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After taking time to compare credit card offers and applying for one that suits your needs, it’s exciting to find out that your application has been approved. Find out when you can expect to receive your card, what you’ll need to do when it arrives and get answers to frequently asked questions so that you can be as prepared as possible when your new credit card arrives in the mail.
Credit cards whether it’s a bank, credit union or online provider issuing the card usually take between five to ten business days to arrive in the mail. This time can obviously be affected by factors such as lost mail, mail strikes, the location of your home and the credit card provider you choose.
| Provider | Application length (approx) | Decision time (business days) | Card arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | 5-10 minutes | 60 seconds or if more information is needed, within 10 days | 5-14 business days |
| Refresh Financial | 16 minutes | 5 minutes after a secured deposit is made | 2-3 weeks |
| Scotiabank | 5-10 minutes | Within 24 hours or if more information is needed, in a few days | 5-14 business days |
| Tangerine | In a few minutes | 60 seconds or if more information is needed, within 10 days | 5-14 business days |
After you submit your credit card application, the credit card issuer will assess your credit history and current financial situation in order to determine whether or not you are eligible for the card.
They also use this process to determine how much credit they will offer you – which will ultimately determine your credit limit.
Provided you meet the application criteria, you could get conditional approval for the card within 60 seconds of submitting an online application.
If not, you may receive a follow-up call or email from the credit card issuer asking for further information.
Providing supporting documentation
When you receive conditional approval for a credit card, the issuer may also ask you to submit additional supporting documents to complete the application process. The sooner you provide this information, the faster you’ll get your card. The documents you’ll need may vary between providers, but generally include some or all of the following:
After completing the application process, your credit card will usually come in the mail within the timeframe outlined by your provider. In some situations, you may also be asked to go to your nearest branch to pick it up for security reasons.
Your new credit card will also come with an info package containing valuable information about the bank, the credit card and its terms and conditions of use. The information package will usually arrive alongside the card. Make sure you read through the provided information thoroughly before you start using your new credit card to avoid any surprise charges.
Depending on the provider, you may be able to activate your new credit card online, over the phone, in-person at a branch or at an ATM machine.
Information about card activation will be included in your information package and usually takes just a few minutes to complete. In addition, many providers place an easy to remove sticker on your new credit card with specific instructions on how to activate your card, however this is not always the case.
The signature panel on your new credit card gives you the legal authority to use it and protects you against any unauthorized transactions if it’s lost, stolen or compromised – so make sure you sign it when you first activate the card.
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