Credit cards for international students in the US
Four of the six big issuers we checked say you need an SSN or an ITIN to apply, and none says a passport alone is enough. With one of those numbers, a student card or a secured card is the usual first card, and several have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
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Student and no-history cards
| Card | Type | Annual fee | Foreign transaction fee | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom RiseChase | For limited credit | $0 | 3% | No deposit |
| Capital One Platinum SecuredCapital One | Secured | $0 | None | $49 |
| Capital One Quicksilver SecuredCapital One | Secured | $0 | None | $200 |
| Capital One Quicksilver StudentCapital One | Student | $0 | None | No deposit |
| Discover it SecuredDiscover | Secured | $0 | None | $49 |
| Discover it Student Cash BackDiscover | Student | $0 | None | No deposit |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards SecuredBank of America | Secured | $0 | None | $200 |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards SecuredBank of America | Secured | $0 | 3% | $200 |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards for StudentsBank of America | Student | $0 | None | No deposit |
| Citi Secured MastercardCiti | Secured | $0 | 3% | $200 |
We don't list signup bonuses, interest rates or credit limits: they change often and depend on you. Open the issuer's page for today's offer.
Your credit history doesn't come with you
Credit history from your home country is not reported to the US credit bureaus, so you start with no US file. A student or secured card that reports your payments is the usual way to start one.
No SSN? An ITIN is for tax filing
The IRS issues an ITIN only to people who need a US tax ID and can't get an SSN, and you normally apply with a tax return. Don't get one just to apply for a card: if you don't have a tax reason, ask your school's international office whether you qualify for an SSN.
Check your report for free
Once you have a card, check your report from each of the three bureaus for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Guides
Sources
- CFPB: What are some ways to start or rebuild a good credit history?
- Chase: Can international students get credit cards?
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- IRS: How to apply for an ITIN
- CFPB: How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
Last checked: . General information from the issuers' and agencies' own pages, not financial advice. We are not a bank and don't get paid by any issuer for these pages. We never ask for your SSN, ITIN, passport or card number.