You must be at least 18 years old to open a credit card in your own name
Credit card companies 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 different lender. If you are under 18, your only option is to become an authorized user on someone else's card, which lets you use their account but does not build your own credit history.
The reason for the age requirement is the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, often called the CARD Act. It was passed after credit card companies had been marketing heavily to college students and young adults with limited income. The law also added another layer: if you are under 21, you have to show either a steady income of your own or have a co-signer who is willing to take responsibility if you do not pay.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 to open a credit card account in your own name, and this is a federal requirement with no exceptions.
- If you are under 21, you will need to prove independent income or have a parent or guardian co-sign the process.
- Becoming an authorized user on a parent's card before age 18 can help you build credit history without opening your own account.
- Your first card as a young adult is often a secured card or student card, which requires a cash deposit or has a lower credit limit.
- Building credit early matters because your credit history affects your ability to borrow for a car, apartment, or home later on.
What happens if you are under 18
If you are a teenager and want to start building credit, the most practical path is to ask a parent or guardian to add you as an authorized user on one of their existing cards. You will get your own card with your name on it, and you can use it to make purchases. The key difference is that the account belongs to them — they are responsible for the bill, and they can remove you at any time.
Being an authorized user does show up on your credit report, which means the account's payment history (good or bad) becomes part of your credit record. If the parent pays on time every month, that helps your credit score grow. If they miss payments or carry a high balance, it can hurt your score. This is why it matters which card you are added to — ask them to put you on an account they manage well.
Some card issuers, like Discover, allow authorized users as young as 15. Others have no stated minimum age. There is no national rule, so it depends on the card issuer's own policy. If you want to explore this route, ask your parent to call their card company and ask whether they can add you.
The income or co-signer requirement for ages 18 to 20
Once you turn 18, you can technically open a credit card on your own — but if you are under 21, the card company will ask you to prove you can pay the bill. This means one of two things: you show them your own income (from a job, a side business, or regular financial support), or you find someone willing to co-sign.
A co-signer is usually a parent or guardian who agrees in writing that they will pay your bill if you do not. From the card company's perspective, the co-signer is the backup plan. From your perspective, it means someone you trust is taking on real financial risk. Many young people ask a parent to co-sign their first card, and many parents agree because it teaches their child about credit while keeping the risk manageable.
If you have a job, even part-time, you can usually show a recent pay stub or a letter from your employer stating your income. Some card companies will also count income from a parent or guardian who is supporting you — the rules vary by issuer. When you explore, the company will ask you to list your income on the process, and they may verify it.
Types of cards available to young adults
Your first card is rarely a standard rewards card or a premium card with an annual fee. Instead, card companies offer products designed for people with no credit history or limited credit history. The two most common are student cards and secured cards.
A student card is issued by banks like Discover, Capital One, and Chase, and is marketed specifically to college students or young adults. These cards typically have no annual fee, a lower credit limit (often $500 to $2,500), and no rewards or minimal rewards. The point is not to earn cash back — it is to prove you can use credit responsibly. Once you have six months to a year of on-time payments, you can move to a better card.
A secured card requires you to put down a cash deposit, usually between $200 and $2,500. That deposit becomes your credit limit. So if you deposit $500, you get a $500 limit. You use the card like any other card, and you pay the bill each month. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, the card company will convert it to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit. Secured cards are useful if you cannot get approved for a student card, or if you are rebuilding credit after past problems.
How your first card affects your credit score
The moment you open your first credit card, a credit file is created for you at the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your credit score does not appear when ready — it usually takes 30 to 45 days of account activity before you have a score at all. Once you do, that score is based on several factors: payment history (35 percent), amounts owed (30 percent), length of credit history (15 percent), credit mix (10 percent), and new credit (10 percent).
As a young person with one new card, your score will likely start low — often in the 300 to 500 range — because you have no payment history yet and your account is brand new. This is normal and not a problem. What matters is what you do next. If you make small purchases and pay them off in full each month, your score will climb steadily. Within a year of on-time payments, you will likely be in the 600 to 700 range, which opens doors to better cards and better terms on loans.
The mistake many young cardholders make is carrying a balance and paying interest, thinking it will build credit faster. It will not. Paying interest costs you money and does not improve your score any faster than paying in full. The only thing that matters for your score is that you pay on time, every time.
What to do before you turn 21
If you are between 18 and 21 and thinking about opening your first card, start by checking whether you have any income you can document. If you have a job, even a few hours a week, that is enough. If you do not have income, talk to a parent or guardian about co-signing. Either way, explore for a student card or secured card from a reputable issuer — Discover, Capital One, Chase, and Bank of America all offer products for this age group.
Once you are approved, use the card for small, regular purchases: a coffee, a gas fill-up, a subscription you already pay for. Pay the full balance every month, on time. Set up autopay if your bank offers it — that removes the risk of forgetting. After six months to a year of perfect payments, you will be in a much stronger position to get a better card, a higher limit, or a loan if you need one.
The goal is not to spend money you do not have. It is to show lenders that you can borrow responsibly. That track record will follow you for decades and will affect everything from the interest rate on a car loan to whether you can rent an apartment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card at 17 if I have a job?
No. The age requirement is federal law, and no income or co-signer can override it. You must wait until you turn 18. In the meantime, ask a parent to add you as an authorized user on their card to start building credit history.
What is the difference between a co-signer and an authorized user?
An authorized user is added to someone else's existing account and can use the card, but the account owner is responsible for the bill. A co-signer signs a legal agreement to pay your bill if you do not, but the account is in your name. Co-signing carries more risk for the co-signer.
Do I need a co-signer if I am 18 with a job?
Not necessarily. If you have documented income, most card companies will issue you a card without a co-signer. You will still likely get a student or secured card with a lower limit, but the account will be yours alone.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the account owner misses a payment?
Yes. The account's full payment history shows up on your credit report, so late payments or high balances will lower your score. Make sure you are added to an account the primary holder manages responsibly.
What happens to my credit card when I turn 21?
Nothing automatic happens. Your card remains active and works the same way. However, once you turn 21, you no longer need to show income or have a co-signer to open new cards, so you have more options if you want to switch to a different product.