Updated
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
The Chase credit card application process isn't difficult, but it goes more quickly when you know how it works. There are also some application rules you'll want to know about before you apply. Read on for everything you need to know to get a Chase card.
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How to apply for a Chase credit card
Applying for a Chase credit card is a quick process. Here's how to do it.
1. Click the apply option on the card page
If you already have a Chase account, the application process will be faster if you sign in first. Chase will fill out parts of the application with the information it already has for you.
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2. Fill out the application form
To get through the application process smoothly, you should have the following ready:
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number, and mother's maiden name
- Contact information: Mailing address (you must use a physical address and not a PO Box), email address, and phone number
- Financial information: Type of employment, annual gross income, whether you rent or own, and your monthly rent/mortgage payment
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3. Check the box to accept the application terms and click "Submit"
Your application will then be processed.
Our favorite cash back Chase credit cards
If you're looking for a Chase cash back card, here are our expert picks.
MORE PICKS: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
As of May. 08, 2024
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| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! $200 bonus |
Welcome Offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. Up to $300 cash back |
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Rewards Program: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. 5% cash back offer |
Rewards Program: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases 1.5% - 5% cash back |
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Intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months |
Intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months |
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Regular APR: 20.49%-29.24% Variable |
Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
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Annual Fee: N/A $0 |
Annual Fee: N/A $0 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Show More
Show Less
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What to know before applying for a Chase credit card
Before you think about applying for a Chase credit card, you need to know about Chase's 5/24 rule. Chase almost always denies applicants who have opened five or more credit cards within the last 24 months. This won't be an issue for most, but if you frequently open new credit cards, it could lead to a denial from Chase.
LEARN MORE: A Guide to Chase's 5/24 Rule
Check how many credit cards you've opened in that timespan. If you won't pass the 5/24 rule, it's better to wait and apply later. This is one of the strictest application rules of any credit card company. The only known way to sometimes get around it is if you've been pre-approved for a Chase credit card.
Your credit score is also important. Most of Chase's credit cards are aimed at those who have a good credit score or better, meaning a FICO® Score of at least 670. If your credit score isn't at least close to that, you may want to focus on improving it first. Or, try the Chase Freedom Rise℠, which is available to consumers who are building credit.
What happens after applying for a Chase credit card
After you submit your application, Chase could instantly approve or deny it. Chase could also put your application under further review.
An instant approval is the best-case scenario, so we don't need to go over what to do there. Here's what to do for the two other responses to your Chase credit card application:
- Denial: Chase will send you a letter explaining the reason for the denial. You can call Chase at the number it provides and ask for a reconsideration. With the right approach and a little luck, a Chase representative may overturn the denial and approve your application.
- Under review: Your application has not yet been approved or denied. Chase will send you a letter with its decision, but you can also call in to check your application status. You may want to wait three to five days to give Chase's system time to potentially approve your application. If you end up with a denied application, you can follow the same procedure of calling and asking the representative to reconsider.
Selecting a Chase credit card
Chase has so many top credit cards that it's wise to compare your options. The Chase Sapphire cards are popular among travelers because they're part of the Ultimate Rewards point program. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely versatile, and you can use them for travel bookings.
You can also choose from cards that earn cash back on purchases, cards with a 0% intro APR, and cards that don't charge an annual fee. If you're a business owner, there are several business credit card options available through Chase.
Think about what type of credit card you want or what feature is most important to you. Many consumers want rewards cards. If so, you'll need to decide between a travel credit card and a cash back card. To help you pick a card, here are recommendations on the best Chase credit cards, depending on what you're looking for.
Our favorite travel Chase credit cards
The Chase Sapphire cards are some of the best travel credit cards, with generous rewards and lots of other travel perks.
MORE PICKS: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
As of May. 08, 2024
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| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
|
Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 75,000 bonus points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 75,000 bonus points |
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Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases |
Rewards Program: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠. |
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Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Regular APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable |
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Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
Annual Fee: N/A $550 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Show More
Show Less
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Getting your Chase card
The right Chase credit card can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars in value every year. All you need to do is figure out which card will work best for you and check that you meet Chase's typical requirements.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Still have questions?
Some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
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No, it isn't hard to get a credit card with Chase. Most Chase credit cards are intended for consumers with good credit, and if you have a FICO® Score of at least 670, that can help you qualify for a Chase card. It also has a card for building credit, the Chase Freedom Rise℠.
There's one unofficial application rule, known as Chase's 5/24 rule, that can make it hard to get a Chase card if you've opened several credit cards recently. Chase will almost always deny an application if you've already opened five or more credit cards within the previous 24 months.
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Chase hasn't provided information on any minimum income requirements to qualify for its credit cards. You need at least some form of income, but you don't need to be a high earner. Applicants have been approved for Chase cards with annual incomes of less than $30,000.
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The fastest way to get a Chase credit card is to apply online. Chase offers instant approval credit cards, and it's possible (but not guaranteed) for your application to be approved immediately after you submit it.
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Chase typically doesn't verify income, but it can. It's important to provide accurate income information when you apply for a Chase credit card so it can determine an appropriate credit limit.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.