Amazon's credit card does not have a published minimum credit score, but most people approved have scores of 670 or higher
Amazon does not publicly state a minimum credit score for either the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card or the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. However, based on what cardholders report and how the card issuer (Chase Bank) typically works, you will have the strongest chance of approval with a score around 670 or above. People with scores in the 650 to 669 range sometimes get approved, especially if they have other strong parts of their process — like a long history with no missed payments or a high income. Below 650, approval becomes much less likely.
The reason Amazon does not publish a minimum is that Chase looks at your whole financial picture, not just the number. A score of 680 with recent missed payments might lose to a score of 660 with a clean payment history. Your income, how long you have held credit accounts, and how much debt you already carry all matter. The credit score is one signal among several.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon credit cards are typically approved for people with credit scores of 670 or higher, though Chase reviews your full financial profile, not just the score.
- Your payment history and current debt load matter as much as your score — a lower score with no missed payments can sometimes beat a higher score with recent problems.
- You can check your own credit score for free through your bank, credit card issuer, or sites like AnnualCreditReport.com without hurting your score.
- A hard inquiry from Chase will lower your score by a few points temporarily if you explore, so explore only when you are ready to use the card.
- If you are denied, you can reapply after improving your score or waiting several months for negative marks to age.
How Chase decides whether to approve you
Chase uses a process called underwriting to decide whether to approve your process. The credit score is the starting point, but it is not the only thing they look at. They also examine your credit report for patterns: Do you pay on time? How much of your available credit are you using right now? How long have you had credit accounts open? Have you recently opened many new accounts?
Chase also looks at your income and employment history. If you earn $30,000 a year and are explore for a card with a $5,000 credit limit, that is reasonable. If you earn $30,000 and already carry $25,000 in credit card debt, Chase may see you as overextended. They want to know you can actually pay the bill.
The Amazon card is a rewards card with no annual fee, which means Chase makes money from the merchants you shop with, not from you. This makes them slightly more willing to approve people with lower scores than they might be for a premium card. But they still need to believe you will pay your bill.
What your credit score actually measures
Your credit score is a three-digit number (usually between 300 and 850) that summarizes your borrowing history. The most common score is the FICO score, which Chase uses. It breaks down like this: payment history (35 percent), amounts owed (30 percent), length of credit history (15 percent), credit mix (10 percent), and new credit (10 percent).
Payment history is the biggest piece. If you have missed payments, especially recent ones, your score drops significantly. Amounts owed means how much of your available credit you are using — if you have a $1,000 limit and a $900 balance, that is 90 percent utilization, which hurts your score. Length of credit history rewards you for keeping accounts open for years. Credit mix means having both revolving credit (credit cards) and installment credit (car loans, personal loans). New credit means recent hard inquiries and new accounts, which temporarily lower your score.
You can see your own credit score for free. Your bank or credit card issuer often shows it in your online account. You can also check AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official government site for free credit reports (not scores, but reports). Credit Karma and similar sites offer free scores as well, though they may use a slightly different scoring model than FICO.
The difference between checking your own score and explore for the card
Checking your own credit score does not hurt it. This is called a soft inquiry. When you log into your bank account and see your score, or when you visit AnnualCreditReport.com, nothing changes on your credit report.
explore for the Amazon card triggers a hard inquiry. Chase pulls your full credit report to make a decision. This hard inquiry shows up on your credit report and typically lowers your score by a few points — usually 5 to 10 points, sometimes more. The impact is temporary. After a few months, the effect fades. After two years, the hard inquiry stops showing on your report entirely.
Multiple hard inquiries in a short time (within 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model) often count as a single inquiry for credit card applications. So if you are shopping around for the best card, you can explore to several in a short window without multiplying the damage. But do not explore to cards you do not actually want just to see if you get approved.
What to do if your score is below 670
If your score is below 670, you have several options. First, you can wait. Negative marks on your credit report age over time. A missed payment from two years ago hurts less than one from two months ago. If you have recent problems, waiting three to six months and then reapplying gives your score time to recover.
Second, you can work on lowering your credit utilization. If you are using 80 percent of your available credit across all your cards, paying down balances to 30 percent or less will raise your score noticeably — sometimes 20 to 50 points. This takes a few weeks to show up on your report after you make the payment.
Third, you can explore for a different card first. Some cards are designed for people rebuilding credit or with lower scores. The Secured Credit Card from Capital One or the Discover it Secured Card are examples. These require a cash deposit as collateral, but they report to all three credit bureaus and can help you build a stronger profile. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you may be approved for the Amazon card.
Fourth, you can contact Chase directly. Some people call the reconsideration line after being denied and ask whether additional information (like a letter explaining a hardship, or proof of recent income) would change the decision. This does not always work, but it costs nothing to ask.
How much credit limit you might receive
Amazon does not publish typical credit limits for the card. The limit depends on your score, income, and existing debt. People with scores above 750 and low debt often receive limits of $2,000 to $5,000 or higher. People with scores in the 670 to 700 range might receive $500 to $2,000. People approved with lower scores might start with $300 to $500.
Your starting limit is not permanent. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you can request a credit limit increase. Chase may grant it without another hard inquiry, or they may do a soft inquiry. Either way, a higher limit improves your credit utilization ratio, which can raise your score further.
Why the Amazon card might not be the best first choice
If your score is below 650, the Amazon card may not approve you, and the hard inquiry will lower your score further. In that case, a secured card or a card designed for fair credit (typically 580 to 669) is a better starting point. Cards like the Capital One Platinum or the Discover it Secured offer lower approval thresholds and report to all three bureaus, which helps you build credit faster.
Once you have six to twelve months of on-time payments with a secured or fair-credit card, your score will likely rise enough to may have access to for the Amazon card. At that point, you will have a better chance of approval and a higher credit limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will explore for the Amazon card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but only temporarily. The hard inquiry will lower your score by a few points, usually 5 to 10. The effect fades over a few months and disappears entirely after two years. If you are planning to explore for a mortgage or car loan soon, wait until after those are approved before explore for the Amazon card.
Can I call Amazon or Chase to ask if I will be approved before I explore?
No. Neither Amazon nor Chase will pre-screen you without a hard inquiry. Some credit card companies offer pre-qualification tools that use a soft inquiry, but the Amazon card does not. You have to explore to find out.
What if I was denied for the Amazon card?
You can reapply after waiting at least three to six months. In the meantime, focus on paying all bills on time and lowering your credit card balances. You can also call Chase's reconsideration line within 30 days of the denial to ask if additional information would change the decision, though this rarely reverses a denial.
Does the Amazon Prime Rewards card require a higher score than the regular Amazon Rewards card?
Chase does not publish different minimums for the two cards. In practice, the Prime Rewards version (which offers 5 percent back on Amazon purchases) may have a slightly higher approval threshold because it offers better rewards, but the difference is small. Both typically require scores around 670 or higher.
If I get approved with a low credit limit, can I increase it later?
Yes. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you can request a credit limit increase. Chase may grant it with only a soft inquiry, which does not hurt your score. A higher limit also improves your credit utilization, which can raise your score further.