Credit Cards for
International Students
No U.S. credit history, and often no Social Security number: here is which cards you can apply for, when you can get an SSN, and how to have a U.S. credit score by graduation.
The short answer
Your options depend on which ID number you have:
- You have an SSN (for example, from an on-campus job): you can apply for most student and secured cards, just like U.S. students. Start with our secured card rankings or cards for no credit.
- You have an ITIN: many issuers ask for “an SSN or ITIN”, so you can apply for many cards. Policies vary by issuer and card.
- You only have a passport: a few companies accept it. Chase’s guide notes that “some credit card issuers provide cards exclusively for students that will only require your passport.” Zolve, for example, says its card needs no SSN.
Everything below was checked on official and company websites on October 13, 2026.
Can an international student get an SSN?
Only if you are allowed to work. Study in the States (run by the Department of Homeland Security) says every F or M student who is granted employment authorization needs an SSN. Students who aren’t eligible for an SSN but receive non-wage income in the U.S., such as scholarships or grants, must apply for an ITIN instead.
If you have an on-campus job or other work authorization, the steps are:
- Talk to your DSO (Designated School Official). They confirm whether you are eligible to apply.
- Check your SEVIS record is Active. It must have been Active for at least two days before you apply.
- Wait 10 days after arriving in the U.S., so your arrival information reaches every government system.
- Apply in person at a Social Security office with original, unexpired documents proving your age, identity and work-authorized status.
Source: Study in the States, Obtaining a Social Security Number.
Your options, step by step
Newcomer-focused companies such as Zolve (“No SSN needed”, $0 annual fee) say you can apply without an SSN. Check which documents they ask for before you start. Read the terms carefully, and check which credit bureaus the card reports to: only reported payments build your U.S. score.
Chase’s guide says that with “a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, you should be able to apply for most credit cards.” Capital One adds that ITIN policies differ by issuer and some accept ITINs only for some cards. Our no-SSN guide covers the ITIN route in detail.
With an SSN you can apply for any student or secured card. A secured card is the most reliable first approval with no U.S. history. Compare them in our secured card rankings, which are updated daily.
If a family member or friend in the U.S. has a credit card, being added as an authorized user can help start your file. Chase lists this as an option for international students. See our authorized user guide first.
Your credit history from home won’t follow you
U.S. credit reports only hold U.S. history. As Wells Fargo puts it, your credit history from your home country “does not transfer to the US: you must build credit history here.” Starting early in your first semester gives you the longest history by the time you graduate and look for a job, an apartment or a car loan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a credit card on an F-1 visa?
Yes. Your visa type doesn’t stop you, but your ID number matters. With an SSN or ITIN you can apply for many cards, and a few companies accept a passport alone.
Can I get an SSN just to apply for a credit card?
No. Study in the States says SSNs are for students with employment authorization. If you can’t get one but receive scholarships, grants or other non-wage income, you need an ITIN instead.
How long does it take to get a U.S. credit score?
A FICO score generally needs at least one account open for six months, so most students get a first score about six months after opening their first account.
What happens to my credit when I leave the U.S.?
Your U.S. credit file stays with the bureaus. Pay off and close accounts properly before you leave, or keep one with autopay if you might come back, so late payments don’t damage the history you built.