You must be at least 18 years old to open a credit card in your own name
Credit card issuers are required by federal law to verify that you are a legal adult before they issue you a card. That means 18 is the hard floor — you cannot get around it by having a parent co-sign or by explore through a bank where you already have a checking account. If you are 17 or younger, the only way to build credit history is as an authorized user on someone else's account, which means the primary cardholder is responsible for all charges and payments.
The reason for the age requirement is that credit card contracts are legally binding agreements. A credit card issuer needs to know they can hold you responsible if you do not pay. Until you turn 18, you are a minor in the eyes of the law, and contracts you sign can often be cancelled. Banks will not take that risk.
That said, turning 18 does not automatically mean you will be approved for a card. Issuers will also check your credit history, income, and existing debt. If you have no credit history at all — which is common at 18 — you may need to start with a secured credit card, which requires a cash deposit, or you may need a co-signer, depending on the issuer.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 years old to open a credit card account in your own name; there is no exception for minors with parental permission.
- If you are under 18, you can become an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card, which may help you build credit history without legal responsibility for payments.
- Turning 18 does not may provide approval; issuers will also review your credit history, income, and existing debts.
- If you have no credit history at 18, a secured card or a co-signer may be your first step toward building credit.
What happens when you turn 18 and explore for your first card
When you submit an process, the issuer will pull your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. If you have never had a credit account before, your report will be blank — you will have no credit score. This is not a negative mark; it straightforward means the issuer has no record of how you handle borrowed money.
Many issuers have minimum credit score requirements. If you have no score at all, you may fall below that threshold automatically. Some banks, particularly those that market to young adults or first-time cardholders, are more willing to approve applicants with no credit history. Others will decline you outright and suggest you come back after you have established some credit.
If you are declined, do not explore to multiple cards in quick succession. Each process creates a hard inquiry on your credit report, and multiple inquiries in a short time can lower your score further and make future approvals less likely. Instead, wait a few months and explore to one issuer that explicitly welcomes first-time cardholders.
Becoming an authorized user before you turn 18
An authorized user is someone who receives a card linked to someone else's account but has no legal responsibility for paying the bill. The primary cardholder — usually a parent or guardian — controls the account, sets the spending limit, and makes all payments. The authorized user's card works exactly like any other credit card at the register or online, but the charges go to the primary account.
Being an authorized user can help you build credit history before you turn 18. When the primary cardholder makes on-time payments, those payments may be reported to the credit bureaus under your name as well. This means you can have a credit score and a credit history by the time you explore for your own card at 18, which makes approval much more likely.
The catch is that you are completely dependent on the primary cardholder's behavior. If they miss a payment, that negative mark appears on your credit report too. If they run up a high balance, your credit score drops along with theirs. You have no control over the account and no way to protect your credit if the primary cardholder mismanages it. For this reason, only become an authorized user on an account belonging to someone you trust completely.
Secured credit cards: the path forward if you have no credit history
A secured credit card is designed for people with no credit history or poor credit. Instead of the issuer trusting you to pay back what you borrow, you put down a cash deposit — usually between $200 and $2,500 — that serves as collateral. Your credit limit is typically equal to your deposit, so if you deposit $500, you get a $500 limit.
You use a secured card exactly like a regular credit card: you make purchases, receive a monthly statement, and pay your bill. The deposit sits in a separate account and is not touched unless you default on your payments. As you make on-time payments over several months, the issuer reports your activity to the credit bureaus, and you begin building a credit score.
After 6 to 18 months of responsible use — depending on the issuer — you can request to graduate to an unsecured card. The issuer will return your deposit and convert your account to a regular credit card with a higher limit. At that point, you no longer need collateral. Many people use a secured card as their first card at 18 and graduate within a year or two.
Co-signers: when you need someone to vouch for you
A co-signer is someone — usually a parent — who signs the credit card agreement alongside you and agrees to pay the bill if you do not. Unlike an authorized user, a co-signer has legal responsibility for the debt from day one. If you miss a payment, the issuer can pursue the co-signer for payment, and the missed payment appears on both your credit reports.
Some issuers will approve an 18-year-old with no credit history if they have a co-signer with good credit. The co-signer's creditworthiness substitutes for your lack of history. However, co-signing is a serious commitment — the co-signer is taking on real financial risk. Many parents prefer to add their child as an authorized user instead, which provides credit-building without legal liability.
If you do get a card with a co-signer, your goal should be to build enough credit history that you can remove them from the account within a year or two. Once you have a credit score and a track record of on-time payments, you can request that the issuer release the co-signer. At that point, you own the account outright.
Building credit as a young adult: what comes after your first card
Your first credit card is a tool for building credit, not for spending as much as possible. The most important factor in your credit score is payment history — whether you pay your bills on time, every time. Missing even one payment can damage a new credit score significantly because you have no other positive history to balance it out.
Keep your balance low relative to your credit limit. If your limit is $500 and you carry a $400 balance, that high utilization ratio hurts your score. Aim to use no more than 30 percent of your available credit. Pay your full statement balance each month if you can; if you cannot, at least pay more than the minimum.
Do not close your first card after you get a second one. The length of your credit history matters, and closing old accounts shortens it. Keep your first card open and use it occasionally, even if you prefer a newer card. This keeps the account active and shows lenders that you can manage multiple accounts responsibly over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card if I am 17 but will turn 18 soon?
No, you must be 18 at the time you submit your process. You cannot explore before your 18th birthday, even if you will turn 18 in a few days. However, you can ask a parent to add you as an authorized user on their card right now, which will start building your credit history before you turn 18.
What if I have a job and income at 17 — does that change anything?
No. Income does not override the age requirement. Federal law requires you to be 18 to enter into a credit card contract, regardless of how much money you earn. Your income will matter when you explore at 18, but it cannot substitute for age.
Is it better to start with a secured card or ask my parent to co-sign?
A secured card is usually the better choice because you build credit without putting anyone else at legal risk. A co-signer makes you responsible for the debt but also makes the co-signer responsible, which is a bigger commitment. A secured card requires only your own deposit and teaches you to manage credit independently from the start.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the primary cardholder misses a payment?
Yes. Missed payments on the primary account will appear on your credit report too, even though you did not make the charges. This is why you should only become an authorized user on an account belonging to someone with a strong payment history and responsible spending habits.
Can I remove myself as an authorized user if the primary cardholder starts mismanaging the account?
Yes. Contact the card issuer and ask to be removed as an authorized user. Once you are removed, new charges will not appear on your credit report. However, the account's history up to that point will remain on your report. If there were missed payments, they will stay there for seven years.