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How to Fill Out a Credit Card Application Online

5 min read

Last Updated: January 17, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You’ll need to provide personal information—like your name, address, and Social Security number—when you apply for a credit card.
Credit card issuers may check your credit score and review your credit history before approving your application.
You can apply for a credit card online, by mail, or over the phone.

Are you looking to build credit, earn rewards, or simply have a convenient payment method on everyday purchases? A credit card is one tool that can do all three. Understanding how to navigate a credit card application could help you speed up the process.

It’s a simple and straightforward process to fill out a credit card application online. You’ll need a few things to make the process go smoothly:

Your Social Security number (SSN)
Your full legal name, as well as any other names you’ve gone by
Home address, email address, and date of birth
Employment information (company name and address)
Annual gross income
Housing costs

Next, let’s go over why the credit card issuer needs this information and see some tips to help you fill out your new credit card application.

Filling out a credit card application online

When you look for the right credit card for you, you might notice that different issuers ask for specific types of information. We’ve compiled the most common steps across most major credit card applications so you can be better prepared.

Protect your information

You might first ask if it’s safe to apply for a credit card online. Is there a way to keep your personal information secure when applying online?

First, make sure you only apply for a credit card on a secure website. You can do this by looking at the web address in your browser. If the URL starts with "https://" instead of "http://" then the website is secure, indicating that the site uses an SSL certificate to encrypt data. This protects your data as it passes between your computer and theirs.

Next, make sure the website is legitimate. It’s good practice to go directly to the company website, rather than through links you’ve received. If you use a link, make sure the link includes the company domain without any misspellings. As an example, Discover Card’s preapproval link is https://www.discovercard.com/
application/preapproval/initial.

Provide your personal information

Federal law requires credit card issuers to verify your identity before opening a new account. So, a credit card issuer may ask for personal information like your legal name, address, email, date of birth, and Social Security number.

The card issuer will also use this personal information to request your credit report. A credit card company uses your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. A good credit score can help you get approved and determine what your credit limit and interest rate will be.

When applying for student credit cards, you’ll also need to provide your expected graduation date.

Did you know?

If you don’t have a good credit score, secured credit cards are a great option. Like an unsecured credit card, you can fill out a secured credit card application online. The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card helps you build your credit history with responsible use.¹

Learn More

Provide financial information

Employment: A credit card application typically requires you to select your employment status. Options might include full-time, part-time, self-employed, unemployed, retired, or student. You don’t need to have a full-time job for your credit card application. However, without full-time employment, you’ll need to show your ability to make monthly payments through other income.

Income: Issuers will ask for your total gross income on your credit card application. Your income helps credit issuers in two ways: to see if you qualify for a credit card account and how to set your credit limit.

If you’re 21 or older, you can include another person’s income that is available to you. This might be income from a partner or spouse. However, if you’re under 21, you may only consider the part of another person’s income (like a parent or guardian) that’s regularly deposited into your account.

Housing costs: The credit issuer will look at your mortgage or rent payments as they decide if you have the capacity to pay additional debt.

How do I check my credit card application status?

There are a few ways to check your credit card application status, depending on the credit card company you apply to. You may be able to call customer service or check a page on the issuer’s website to determine your approval status.

If you’ve applied for a Discover Card, you can easily check the status of your application through our online banking platform. Once you’ve received credit approval, you’ll be able to access your credit account with the Discover mobile app.

Do I have to apply for a credit card online?

Most credit card issuers have options for you to apply by mail or phone if you don’t want to submit your credit card application online but applying for your credit card online may be the most convenient way to apply. Note that if you’re under 21, you can’t apply for a credit card account on the phone.

How long does a credit card application take?

Filling out a credit card application online shouldn’t take too much time if you have access to the required information before you begin.

Once you submit your application, credit approval might come within minutes. It could take longer if the credit card company needs you provide additional information not available in your credit profile.

How to apply for a credit card: the bottom line

By taking some time to understand how to apply for a credit card online, you can cut some stress out of the process. Once you understand the details of the credit card application process, you’ll be able to move through the steps with ease.

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