Our pick if you're new to credit: Citi® Secured Mastercard®
No credit required
- No annual fee: A rare feature for a secured card
- Build credit with reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus
- Deposit between $200 - $2,500
You can’t apply for a credit card on your own if you’re under 18, and card providers will be sticklers about checking your income if you’re between 18 and 21. Still, it’s possible to get a credit card. Here’s what you should know about restrictions, authorized users and cosigners, secured and student cards and your best options by provider.
Once you turn 18, you’re allowed to get a credit card on your own. However, it’s a little more difficult to get one when you’re under 21. Federal lawmakers didn’t want young consumers to accumulate mountains of debt, so they passed the CARD Act of 2009.
The CARD Act also stipulates that if you’re under 21, you must prove your ability to pay your card bill. You can report income that you earn on your own, such as scholarships and grants or wages from your job. If you don’t have sufficient income, your other option is to add a cosigner — someone who agrees to pay if you default. If you pay late, you could damage your cosigner’s credit history.
If you’re unsure whether your income qualifies or you need a cosigner, call your card provider. In many cases, your provider will contact you with further steps after you submit your application. For more information on whether you’re ready for a credit card, check out our full guide.
If you’re under 18, you’re not allowed to get a credit card on your own. It is possible to get one, though: You just need to be an authorized user on someone else’s card account. As an authorized user:
Check out our full guide for credit cards for teens for more tips and advice on building credit when under 18.
Card issuers have different rules for authorized users and cosigned applications. Here’s a handy guide on what issuers allow (or don’t allow), as well as who offers the best secured and student cards.
Minimum age for authorized users | Cosigner allowed for those under 21 | Secured or student options available | |
---|---|---|---|
American Express | 15 | ![]() | ![]() |
Barclaycard | 13 | ![]() | ![]() |
Bank of America | None | ![]() | ![]() |
Capital One | None | ![]() | ![]() |
Chase | None | ![]() | ![]() |
Citi | None | ![]() | ![]() |
Discover | 15 | ![]() | ![]() |
HSBC | None | ![]() | ![]() |
US Bank | 16 | ![]() | ![]() |
Wells Fargo | None | ![]() | ![]() |
If you’re between 18 and 21 years old, your main problem may be the lack of a credit history. Many card providers simply won’t let you borrow money until they can see how responsible you are. Try these options instead.
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