How to get a credit card
You can easily apply for your first credit card (or any new card) in 3 simple steps: Compare your options, check the eligibility criteria and apply online.
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In Australia, you can apply for a credit card if you're 18, have a good credit history and meet the card's eligibility criteria.
You can usually apply for a card online, over the phone or in a branch and it should only take around 10 to 20 minutes to complete the application. Here's what you need to know.
Compare No Annual Fee, Low Interest Rate and Student Credit Cards
What do I need to think about when choosing my first credit card?
Ask yourself these three questions to help you find a credit card that works for you:
- Are you a student? If you are studying full-time at university or another approved institution, you may be able to get a credit card that's designed for students. Student credit cards usually have low credit limits and low or no annual fees, which can help you manage the account costs and reduce the risk of serious debt.
- How much do you earn? Banks and other credit card providers look at your income to help decide if you can manage a card. If you're applying for your first credit card and don't have many other accounts, the credit card provider could place more weight on your income when deciding whether to approve or decline your application. If you're worried about this, you could think about applying for a credit card with a low minimum income requirement.
- How much can you afford to pay for a credit card? Credit card annual fees and interest rate charges can quickly add up – particularly when you're not used to having one. To avoid getting into serious debt, focus on cards that offer rates and fees that are affordable for your circumstances.
What if I want a reward or frequent flyer card as my first credit card?
As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for any credit card you want – including reward credit cards, frequent flyer credit cards or other premium cards.
But make sure the card you apply for is affordable based on your income and spending habits. If you're unsure, you may want to call the credit card provider and discuss your circumstances before applying, so that you can decide if the card is worth it.
How to apply for a credit card in 3 steps
You can usually complete an online credit card application form in around 10 to 20 minutes and get a response within 60 seconds of submitting it. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get there.
1. Compare credit cards
This is an important step to help you find the right card for you. Start by thinking about what you want a credit card for and then consider the features, rates and fees applicable to different cards.
If you're comparing credit cards on Finder, you can use the comparison tables to look at the product's features and fees side-by-side or click "More info" to read reviews of individual products.
2. See if you meet the card's eligibility requirements
Each credit card has its own requirements (also known as eligibility criteria). You'll find these details on the card's review page and at the start of the online application. Below are some of the most common eligibility criteria.
Common credit card eligibility requirements in Australia
- A minimum age of 18. You must be at least 18 years old to get a credit card in Australia.
- Valid Australian residency status. In most cases, you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. If you're a temporary resident, you need to hold a valid visa. Check out the full guide on credit cards for temporary residents for more details.
- Minimum income. Many credit cards list a minimum annual income requirement, which could range from $15,000 to $80,000 or more.
- Credit history. Credit card companies will request a credit check when you submit your application. Ideally, you should have good or excellent credit history when you apply. Otherwise, you may want to focus on improving your credit rating before you apply.
3. Fill in the application
This part usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes when you apply for a credit card online.
Having the details you need ready also saves you some time. So, here's a checklist of the details and documents you need when you apply:
- Personal details. This includes your full name, date of birth, Australian residency or citizenship status, contact phone number, email address and residential address.
- Identification. You need to provide a valid form of ID, such as your driver's licence, passport or Medicare card details. Once the initial application is submitted, you may also be asked for certified copies of these documents.
- Employment details. You'll be asked for details of your employment status, including your profession, your employer's name and contact details, as well as your salary. You may also be asked to provide recent payslips that verify your income.
- Other financial details. This includes any other types of income, such as Centrelink payments, as well as any savings, shares or other assets. You also need to provide estimates of your regular expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, loan payments, bills and grocery costs.
- Card details. During the application, you'll be asked about some card features, including the credit limit and any balance transfer (if you're moving debt from an existing account). Keep in mind these details and requests are still subject to the provider's lending criteria and approval.
You may also be asked for supporting documentation once your online application is submitted. This could include:
- Copies of identity documents such as your driver's licence, passport and birth certificate
- Recent payslips
- Recent bills or bank statements
What happens after you apply?
After you've completed the different sections of the online credit card application form, check that all the information is accurate and submit the application.
Most credit card providers will then give you a response within 60 seconds of applying. You may be approved, conditionally approved or declined. The bank may ask for more information before making its final decision.
If you're approved, you can usually expect your new credit card to arrive in the mail within a week or so.
If you're not approved, spend some time comparing other options and improving your credit score before you apply for another one.
Either way, a credit enquiry will be recorded on your credit file once you've applied.
Can I get a credit card as a casual employee?
It's possible to apply for a credit card when you're a casual worker, as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements for the card you want.
However, it could be a bit trickier to prove that you meet a minimum income requirement if you're employed casually and don't have set hours (compared to someone employed permanently with fixed hours).
But you can provide supporting documentation to give the provider a clear idea of your regular income, including:
- Recent payslips for the past 2-3 months (or more)
- Your most recent income statement (previously known as a payment summary or group certificate)
- Your employer's contact details and/or a letter confirming your employment
- Your 1-2 most recent Tax Assessment Notice from the Australian Taxation Office
Other details to keep in mind when you're employed as a casual
The following factors could also have an impact on your credit card application when you're a casual employee:
- The length of time you've been with your employer (the longer, the better in this case)
- Any other sources of income
- Your savings or other assets
- Your share of regular household expenses – so if you split the cost of rent or electricity with others, make sure you only provide details of your own expenses
Another factor to think about is your potential credit limit. Credit card providers must assign you a credit limit that is no higher than what you can afford to pay off over a three-year period (including interest charges). Your income is a key part of this assessment. As there is potential for income to vary when you're employed casually, it's likely you'll be offered a lower limit than someone who earns the same amount in a full-time job.
