How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Credit Card?
This guide explains the minimum age to open a card, the income rule for young adults, and the authorized-user path that starts earlier.
The minimum age to open a card
You must be at least 18 years old to open a credit card in your own name. Before 18 you cannot be the primary account holder on a standard card, though you can be added to someone else’s account as an authorized user.
The rule for 18 to 20 year olds
Under the CARD Act, applicants under 21 must demonstrate their own independent income or have a co-signer, because they cannot qualify on household income the way those 21 and older can. This is why many college students use student cards tied to part-time income, covered in student credit cards explained. Co-signers are rare now, so income is usually the path.
Starting younger as an authorized user
To build credit before 18, the route is being added as an authorized user on a parent’s well-managed card. There is no federal minimum age for this, though individual issuers set their own, and it can put years of positive history on a young person’s file, as explained in adding a child as an authorized user.
- You must be 18 to open your own credit card.
- From 18 to 20, you need independent income or a co-signer.
- This income rule comes from the CARD Act.
- There is no federal minimum age to be an authorized user.
- Student cards are designed for applicants 18 and up.
Frequently asked questions
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