The two Amazon credit cards and how to start

Amazon offers two credit cards through Chase: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. The Prime version requires an active Prime membership and gives higher rewards rates on Amazon purchases. The standard version has no membership requirement but lower rewards. Both are issued by Chase, and you request one directly through Amazon's website or through Chase's website.

The process is straightforward: you fill out a form with your personal and financial information, Chase reviews it, and you get a decision within minutes to a few days. If approved, the card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You do not need to visit a bank or call anyone — the entire transaction happens online.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amazon Prime Rewards card requires an active Prime membership and offers 5% back on Amazon purchases; the standard Amazon Rewards card has no membership requirement but offers 3% back.
  • You request either card through Amazon.com or Chase.com, and Chase makes a credit decision within minutes to a few days.
  • Approval depends on your credit score, income, and credit history — there is no minimum score published, but most approvals go to people with fair credit or better.
  • The card arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days after approval, and you can use it when ready online if you choose.
  • Both cards have no annual fee, but rewards rates and sign-up bonuses vary between the two versions.

Differences between the Prime and standard Amazon cards

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is the higher-tier option. It gives 5% back on Amazon.com purchases and Amazon Fresh, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on everything else. It requires an active Prime membership to hold it. Chase occasionally offers a sign-up bonus — typically $100 to $150 in Amazon credit if you spend a certain amount in the first three months, though this offer changes.

The Amazon Rewards Visa Card has no Prime requirement. It gives 3% back on Amazon.com purchases, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on everything else. The sign-up bonus is usually lower or absent. Choose the Prime card if you already pay for Prime and spend regularly on Amazon; choose the standard card if you do not have Prime or want a simpler rewards structure.

Both cards carry no annual fee. Both are Visa Signature cards, which means you get purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel benefits like rental car insurance. The rewards post to your Amazon account as a balance you can use toward purchases.

What Chase looks at when you request a card

Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for either Amazon card, but approval typically goes to people with a credit score of 670 or higher. Chase pulls your credit report from one or more of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and checks your credit history, current debt, income, and employment status.

The company also looks at how many credit cards you have opened recently. If you have opened three or more cards in the past six months, Chase may deny you even with good credit, because it sees frequent applications as a sign of financial stress. Your income does not have to be high, but it has to be stable enough to support the credit limit Chase offers.

If you are denied, Chase will mail you a letter explaining the reason within 30 days. Common reasons are insufficient credit history, too many recent inquiries, or existing debt that is too high relative to your income. You can request a reconsideration by calling Chase, though the decision rarely changes without new information.

How to request the card online

Go to Amazon.com and search for "Amazon credit card" or navigate to the credit card section under your account. You will see both card options with their rewards rates and current sign-up bonuses. Click the button to request the card you want.

You will be taken to a Chase process page. Fill in your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, employment status, and annual income. Be accurate — Chase verifies this information against tax records and employment databases. You will also confirm your consent to a hard credit inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.

Submit the form. Chase usually gives you a decision on the spot or within 24 hours. If approved, you will see a confirmation page with your new card number and expiration date. You can use this number to make purchases on Amazon when ready, even before the physical card arrives. If you are not approved when ready, check your email for updates — Chase may request additional information or tell you to call a number to discuss your process.

After approval: set up and first use

When your physical card arrives, set up it by calling the number on the back or through the Chase mobile app. You do not have to wait for the card to arrive to start using it — Chase provides the card number when ready after approval, and you can add it to your Amazon account right away.

Set up automatic payments or pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. The card's rewards are only valuable if you do not carry a balance, because interest rates on credit cards typically run 18% to 25% annually, which erases any rewards you earn. Link the card to your Amazon account so purchases post automatically and rewards accumulate.

You can also add the card to your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) and use it anywhere Visa is accepted, not just on Amazon. Rewards outside Amazon are lower, but they still accumulate.

What happens if you are denied

If Chase denies your request, you have a few options. First, wait six months and request again — your credit profile may improve, and the denial will age off your record. Second, call Chase's reconsideration line (the number is in your denial letter) and ask if new information changes the decision. Third, request the standard Amazon Rewards card instead of the Prime version; it has slightly lower approval rates but is easier to get if you have thinner credit.

If your credit score is the issue, focus on paying down existing debt and making all payments on time for the next few months. Each on-time payment raises your score slightly. If you have errors on your credit report, dispute them with the bureau — errors can be removed, which improves your score faster than waiting.

You can also request a secured credit card from Chase or another bank in the meantime. A secured card requires a cash deposit but is much easier to get approved for, and after 12 to 18 months of on-time payments, you can graduate to an unsecured card like the Amazon card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the card before it arrives in the mail?

Yes. Chase gives you the card number when ready after approval, and you can add it to your Amazon account or digital wallet right away. The physical card typically arrives in 7 to 10 business days, but you do not have to wait to start earning rewards.

Do I lose my rewards if I cancel Prime?

No. If you have the Prime Rewards card and cancel your Prime membership, the card stays active and you keep all accumulated rewards. However, your rewards rate drops to 3% on Amazon purchases (the same as the standard card) once Prime ends. You can downgrade to the standard Amazon card if you want, but you do not have to.

What is the credit limit?

Chase does not publish a standard limit. Most new cardholders receive between $500 and $5,000, depending on credit score and income. You can request a higher limit after six months of on-time payments by calling Chase or logging into your account online.

Can I get both the Prime and standard Amazon cards at the same time?

Chase typically allows you to hold only one Amazon-branded card at a time. If you have one and request the other, Chase will usually deny the second request or ask you to close the first card. You can switch between them, but you cannot hold both simultaneously.

How long does the sign-up bonus take to appear?

The bonus posts to your Amazon account within 1 to 3 billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement. Check your Amazon account under "Your Account" and then "Gift Cards" to see your balance. The bonus appears as an Amazon balance, not as a statement credit.