Credit card eligibility checker
Check your eligibility for a credit card
- Enter a few details and compare credit cards from trusted providers without impacting your credit score.
- Check your eligibility and see pre-approved options that suit your needs
- Search for the right credit card before you apply
What is a credit card eligibility checker and why should I use one?
A credit card eligibility checker shows you which credit cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. This is based on your credit information and the provider’s lending criteria.
Checking your eligibility for a credit card before you apply involves a soft search of your credit history. The credit card pre-approval check can’t be seen by other lenders and won’t affect your credit score.
When you formally apply for a credit card, the provider will carry out a hard credit search. This will be added to your credit history and can be seen by other lenders.
Too many hard searches over a short period can make it harder for you to borrow money in the future. That’s because providers see this as a sign that you’re potentially having financial problems.
Why use Compare the Market?
Check your eligibility for credit cards in less than 5 minutes
Rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot[2]
[1] Correct as of March 2025.
[2] As of April 8th 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 79,257 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’.
Compare the Market Limited acts as a credit broker, not a lender. To apply you must be a UK resident and aged 18 or over. Credit is subject to status and eligibility.
How does the credit card eligibility checker work?
Our credit card checker finds your credit file and matches it against the lending criteria of our panel of credit card providers. To access your credit file, we need some personal details, including your date of birth and UK address history.
Credit card providers also want assurance that you can afford the card before they approve you. We’ll use the information you give us about your employment status, income and expenses to check if you fit their affordability requirements.
Find a credit cardWhat information is needed to check if I am eligible for a credit card?
To use our credit card checker service, you’ll need to be over 18 with three years of UK address history.
When you use our credit card checker, we’ll ask for your:
- Personal details
- Date of birth
- Address and when you moved there
- Financial dependants, if you have any
- Employment status and annual salary, plus information about any other income and expenditure.
With that information, we’ll be able to tell you which credit cards you’re most likely to be eligible for before you apply.
Learn more about credit cards for the self-employed.
Which types of credit cards are included in the eligibility check?
We check credit card eligibility across a range of different credit cards, including:
- 0% balance transfers: let you move debt from existing credit cards to a new card, without having to pay interest for a set period.
- 0% on new purchases: let you spread the cost of an expensive purchase over several months without paying interest for a set period.
- 0% on balance transfers and purchases: offer zero interest on both balance transfers and purchases for a set period.
- Reward cards: earn points, air miles or similar rewards when you spend.
- Credit-building cards: also known as bad credit cards. When used responsibly, these cards can help improve a poor credit rating or build one from scratch.
- Travel credit cards: with no or low foreign exchange fees, they’re designed to be used when you’re on holiday or travelling.
- Money transfer credit cards: allow you to transfer cash from your credit card directly into your current account.
- Cashback credit cards: enjoy a cashback reward when you use the card with specified retailers or service providers.
Whichever credit card you’re considering, make sure you read the full terms and conditions before applying; and our tips via the links above on how to use them wisely to avoid charges. Fees, interest rates and minimum repayments will vary, depending on the provider.
What are the minimum requirements for applying for a credit card?
To apply for a credit card, you must be:
- 18 or over, although you have to be at least 21 for some credit cards
- A UK resident with full rights to live in the UK.
Other criteria could apply, depending on the credit card provider.
What credit score do I need for a credit card?
There isn’t a particular credit score you need to meet. It depends on the credit card provider’s eligibility criteria and other assessments of your financial stability.
Lenders use your credit score to decide whether you’re a high or low risk. In other words, whether they think you’ll be able to pay back what you borrow.
In general, the higher your credit score, the greater the chance of you being accepted for a credit card. That’s because a good credit score shows the lender that you’ve handled debt responsibly in the past.
Your credit score also plays a key role in what interest rates you’ll be offered by a card provider. So it’s important to understand how to build your credit score and what can affect it.
The three main UK credit reference agencies each have different calculations for what they consider a ‘good’ credit score.
Ultimately, it’s the lender that decides whether to grant credit or not, so the lender’s judgment is what’s most important. But the scores from the agencies are a decent steer:
- Experian – 881+
- Equifax – 531+
- TransUnion – 604+
How can I improve my eligibility for a credit card?
If the results of your eligibility check aren’t what you were hoping for, here’s how to improve your chances of being accepted in the future:
Check your credit score and report
You have a legal right to access your credit report for free from any credit reference agency (CRA).
If you think there’s a mistake on your report, you’ll need to raise a dispute by contacting the CRA directly. Correcting any mistakes you find could improve your score and your chances of being accepted for a credit card.
Prove you’re financially responsible
Even simple actions, such as paying bills on time, can prove you’re able to manage your financial responsibilities.
Reduce your debt
Outstanding debt can signal to potential credit card providers that you’re not a suitable applicant. Reduce your debt and you’ll show that you can be trusted to borrow money responsibly.
Affordability improvements
Credit providers will assess your general affordability, based on your incomings and outgoings. Improve this and you’re more likely to be accepted for a card.
Start with a credit builder card if you’re new to credit or your score is patchy
A credit builder card could be a good option if you can’t get a regular credit card or you’ve never had credit before. If you show your provider that you can consistently borrow and repay credit with your credit builder card, this could improve your credit score.
What our expert says...
"Every time I apply for a credit card, I always use an eligibility checker because I want to know the chances of being accepted before I apply. To me, it’s a no brainer. It’s up to you whether to use one, but bear in mind that if you just go direct then you may not have any idea if the lender has little interest in accepting you, possibly wasting your time and having an impact on your credit file.
It’s also a good idea to check your credit report every now and then, in case there are any errors or missed payments that you’ve overlooked. You can check your credit report as often as you like and it won’t impact your credit score."
- Guy Anker, Personal finance and insurance expert
Frequently asked questions
Why am I not eligible for a credit card?
You might not be eligible for a credit card because of:
- Your credit history. You might have missed payments or have late payments on your credit record. Or you might not have a credit record
- Your current financial situation. Perhaps you have a low or irregular income.
- Too many credit applications. Multiple applications over a short period can suggest you’re desperate for money.
- Admin errors. – if your personal details don’t match up, lenders can’t confirm your identity.
Building your credit score can improve your chances of being accepted for a credit card in the future.
Why do you need my personal details?
The personal information you give us will be used to access your credit file. We use your credit file to check your eligibility for a credit card.
You’ll find all the details about how we use your data, along with important information about your rights, in our Privacy Policy. You’ll need to read this before you can see your eligibility results.
If you’re completing a credit card check on someone else’s behalf, please make sure they’re aware of our Privacy Policy too.
How are the credit card eligibility checker results shown?
Once you’ve completed the credit card check, your results will be shown using a scale of 0-100%. The higher the score, the more likely you are to be accepted for that credit card.
The score is based on the assumption that the details you’ve given are correct. They may be subject to fraud checks by the card provider.
Your results will also show you any cards you’re not eligible for. If you apply for them, you’re likely to be turned down.
Our credit card checker gives you an indication of whether your application is likely to be accepted. It’s the credit card provider that makes the final decision.
How long are my credit card checker results valid for?
You should assume that your results are valid only at the time of your search because credit card providers can adjust their eligibility criteria whenever they like.
Does a good credit score mean I’m guaranteed to be accepted?
No. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be successful in your credit card application. However, the final decision is always down to the card provider.
Does the eligibility credit card checker include cards for bad credit?
Yes, our eligibility checker includes credit cards for good credit, fair credit and bad credit.
Cards for bad credit are also known as credit-building credit cards. These cards can help improve your credit rating – as can all credit cards – provided you use them responsibly and keep up with the monthly repayments.
