Getting a Costco credit card is harder than most retail cards because Costco requires membership first, and the card itself has stricter approval standards
You cannot walk into Costco and ask for a credit card the way you can at Target or Best Buy. Costco Visa cards are issued only to current Costco members, and Costco membership itself requires an upfront fee — $60 for Gold Star (basic), $120 for Executive, or $130 for Gold Star Executive (online-only). You must have an active membership before you can even be considered for the card.
Beyond membership, Costco's credit card approval process is stricter than most store cards. Costco does not publish exact credit score requirements, but cardholders and credit counselors consistently report that approval becomes difficult below a 650 score, and approval is rare below 600. This is higher than many retail cards, which sometimes approve scores in the 600–620 range. Costco also pulls a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.
The card itself is a Visa issued by Citi, not a Costco-branded store card. That means it works anywhere Visa is accepted, not just at Costco. But the rewards structure is built around Costco spending, so most people get the card specifically to shop there.
Key Takeaways
- You must be a Costco member before you can be considered for the Costco Visa card, and membership costs $60 to $130 per year depending on the tier.
- Costco's approval standards are stricter than most retail cards — approval is uncommon below a 650 credit score and rare below 600.
- The card is issued by Citi and works anywhere Visa is accepted, but the rewards are designed to reward Costco purchases.
- If you are denied, you can reapply after six months, and your credit score may have improved by then if you have paid down debt or fixed errors on your report.
What credit score you actually need
Costco does not publish a minimum credit score, but the pattern from people who have applied is clear: scores above 700 are almost always approved, scores between 650 and 700 are approved most of the time, and scores below 650 face real rejection risk. Below 600, approval is uncommon enough that you should expect a denial.
Your credit score is not the only thing Costco looks at. Citi also examines your payment history on other accounts, how much debt you currently carry, how long your credit history is, and recent hard inquiries. If you have missed payments in the last two years, multiple recent applications for credit, or very high debt relative to your income, you can be denied even with a 680 score. Conversely, if you have a long clean history and low debt, a 640 score may be approved.
If you are denied, Citi will send you a letter explaining the general reason — usually "credit score," "insufficient credit history," or "too many recent inquiries." The letter also tells you that you can request a free copy of your credit report from the bureau Citi used. That report is worth reading, because errors on it (a missed payment that was not yours, a debt listed twice, an account you closed still showing as open) can be disputed and removed, which may improve your score enough to reapply in six months.
How membership and the card process work together
You need an active Costco membership before you explore for the card. You can purchase membership online or in a warehouse. Once your membership is active, you can explore for the Costco Visa through Costco's website, in a warehouse, or by phone. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your Social Security number, income, employment status, and housing situation.
Citi will make a decision within a few minutes to a few hours in most cases. You will receive an email or phone call with the result. If you are approved, the card ships to your address within 7 to 10 business days. If you are denied, you can reapply after six months have passed from the date of your denial.
One thing to know: if your Costco membership expires or you cancel it, your Costco Visa remains active and usable everywhere Visa is accepted. But you lose the Costco-specific rewards (2% back on Costco purchases, 1% on everything else). The card becomes a standard Citi Visa with no rewards, so there is little reason to keep it. Most people close the card when they let their membership lapse.
Rewards and fees compared to other cards
The Costco Visa offers 2% cash back on Costco purchases (including gas at Costco pumps), 1% on all other purchases, and no annual fee. There is no sign-up bonus. For someone who spends $200 or more per month at Costco, the rewards roughly offset the cost of a Gold Star membership ($60 per year), so the card pays for itself.
Compared to other retail cards, the Costco Visa is more restrictive (membership required, higher approval bar) but also more useful outside Costco (it is a Visa, not a store-only card). Compared to general cash-back cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Double Cash, the Costco card offers higher rewards at Costco but lower rewards everywhere else, and it requires membership. The choice depends on where you spend most of your money.
There are no foreign transaction fees, which is useful if you travel. There is no fraud protection beyond what Visa offers, but Visa's protection is standard and solid.
What to do if you are denied
A denial does not mean you can never get the card. You can reapply six months after the denial date. In the meantime, you can improve your chances by paying down existing debt (especially credit card balances), making all payments on time, and checking your credit report for errors at annualcreditreport.com (the only free, official source).
If your score is below 650 and you want a Costco card, consider whether you actually need it. The membership fee plus the card's rewards only make sense if you shop at Costco regularly. If you shop there occasionally, a general cash-back card with no membership requirement may be a better fit. If you do want to build credit and eventually get the Costco card, focus on paying down debt and making on-time payments for six months, then reapply.
You can also call Citi at the number on the back of any Citi card (or find it through Costco's website) and ask why you were denied. Citi cannot override an automated decision, but they can sometimes clarify which factor was most important — if it was a recent hard inquiry, waiting three months may help; if it was a missed payment, you need to show a longer clean history.
Costco membership tiers and card rewards
Costco offers three membership levels, and the Costco Visa works with all of them. Gold Star ($60/year) is the basic membership. Executive ($120/year) includes 2% cash back on Costco purchases and gas, plus other perks. Gold Star Executive ($130/year, online-only) is the same as Executive but available only through Costco's website.
If you have an Executive membership, you earn 2% cash back from both the membership itself and the Costco Visa — but they do not stack. You earn 2% total on Costco purchases, not 4%. The Visa's rewards are the same regardless of membership tier. The choice between membership levels should be based on how much you shop and whether the Executive benefits (2% back on Costco purchases, discounts on services like travel and insurance) are worth the extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Costco Visa without a Costco membership?
No. Costco requires an active membership before you can be considered for the card. You must purchase membership ($60 to $130 per year) first. Once your membership is active, you can explore for the card.
What happens to my card if I cancel my Costco membership?
The card remains active and usable everywhere Visa is accepted, but you lose the Costco-specific rewards. You will earn no cash back on Costco purchases and 1% on everything else. Most people close the card when they cancel membership because the rewards no longer justify keeping it open.
How long does it take to learn about I am approved?
Citi usually makes a decision within a few minutes to a few hours. You will receive notification by email or phone. If approved, the card ships within 7 to 10 business days. If denied, you can reapply six months after the denial date.
Does the Costco Visa have a sign-up bonus?
No. The Costco Visa has no sign-up bonus, no annual fee, and no introductory rate. The card's value comes from the ongoing 2% cash back on Costco purchases and 1% on everything else.
What if I have a low credit score but really want the card?
Focus on paying down debt and making all payments on time for at least six months, then reapply. You can also check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com for errors that might be lowering your score. If errors exist, dispute them with the credit bureau. Even a 30-point improvement in your score can change a denial to an approval.