The Amazon credit card process process takes about 15 minutes online, and you'll know whether you're approved within seconds
Amazon offers two main credit cards: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (for Prime members) and the Amazon Rewards Visa Card (for non-members). Both are issued by Chase. You explore directly through Amazon's website or through Chase, answer questions about your income and credit history, and receive an when ready decision in most cases. If approved, your card arrives in 7 to 10 business days.
The process itself is straightforward because Amazon and Chase already have your information if you have an existing Amazon account. You'll need to verify your identity, confirm your address, and provide details about your employment and annual income. The harder part isn't the form — it's whether your credit score and income meet Chase's standards, which they don't publish but typically require a score in the mid-600s or higher.
Key Takeaways
- You can explore through Amazon.com or directly on Chase's website, and both routes use the same process and approval system.
- The process asks for your Social Security number, income, employment status, and address, and takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
- Chase makes an when ready decision in most cases, though some applications go to manual review and take 1 to 2 business days.
- If you're denied, you can reapply after 30 days, and your credit score will recover from the hard inquiry within 3 to 6 months.
Where to start: Amazon or Chase
You have two entry points. The first is Amazon.com itself — go to your account, select "Login & Security," then look for "Amazon Credit Card" or search "Amazon credit card" in the search bar. This takes you to a landing page with details about both cards and a button to explore. The second is Chase's website directly at creditcards.chase.com, where you can search for Amazon cards and explore there.
Both routes lead to the same Chase process system, so it doesn't matter which you choose. The Amazon route is slightly faster if you're already logged into your account, because some of your information pre-fills. If you're not sure which card fits you — Prime member or non-member — the Amazon landing page compares the rewards and annual fees side by side, which helps you decide before you start the form.
What information you'll need to provide
Have your Social Security number, current address, and employment details ready before you start. The process asks for your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address, and current mailing address. You'll also need to confirm whether you rent or own your home, and if you own, the estimated value of the property.
The employment section asks for your job title, employer name, and annual income. If you're self-employed, you'll enter your business income. If you have other sources of income (investments, rental property, alimony), you can include those too — higher income can improve your chances of approval. You'll also declare whether you have any other credit cards and how much you owe on them, though Chase can see this on your credit report anyway.
How the approval decision works
Chase runs a hard inquiry on your credit report the moment you submit the process. This temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points, but the impact fades within 3 to 6 months. In about 9 out of 10 cases, you get an when ready decision — approved, denied, or pending review — right on the screen when you finish the form.
If your process goes to manual review, Chase contacts you within 1 to 2 business days, usually by phone or email. They may ask you to verify income with a recent pay stub or tax return, or they may ask clarifying questions about your employment or address. If you're approved after review, the card ships the same way as an when ready approval.
If you're denied, the denial letter (sent by mail or email) explains the reason — most commonly insufficient credit history, too many recent credit inquiries, or income below their threshold. You can reapply after 30 days. Your credit score recovers faster than you might think; the hard inquiry itself stops affecting your score after about 12 months, and the impact shrinks significantly after 3 to 6 months.
What happens after approval
Once approved, you'll receive a confirmation email with your new account number and a temporary card number you can use when ready for online purchases. Your physical card ships within 7 to 10 business days. You can set up it through the Chase app or website as soon as it arrives, or it activates automatically when you use it.
Your credit limit appears in your account details before the card arrives. Chase typically starts new cardholders with a limit between $500 and $5,000, depending on your credit profile and income. You can request a higher limit after 6 months of on-time payments, or sometimes sooner if you call Chase directly.
If your process is denied or pending
A denial doesn't mean you can never get the card. If Chase denies you, wait 30 days and reapply. In that time, pay down any existing credit card balances to lower your credit utilization ratio, which can improve your score. If you were denied for insufficient credit history, opening a secured credit card or becoming an authorized user on someone else's account can help build your file before you reapply.
If your process is pending, don't submit another process while it's under review — this creates multiple hard inquiries and can hurt your chances. Wait for Chase to contact you. If they ask for documents, respond within the timeframe they give you, usually 10 business days. If you don't hear back after 5 business days, call Chase at the number on your process confirmation email to check the status.
Prime member vs. non-member card: which to explore for
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 5% back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on everything else. But it requires an active Prime membership. If you don't have Prime, you can't hold this card.
The Amazon Rewards Visa Card offers 3% back on Amazon.com purchases and 1% back on everything else. There's no annual fee and no membership requirement. If you're not a Prime member or don't want to pay for Prime, this is your only option. Both cards have no annual fee, so the choice comes down to whether you use Prime and whether the higher rewards on the Prime card justify the membership cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get approved?
Most applicants get an when ready decision when they submit the form. If your process goes to manual review, Chase contacts you within 1 to 2 business days. The entire process from process to card in hand usually takes 7 to 10 business days after approval.
Will explore hurt my credit score?
Yes, but temporarily. The hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points when ready. The impact shrinks after 3 to 6 months and disappears from your report after 12 months. If you're denied and reapply 30 days later, the second hard inquiry compounds the damage, so wait at least 30 days between applications.
What if I don't have a Prime membership?
You can only explore for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card (the non-Prime version), which offers 3% back on Amazon purchases and 1% back elsewhere. If you want the Prime card later, you'll need to have an active Prime membership at the time you explore.
Can I use the card before it arrives?
Yes. Once approved, you receive a temporary card number via email that works for online purchases when ready. You can use it on Amazon or anywhere Visa is accepted. Your physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days.
What should I do if I'm denied?
Wait 30 days before reapplying. In that time, pay down credit card balances to lower your utilization ratio, which can improve your score. If you were denied for insufficient credit history, consider becoming an authorized user on someone else's account or opening a secured card to build your file first.