{"id":14361,"date":"2025-01-27T17:26:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T23:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=14361"},"modified":"2025-06-03T16:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T22:38:52","slug":"can-i-get-a-credit-card-without-a-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/credit-cards\/can-i-get-a-credit-card-without-a-job.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I get a credit card without a job?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice. <\/em>See Lexington Law\u2019s editorial disclosure for more information.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s possible to get approved for a credit card without a job, but it depends on your other sources of income, like savings, allowances, or a part-time job. Credit card companies look at your ability to repay, so having enough income or a co-signer can help improve your chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit cards are great for building credit and establishing a healthy financial history. But because income is one of many factors that affects your eligibility, you may be wondering if you can be approved for a credit card without a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is yes, you can get a credit card without a job. Being employed is a consideration, but what\u2019s important is your ability to make on-time payments. (Having a good credit history of making on-time payments in the past also helps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep the following four tips in mind when applying for credit cards to increase your chances of being accepted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Consider all forms of income<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, lenders care more about your incomethan they do your salary.This means that qualifying for a credit card\u2014even if you aren\u2019t receiving a consistent wage\u2014is still possible. Consider all income you have access to when applying for a credit card, no matter what stage of life you\u2019re in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a student<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re applying for a credit card as a student without a job, you can report any extra student aid that isn\u2019t going toward tuition as income, which may help you qualify for a credit card. Note, however, that you should not report borrowed money as income, such as student loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you have an employed spouse<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009<\/a>, those over 21 can report household income they have access to when applying for a credit card. This means you can report your spouse’s or partner\u2019s income if you have a joint bank account or if they transfer an amount of money to you every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve lost your job<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After losing a job, you\u2019ll want to avoid overextending your budget. However, a credit card can still be a useful safety net in case of an unforeseen situation when funds are tight. After filing for unemployment<\/a>, you can report these earnings, along with any severance pay, as income when applying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re retired<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may also report any non-wage income when applying for a credit card. When you\u2019re not working, this could mean interest, dividends or Social Security payments. Ideally, retirees have had a long time to build a solid credit history, which may help you get approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Leverage someone else when applying<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everyone needs a little help from time to time. If they\u2019re willing, friends and family with good credit scores<\/a> may be able to cosign or add you as an authorized user on their credit card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have someone cosign<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although it\u2019s a big favor to ask someone, having a parent or trusted close friend cosign<\/a> on a credit card is a great way to qualify if your own credit history isn\u2019t sufficient. If you choose this route, it\u2019s doubly important that you make on-time payments each month\u2014to maintain your own credit score and your cosigner\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Become an authorized user<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cardholder you trust can add you as an authorized user, provided you meet the issuer’s minimum requirements. You can then use their credit card to make purchases and pay them the amount you spent. Although the card won\u2019t be yours, as long as the primary cardholder makes consistent payments, this will contribute positive credit reporting over time. This can be a good option for those looking to build credit<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Go for a secured credit card<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re unable to qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card, you may want to explore secured options. A secured credit card<\/a> is a card with a relatively small credit limit set by a refundable safety deposit. The purpose of secured credit cards is to help people – new borrowers, those with poor credit, or those without a steady income \u2013 build credit without risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Make sure you can pay your balance<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember that if you\u2019re applying for a credit card without a job, you must be able to pay off the balance. Avoid getting into a borrowing situation that will cause you to carry over a large balance month to month, as credit card interest<\/a> can add up fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as you don\u2019t charge more than you can afford, unemployment doesn\u2019t have to be a barrier to credit-building. By developing a responsible, on-time repayment plan, you can set yourself up for credit success early on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Frequently asked questions<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does unemployment affect your credit?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unemployment doesn’t directly affect your credit. While your credit report includes your repayment history, it doesn’t include your income, employment status or whether you\u2019ve filed for or received unemployment. However, if your job loss results in missed payments or a poor credit utilization ratio<\/a> (ratio of available credit to spent credit), these things could affect your score. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a good annual income to get a credit card? <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This depends on the issuer. While income won\u2019t appear on your credit report or affect your credit score, issuers are still required to ask applicants to state their income to ensure credit borrowers can repay their debts. However, issuers set their own credit application requirements, and there’s no universal income requirement for credit cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What disqualifies you from getting a credit card? <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Credit card application approvals are at the issuer\u2019s discretion, but in most cases, you must be at least 21 years old<\/a> to open an account under your own name. If you’re under 21, you’ll likely be asked to provide proof of independent income or have an adult cosign. Beyond age, issuers can set their own income, credit score and other requirements. Failing to meet these requirements could disqualify you from obtaining a certain card, though you may still be eligible for others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should I describe my occupation on a credit application if I have no job? <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you’re unemployed, you can use the occupation field to show lenders how you spend your time. This can mean listing your occupation as a student, stay-at-home parent or even a retiree. Remember, you don\u2019t need a job to get a credit card, so being honest here won\u2019t disqualify you. The same thing goes if you come to a question about your employer information\u2014just be honest and put none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A credit card is just one part of your overall credit history. For help strengthening your credit score or understanding your credit, contact our team at Lexington Law. Get started today with a free credit assessment<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong><\/a> Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yes. College students or those looking for work may want to use credit cards to start building credit. Here are four tips for getting a credit card with no job.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":20010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[516],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHere\u2019s How You Can Get a Credit Card With No Job | Lexington Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yes. College students or those looking for work may want to use credit cards to start building credit. 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