How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Credit Card? A Complete Age-Based Guide

Starting your financial journey can happen at almost any age, but the question of how old you need to be for a credit card isn’t straightforward. The answer depends largely on whether you’re looking to become an authorized user on an existing account or open your own independent credit line.

The Authorized User Route: Early Access to Credit Education

If you’re looking to introduce younger family members to credit management without waiting for them to reach their 18th birthday, there’s a practical solution available right now. Many credit card companies permit adding authorized users to accounts at remarkably young ages—sometimes with no minimum age requirement at all.

Here’s where major card issuers stand on authorized user age minimums:

• American Express: Requires users to be at least 13 years old
• Bank of America: No age requirement specified
• Capital One: No age requirement specified
• Chase: No age requirement specified
• Citi: No age requirement specified
• Discover: Minimum age of 15
• U.S. Bank: Minimum age of 16
• Wells Fargo: No age requirement specified

When you add someone as an authorized user, they receive their own physical card displaying their name, though the account remains under your primary ownership and responsibility. This approach works well for teaching practical money management skills while maintaining parental oversight. One important note: you remain fully liable for all purchases made by authorized users, so monitoring their spending and keeping the physical card secured between supervised learning sessions makes sense initially.

The primary advantage of this route is credit history building. Adding a young family member as an authorized user on a well-maintained account can help them establish positive credit records earlier in life, which benefits them down the road.

Opening Your Own Account at 18

Once you turn 18, legal eligibility for your own credit card becomes possible. However, how old you have to be for independent credit approval involves more nuance due to income verification requirements.

All credit card applications require proof of sufficient income to cover potential balances. But the CARD Act of 2009 created a specific restriction for applicants aged 18-20: your income must come from employment, scholarships, or grants. Income sources like parental allowances or gifts don’t qualify during this window. This regulation was designed to prevent young adults from accumulating debt they couldn’t realistically repay.

If you lack eligible income sources, securing a creditworthy cosigner (someone willing to take responsibility for your debt) might work, though most major issuers don’t typically accept cosigners on credit cards. Credit unions sometimes prove more flexible with this option.

The 21+ Advantage: Fewer Restrictions

Everything changes once you reach age 21. Income restrictions loosen considerably. After this birthday, you can count essentially any income stream toward your application—gifts, allowances, government assistance, retirement distributions, or anything else you can reasonably claim.

Beyond income flexibility, young cardholders without established credit histories benefit from cards specifically designed for first-time applicants. These entry-level products feature more approachable qualification criteria, though they may carry higher interest rates or lower credit limits than premium cards.

Planning Your Credit Card Strategy

Regardless of which path makes sense for your situation, educating yourself thoroughly about how credit cards function prevents costly mistakes later. Whether you’re weighing options for how old you have to be for different types of credit products, or you’re helping family members understand these mechanics, starting with solid knowledge about interest rates, annual fees, and payment responsibilities pays dividends throughout your financial life.

The earlier you understand credit card fundamentals, the better positioned you’ll be to build a strong financial foundation that supports your long-term goals.