credit card, you’ll need to meet the lender’s eligibility criteria, which will usually include the following:

• Age: You’ll usually need to be aged 18 or over to qualify for a credit card

• What you earn: Most credit card providers will require you to be employed and earning a minimum amount each year, which can range from earning £7,500 a year to earning £30,000 a year or more depending on the card

• Financial history: Most lenders will ask that you haven’t gone bankrupt and have no County Court Judgments (CCJs) against you

• Your credit score: Lenders will run a credit check to assess how likely you are to meet your repayments. Your credit report or credit file shows how well you’ve handled credit in the past. This also has an impact on your credit score. So, a low credit score (or having never borrowed before) may affect your eligibility

Want a better idea of your credit card eligibility? Our free credit card Eligibility Checker can show you your chances of being accepted for different credit cards across the market. You’ll also be shown which cards you’ve been pre-approved for – meaning the deal you see, is the deal you’ll get. You’ll also see the interest rate, any 0% interest periods and any annual fees, so you’ll have all the information you need before you apply.

Can I apply for a credit card with bad credit?

If you’ve struggled with borrowing in the past, or you’ve never borrowed before, you could find that your credit score isn’t in the best shape. While you may find your credit card options are more limited, having bad credit doesn’t mean an instant ‘no’ to getting a credit card.

There are bad credit credit cards, designed for people who have struggled with debt in the past or those who don’t have much of a credit history.

While you’ll be offered a low credit limit and a higher APR than other credit card deals, if you make regular small purchases and pay off the balance each month, you should see your credit score improve in a few months.

Once your credit score has had a boost, you should qualify for better credit card deals in the future. These types of cards are also known as credit builder credit cards.

What should I do if my application is declined?

Your first step is to check your credit card application to see if there's an obvious reason why it was rejected. It could be that there's a mistake on your credit report.

If you find an error, you can take steps to amend it.

It's not a good idea to immediately apply for further credit cards after being rejected. That's because if you're rejected a number of times, it will damage your credit score.

Your best bet in those circumstances is to look into ways of improving your credit rating. Handily, we've compiled some easy tips to help you.

Once you are ready to apply again, pay attention to your chances of approval for each card. Credit builder credit cards might have higher interest rates and offer lower credit limits, but often have a lower acceptance threshold when you apply.

Other useful guides

Need a bit more help? We've got you covered...

• How long will it take to apply for a credit card

• What type of credit card is best?

• Can I get a credit card for my business?

Compare credit cards with MoneySuperMarket

Once you know the type of card you’re looking for and you’re confident you’ve put yourself in the best position to be accepted, the next step is to compare available deals. This is easy to do with MoneySuperMarket. 

Just provide a few brief details about yourself, and we’ll take you through a ‘soft search’. This won’t leave a mark on your credit file or affect your credit score in any way but will show you the deals you’re most likely to be accepted for depending on the type of card you’re after. 

You can then compare individual features – such as the length of interest-free periods – and decide which one is right for you before clicking through to apply.   

MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker – this means we’ll show you products offered by lenders. We never take a fee from customers for this broking service. Instead, we are usually paid a fee by the lenders – though the size of that payment doesn’t affect how we show products to customers.