The Apple Card is a credit card issued by Goldman Sachs that you manage entirely through your iPhone

The Apple Card is a credit card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA that lives in the Wallet app on your iPhone. You don't get a physical card in the mail unless you request one — most transactions happen through your phone. To get one, you need an iPhone, an Apple ID, and to meet Goldman Sachs' credit requirements, which they check by pulling your credit report.

The card itself has no annual fee. You earn cash back on purchases: 3% on Apple products and services, 2% on contactless payments made with your iPhone, and 1% on everything else. The cash back lands in your Apple Cash account, which you can spend, transfer, or leave sitting there. Interest rates and late fees work like any other credit card — the rate varies based on your credit score and current market conditions.

The entire process happens on your iPhone. You open the Wallet app, tap the plus sign, choose "Credit or Debit Card," and then select "Apple Card." From there, you answer questions about your income, employment, and housing, and Goldman Sachs makes a decision in minutes. If approved, the card is ready to use when ready through Apple Pay. If you want a physical titanium card, you request it during signup or later through the Wallet app, and it arrives in about a week.

Key Takeaways

  • You need an iPhone with the latest version of iOS, an Apple ID, and a U.S. address to request an Apple Card.
  • Goldman Sachs will check your credit report, so your credit score and payment history matter — there is no minimum score published, but most approvals go to people with fair credit or better.
  • The entire process takes place in the Wallet app on your phone, and you can use the card through Apple Pay when ready after approval.
  • You earn 3% cash back on Apple purchases, 2% on contactless iPhone payments, and 1% on everything else, with no annual fee.
  • A physical titanium card is optional and arrives separately if you request it during signup or afterward.

What You Need Before You Start

You must have an iPhone running iOS 12.1 or later — this includes iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and all newer models. You also need an active Apple ID that is set up with two-factor authentication enabled. Two-factor authentication is a security feature that requires you to verify your identity on a trusted device when you sign in from somewhere new; you turn it on in Settings under your name.

You need to be at least 18 years old and a U.S. resident with a valid Social Security number. Have your current address ready, along with information about your job and income. Goldman Sachs will ask for your annual household income, not just your personal income — if you're married or live with someone whose income you count on, you can include theirs. You don't need to provide tax returns or pay stubs at this stage; you just enter the number.

Make sure your Apple ID address matches your current mailing address. If it doesn't, update it in Settings before you start the card request. Goldman Sachs uses this address to send documents and your physical card if you request one.

How the Credit Check Works

When you request the Apple Card, Goldman Sachs performs a hard inquiry on your credit report. This means they pull your full credit history from one or more of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. A hard inquiry temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points, usually between 5 and 10 points, and stays on your report for about a year.

Goldman Sachs looks at your credit score, payment history, how much debt you already carry, and how long you've had credit accounts open. They don't publish a minimum credit score for approval, but most people who are approved have a score of 670 or higher. If you've had late payments, collections accounts, or a recent bankruptcy, approval is less likely but not impossible — the decision depends on how recent the problem was and what else is on your report.

If you're denied, Goldman Sachs will tell you why in a letter that arrives by mail within a few days. The letter explains which factors worked against you. You can dispute errors on your credit report by contacting the credit bureau directly, and you can reapply after you've fixed inaccuracies or waited for negative items to age.

The Step-by-Step Process in the Wallet App

Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus sign in the upper right corner. Tap "Credit or Debit Card," then choose "Apple Card" from the list. The app will ask you to take a photo of your face and your ID — this is part of identity verification and takes about 30 seconds.

Next, you'll answer questions about yourself: your full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email. Then comes financial information: your annual household income, employment status, and whether you own or rent your home. You'll also see questions about any existing Goldman Sachs accounts and whether you've been denied credit in the past two years. Answer honestly — Goldman Sachs cross-checks this information against your credit report.

Review the terms and conditions, which include the interest rate range, fees, and how your data is used. Then submit. Goldman Sachs usually makes a decision within minutes. If approved, your card appears in Wallet when ready and you can use it through Apple Pay right away. If the decision is pending, you'll see a message saying Goldman Sachs is reviewing your information, and you'll get an email or notification within 24 hours.

Using Your Card and Managing Your Account

Once approved, your Apple Card lives in the Wallet app. To pay with it, hold your iPhone near a contactless reader or use Apple Pay online. You can also add it to Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac if you use those devices. Every transaction shows up in the Wallet app with the merchant name, amount, and date — there's no paper statement, though you can view your full statement history in the app.

Your monthly bill is due on the same date each month. You can pay the full balance, make a minimum payment, or pay any amount in between. If you don't pay the full balance, interest accrues on the remaining amount at your card's APR. You can set up automatic payments in the Wallet app so you never miss a due date.

Cash back from your purchases lands in your Apple Cash account within a few days. You can spend it anywhere Apple Pay is accepted, send it to friends, or transfer it to your bank account. There's no minimum amount you have to let it sit before you use it.

What Happens If You're Denied

If Goldman Sachs denies your request, you'll receive a letter in the mail explaining the reason. Common reasons include a low credit score, recent late payments, high existing debt, or a recent bankruptcy or foreclosure. The letter will tell you which factors were most important in the decision.

You can reapply after you've made improvements — paying down debt, fixing errors on your credit report, or waiting for negative items to age. There's no official waiting period, but waiting at least three to six months and showing a pattern of on-time payments makes approval more likely the second time.

If you want to check your credit report for errors before reapplying, you can get a free copy from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site run by the three credit bureaus. Look for inaccurate account information, late payments that aren't yours, or accounts you don't recognize. You can dispute errors directly with the bureau that reported them.

Physical Card, Limits, and Other Details

The physical Apple Card is made of titanium and has no numbers printed on it — your card number, expiration date, and security code appear only in the Wallet app. You can request a physical card during signup or anytime afterward through the Wallet app. It arrives in about a week and works exactly like the digital version.

Your credit limit depends on your credit profile and income. Goldman Sachs doesn't publish how they set limits, but they typically range from a few hundred dollars for new cardholders to several thousand for people with strong credit. You can request a limit increase after you've had the card for a few months and made on-time payments.

There are no foreign transaction fees, which makes the Apple Card useful for travel. There is no cash advance option — you can't use the card to withdraw cash from an ATM. If you lose your iPhone or it's stolen, you can disable the card when ready in the Wallet app, and a replacement card can be ordered the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Apple Card and Apple Cash?

Apple Cash is a digital wallet that holds money you load into it; the Apple Card is a credit card that lets you borrow money and pay it back later. You can use Apple Cash to pay for things when ready, but you don't build credit history with it. The Apple Card reports to credit bureaus, so on-time payments help your credit score.

Can I use the Apple Card without an iPhone?

No. The Apple Card is managed entirely through the Wallet app on iPhone, and you need an iPhone to request it, manage your account, and view your statements. You can add the card to Apple Watch or iPad for payments, but you must have an iPhone to set it up.

Does explore for the Apple Card hurt my credit score?

Yes, the hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points, usually 5 to 10, and stays on your report for about a year. The impact is temporary — your score recovers as you make on-time payments and your account ages. Multiple applications within a short time period have a larger impact than a single process.

What if I already have a Goldman Sachs credit card?

You can still request an Apple Card. If you already have another Goldman Sachs card, the company may review your account history with them, which can work in your favor if you've made on-time payments. You'll manage both cards separately in the Wallet app.

How long does approval take?

Most decisions come within minutes. If your process needs more review, you'll see a pending status in the Wallet app and receive an email or notification within 24 hours. In rare cases, Goldman Sachs may ask for additional information by mail, which can extend the timeline to a few days.