Who Can Get a Credit Card?

Anyone who meets basic age, income, and credit rules.

It’s not only for high earners. But it’s also not for everyone.

The basic eligibility rules

Most banks start with three checks.

Nothing fancy. Just basics.

• Minimum age requirement
• Income or repayment capacity
• Credit history or proof of reliability

Meet these, and the door opens.

Miss one, and the card usually doesn’t come through.

Age requirement explained

In most cases, the minimum age is 18 years.

Some premium cards require higher age limits.

Some student cards work at the entry level.

Age confirms legal responsibility. That’s the logic.

Income matters, but not always salary

Income doesn’t always mean a job.

Banks usually accept:

• Salaried income
• Self-employed income
• Pension income
• Fixed deposit backing (for secured cards)

No income does not mean no card.

It just changes the type of card available.

Credit history plays a big role

Credit history shows past behaviour.

Good history means:

• On-time payments
• Controlled borrowing

No history means:

• New to credit
• Neutral profile

Bad history means:

• Missed payments
• High defaults

Banks trust patterns more than promises.

Who usually qualifies easily

These profiles usually qualify without much trouble:

• Salaried professionals
• Self-employed individuals with steady income
• People with existing loans paid on time
• Existing bank customers

Consistency helps more than high income.

Who may need alternate options

Some profiles need a different route:

• Students
• First-time earners
• Homemakers
• People with no credit history

For these cases, options include:

• Secured credit cards
• Add-on cards
• Student credit cards

Different path. Same learning.

Who may face rejection

Applications often get rejected when:

• Income is below minimum requirement
• Credit score is poor
• Too many loans already exist
• Documents are incomplete

Rejection is not permanent. Profiles change.

What banks look at beyond income

Quick tip. Banks also check:

• Spending behaviour
• Existing liabilities
• Stability of address or work

Small signals add up.

FAQ

Can someone without income get a credit card?

Yes, through secured or add-on cards.

Does having a bank account guarantee a credit card?

No, eligibility still applies.

Can credit cards be upgraded later?

Yes, with good usage and payment history.

In short

Credit cards are available to many profiles.

Eligibility depends on trust and repayment ability.

Starting small often works best.

Still unsure which type of credit card fits a specific profile?