For this reason, you may want to focus on cards that have low minimum income requirements since they usually have lower credit limits. Also consider looking at credit cards offered by your current bank as it will already have access to some of your financial history.
While there is no way to guarantee success when you apply for a credit card, including as much supporting documentation as possible gives you a greater chance of approval when you're employed as a casual, work part-time or earn income from a few different sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't activate a credit card?
First of all, you can't use any new credit card until you've activated it. And the application details will still be listed on your credit history (this is the case even if you're not approved).
What happens next depends on the provider and the terms and conditions that you agree to when you apply and submit your application. In some cases, your account may be set up as soon as your application is approved, especially for digital or virtual cards.
For example, the MoneyMe Freestyle Virtual Mastercard terms and conditions state that the card "will be activated and ready for use once MoneyMe has approved the opening of your Account", while Bankwest states its digital cards don't need to be activated.
If you don't want to activate or use a credit card after you've applied and been approved, you should call the provider as soon as possible and explain that you have changed your mind and no longer want the account. In most cases, this will void the card and the account before you have accepted it.
What credit score is needed to get a credit card in Australia?
There is no set credit score requirement that you need to meet before you can get a credit card in Australia. But many credit card providers will say that you need to have "good" or "excellent" credit history.
Your credit score can give you a sense of whether you meet this requirement. If you don't know your credit score, you can check it for free through Finder – and even see your chance of approval for credit cards and other financial products like loans.
Can I get two of the same credit card?
It's sometimes possible to get two of the same credit card but it depends on the lender's application criteria and assessment. Basically, they would want to know that you had the ability to pay off each account – and that the application wasn't a case of identity theft.
Also keep in mind that introductory bonus point and promotional interest rate offers are typically reserved for new credit card customers – and most providers explicitly state that you won't be eligible if you hold a similar account with them.
So even though there are situations when getting two of the same credit card might seem like a good idea, it's often easier and more practical to look at other options that fit with your goals. This could include:
- Sharing the account. If you want to get another physical credit card to share with your partner or another family member, you could look at adding them as a secondary cardholder to your existing account.
- Getting access to more credit. If the reason for getting another credit card is to access additional funds, you could request a credit limit increase on your existing account. If approved, this would give you access to more credit, without the hassle of having another account to manage.
- Enjoying updated features. Sometimes the features on a particular credit card will change for new customers, but not for existing customers. If that's the reason you want to apply for a new version of your credit card, call your provider first and see if the updates will be applied to your existing account in the future. If not, you could cancel your existing card before applying for the new one – or look for a new card that offers even more competitive features.
- Separating expenses. Having a different credit card for work spending, online purchases or travel can be a convenient way to manage your money, particularly for accounting. If that's the goal, you could look at getting a dedicated business credit card, a card with 0% foreign transaction fees or one with other benefits based on what you plan to use it for.
Ready to get a new credit card, start by comparing a range of options. Once you find one you want to apply for, click through to the online application, follow these steps and wait for the response.
Images: Getty and Shutterstock
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Ask an Expert
How long does it take for an application to be approved, and for cards to be received? We are going away in 2 months and need to know if we should start applying now.
Cheers
Hi Ben. Thanks for your question. An application should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Once you finish, you should have a response in about a minute. After approval, a card will be sent out in about a week and half. When you receive the card, you will need to activate it, which can be done over the phone, and you can start using your card right away. Jacob.
I’m new in Australia permanent resident about just over a year ago and I’ve only been working for 9 months and get paid 60000 a year I have took out car finance about 6 months ago. Am I eligible. For credit card or do I have to wait a bit longer to apply for one? Thanks
Hi Susan,
Thanks for your question.
Applying for a credit card as a temporary resident may vary depending on what type of visa you hold, your income, and other individual details. You can use this guide to compare credit cards for temporary residents. You can press the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
Can I cancel the credit card when I have no longer use of it and if I can, what should I do?
Hi Nimemsh. Thanks for your question. If you have paid your account balance in full, you can cancel your credit card account at any time without charge. To cancel the card, you will need to call your provider. They will put you through the process, which only takes about five minutes. Once that’s done, cut the card up. Jacob.
I am a full time worker getting $652 clear money per week. i applied for a credit card to commonwealth bank and after around 6 month ,the bank accepted my offer and they sent me message with conditionally approved for 10,500 credit offer and when i sent my pay slip again they declined me,.again the manager from the broad meadows branch recommended for me but again they declined me and sent me one letter,.i m not meeting the bank’s criteria,.so can you please answer me why they are declining my credit card application,..and what should i do to get credit card, again?
Hello Baba,
Thanks for the question.
There are many reasons why a credit card application can be denied. Some of the more common reasons are: bad credit history, failing a credit provider’s point score system, or too many prior credit applications on your credit file.
To read more about these, you can read our article about the reasons for rejected credit card applications. To better understand how not to be declined on your next credit card, the same guide may also have some answers for you.
I hope this helps,
Marc