You can get approved for a Capital One credit card if you are at least 18 years old, have proof of enough income to make your monthly minimum payment, and meet the specific card’s credit score requirement. Capital One will also take into account your monthly housing payment and all sources of income, amongst other factors.
If you’re unsure whether you’ll be approved, Capital One offers the possibility to check if you pre-qualify for any of their cards. This way, you can better assess your approval odds before you apply. Pre-qualification is quick and it’s done using a soft inquiry, so there’s no effect on your credit score.
- Meet the general requirements. You must be at least 18 years old with a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in order to apply. You will also need to provide your birthdate and a physical U.S. address (no P.O. boxes).
- Report a sufficient annual income. Your application must include your annual income and the sources of that income. Capital One requires a monthly income that’s at least $425 more than your monthly housing payment.
- Know your credit score before you apply. Some Capital One cards require good credit for approval, which means a credit score of at least 700. Capital One also offers a number of credit cards for people with credit scores below 700. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.
- Make sure bankruptcies have been discharged. Capital One will reject your application if you have an unresolved bankruptcy on your credit report.
- Check your Capital One account and application history. Your application will be denied if you’ve submitted a Capital One credit card application twice or more in the past 30 days. The same is true if you’re past-due or over your credit limit on any other Capital One credit card accounts.
If you are unable to get approved for a Capital One credit card, consider becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account. As an authorized user, you will receive your own card, which will be linked to the primary cardholder’s account. Plus, you can build your credit history while the primary cardholder assumes responsibility for all charges on the account.
This answer was last updated on 05/06/24 and it was first published on 05/21/21. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Capital One credit card approval odds are best for people with a good or excellent credit score of 700+, an annual income of $50,000+, and relatively little debt.
Is it hard to get approved for a Capital One card? ›
It is not very hard to get a Capital One credit card because Capital One offers cards for people with bad credit, no credit, or better. As long as you meet a Capital One card's credit score requirement and you have a steady income, you should have a good chance of being approved.
What's the easiest Capital One card to get approved for? ›
Capital One credit cards for fair credit include QuicksilverOne, Quicksilver Secured, and the Platinum Mastercard. Your credit score is only one of the many factors that determine your credit approval odds. The best way to know if you'll qualify is to get pre-approved. It's quick, easy and won't hurt your score.
Why would Capital One not approve me? ›
You may be denied a secured credit card for various reasons, including a lack of credit history, low credit score or no verifiable income. If you've been denied a secured credit card, working toward increasing your credit score can help improve your chances of approval if and when you decide to reapply.
What is the minimum income for a Capital One credit card? ›
Some credit card issuers may also have general income requirements. For example, some Capital One credit card's terms and conditions require average monthly income to exceed monthly rent or mortgage payments by at least $425.
What is minimum credit score for Capital One? ›
You need a credit score of 700 or higher (good to excellent credit) to get the best Capital One credit card offers. Other options are also available for people with lower scores, as it is possible to get approved for Capital One credit card with limited credit history or a bad credit score.
What is the hardest to get a Capital One card? ›
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive. Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is hard to get because it requires excellent credit for approval and charges an annual fee of $395.
What is the starting credit limit for Capital One? ›
There is no general starting credit limit for Capital One credit cards. Your credit limit will be based on your creditworthiness once your application has been approved.
What is the #1 credit card to have? ›
The best credit card overall is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on purchases and has a $0 annual fee. For comparison purposes, the average cash rewards card in 2024 gives about 1% back.
Does Capital One give second chances? ›
Capital One Reconsideration
If your application for a Capital One credit card is denied, Capital One may give you a second chance through its reconsideration process.
The 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that dictates that Chase won't approve you for its cards if you've opened five or more personal credit card accounts from any issuer in the last 24 months.
Does Capital One approve you instantly? ›
If you apply by phone or online, you will often get a response in 60 seconds. However, in some cases we need to collect additional information to make a decision.
Does Capital One verify income? ›
W-2 Employees: Applicants must provide a copy of their most recent pay stub. The pay stub must be computer-generated, include year-to-date earnings and taxes withheld, contain no alterations, and must have been issued within 40 days of the faxed date.
What's the minimum payment on a $15000 credit card? ›
A minimum payment of 3% a month on $15,000 worth of debt means 227 months (almost 19 years) of payments, starting at $450 a month.
What is a good monthly income to get approved for a credit card? ›
If your monthly income is $2,500, your DTI ratio would be 64 percent, which might be too high to qualify for a credit card. With an income of roughly $3,700 and the same debt, however, you'd have a DTI ratio of 43 percent and would have better chances of qualifying for a credit card.
What's the easiest credit card to get? ›
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is our top pick for easiest credit card to get because it's geared toward those with limited / poor credit. It offers great rewards and charges a $0 annual fee.
What credit card has a $5000 limit with bad credit? ›
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card is the best credit card with a $5,000 limit for bad credit. You can get a $5,000 credit limit with the Bank of America Travel Secured Card by placing a refundable security deposit of $5,000. The card also offers 1.5 point per $1 spent and has a $0 annual fee.
Is Capital One pre-approval a hard pull? ›
With pre-approval from Capital One, you can answer a few questions to find out whether you're eligible for cards. The process won't harm your credit because it uses a soft inquiry.
