What age do you need to be to get a credit card? | Chase (2024)

FAQs

What age do you need to be to get a credit card? | Chase? ›

While you need to be 18 to enter into a credit card agreement, qualifying for a credit card before you turn 21 may not always be easy.

How old do you have to be to get a credit card? You can be an authorized user as young as 13, but you have to be 18 to sign up for your first credit card on your own. When you're ready for this step, you'll need to be prepared to show some documentation.

Kids younger than 18 can't open their own credit card. But they may be able to become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account. An authorized user is someone a cardholder has permitted to use their account.

If you're interested in building your child's credit before they turn 18, you can explore adding them as an authorized user to one or more of your credit cards. There is no legal minimum age for adding a child as an authorized user, however you should check your credit card issuer's policies.

Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter into credit card agreements, but many card issuers will allow minors to become authorized card users. Some issuers have minimum age requirements, that necessitate authorized users must be at least 13 or 16 years old.

Because people under age 18 can't open their own credit cards, you can't technically open a whole new credit card in your child's name — but you can still add them to yours. Adding someone to your account turns them into an authorized user, which gives them many of the same perks you have as the primary cardholder.

While a minor cannot legally get their own credit card until they hit 18 and show proof of a steady source of income, adding your child to your card as an authorized user can help them start building a credit history and credit score so they won't be starting from zero once they hit that coming-of-age mark.

Yes, in many cases, adding your child to your credit card account can help them build their credit. Some issuers allow you to add kids as authorized users as young as 13. That can give you several years of good credit history before they even become adults.

A credit card is essentially a means of taking out a loan; as such, you must be 18 to get one. If your child is under 18, the only way for them to “get” a credit card is to add them as an authorized user to an existing account. An authorized user is allowed to use the card but isn't responsible for paying the bill.

Do 17 year olds have a credit score? ›

Typically, minors haven't built credit and don't have their own credit reports yet. But that's not always the case. Your child under 18 can potentially have a credit report in certain scenarios, and depending on the situation, it can either be harmless or a sign of fraud that necessitates action.

As a legal guardian, you can request a free copy of your child's credit report by completing the request form on annualcreditreport.com . This will help you access one free credit report per year from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

The most common way to build credit for kids is to add them as an authorized user on your credit card. Whether they're a young child or a teenager, you can add them to your account so they can begin building credit. Basically, becoming an authorized user allows them to “piggyback” on your credit.

It's possible to get a first credit card at a young age by becoming an authorized user on a parent's account, but the legal age to apply for your own credit card is 18. 18- to 20-year-olds must apply with a co-signer (which not all banks allow) or with proof of income.

What age can you get a debit card? A child can typically get a teen debit card at 13 years old when a parent or legal guardian opens a joint teen checking account on their behalf. Teen checking accounts are typically available until the child turns 18.

It is possible to get a credit card at 16 by becoming an authorized user on an adult's credit card account. To get your own credit card, you'll need to wait until you're at least 18, and even then, you'll need to prove you have independent income or get a cosigner.

​​The only way to get a credit card for a 16-year-old is if you (as the parent or guardian) add your child to your credit card account as an authorized user/second cardholder. As an authorized user, your teen will have their own card linked to your account and be able to make purchases.

A credit card is essentially a means of taking out a loan; as such, you must be 18 to get one. If your child is under 18, the only way for them to “get” a credit card is to add them as an authorized user to an existing account. An authorized user is allowed to use the card but isn't responsible for paying the bill.

Most banks require kids to be at least 13 to open a teen checking account, through which they can get their own debit card. If you want to start their debit card journey at 12, you may be limited to prepaid debit cards.