Can I get a credit card without income?

Amy Miller

Yes, you can get a credit card without a traditional job or standard salary. However, federal law requires credit card issuers to verify your ability to make minimum payments, meaning you still need to show some form of income or financial backing.

You don't necessarily need a weekly or biweekly income from paycheck to receive a credit card. In general, any legitimate, consistent source of income that you reasonably expect to access can be included in your credit card application. You can include wages, retirement distributions, Social Security benefits, investment returns, alimony, household or partner income, and scholarships or grants.

A secured credit card may be an option. These cards require a cash security deposit, which usually becomes your credit limit. Since the deposit reduces the risk for the lender, it may be easier to get approved even with little-to-no income. For example, the opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a solid option for people without income or credit history. It has no credit check during the application process, while the approval is nearly guaranteed if you meet the deposit requirement.

If you are enrolled in college, issuers like Discover and Capital One offer student credit cards that let you report non-job funds like parental help or part-time earnings.

Becoming an authorized user on someone else's credit card may be another option. This may help you to build your credit history and improve your chances of qualifying for your own unsecured credit card.