How Quickly Can I Get a Credit Card? 2 Tips for Fast Turnaround (April 2024)

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “How quickly can I get a credit card?” this article can help answer that question as well as provide a couple of valuable tips to potentially move things along a little faster.

Few things are quite as frustrating as finding exactly what you need — but it doesn’t show up until the need is gone. Like when you order hurricane supplies from Amazon, but they don’t arrive until the storm has passed.

While not everyone who applies for a new credit card needs the credit right away, sometimes you really need that financing, and you need it now — not a week from now. So that begs the question, exactly how long does it take to get a credit card?

Unfortunately for those in a hurry, most credit cards will take between seven and 10 business days to arrive in your mailbox. And that’s assuming you were approved right away. If your credit card application gets you a dreaded “Pending” response, then it may take several days (or more) to receive a response to your application, let alone putting your hands on the card itself.

The easiest way to ensure you’re approved right away is to only apply for credit cards for which you have a good chance of approval. You can increase your chances by checking your credit score and selecting a card that usually approves applicants with similar credit scores. You may also want to check for pre-qualification offers to find the cards that will be the best fit.

If your application does need further review, you can often expedite the process by calling the customer service or application line for the credit card issuer. Pending applications usually require simple verification of certain information, like confirming your annual income, which can be done easily by phone, rather than having to wait for the request to come through the mail. This can significantly speed up the approval process.

Even if you’re approved right away, of course, part of the reason for the long time between being approved and receiving your new card is that, well, your card has to be made. Depending on the type of card, your name must be imprinted or etched into the surface, and your account information and other details programmed onto the EMV smart chip that gets embedded in the card. Only then can it be placed in an envelope and sent off through the mail (a process we all know takes significant time all on its own).

Additionally, if you have applied for a secured credit card, you’ll need to make your required minimum deposit before the card will ship. This can typically be done as soon as you’re approved, and will generally require a transfer from an active checking or savings account. If you apply for your secured credit card in a local bank branch, you may be able to make your deposit using cash.

All that being said, you may have an option to get your card as soon as the next day, if you’re willing to pay for it. Many credit card issuers will allow you to request overnight shipping on your new card, but they’ll likely charge you a fee for the expedited processing and shipping. Keep in mind that not every credit card will be available immediately, and that you may not be able to have a card delivered on a weekend.

Depending on your situation, even overnighting your credit card may be a day late and a dollar short, leaving you in a financial bind. In this case, you may want to look into one of the card issuers who will allow you to access your credit line as soon as you’re approved. These issuers will often provide you with your credit card details online, allowing you to start making purchases right away.

One thing to remain cognizant of is that you’ll likely still need a physical card to make purchases in person at a retailer or other merchant. This means you’ll be limited to online purchases with your new card information until you have a physical card in hand.

Capital One | American Express | Store Cards

Best Capital One Cards for Immediate Use

Capital One credit cards are some of the easiest to start using right away, provided you’re comfortable downloading and logging into the Capital One mobile application. Reports indicate that you should have access to your card number and expiration information for your new Capital One card directly in the mobile application as soon as you log into your account.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0

Our Review »

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Our Review »

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)	$95	Excellent, Good

+See More Capital One Cards

Best American Express Cards for Immediate Use

While not offered by every American Express card, some newly approved cardholders are given the option to receive their card information as soon as their online application is approved. The catch with Amex, however, is that not all of the information will be the same as what’s on your new card.

Specifically, while the card number itself may be the same, the security PIN and expiration date are typically temporary fillers that will only be valid until you activate your physical card. This means you can make online purchases, but should avoid setting up any recurring payments or other subscriptions, as the card data will no longer be valid after you activate your card.

Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card

While the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has great bonus categories for everyday use, remember that you won’t be able to use your card in-store unless you have the physical card in hand.

• Earn 3X points per $1 spent at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year
• Earn 2X points per $1 spent at US gas stations
• Pay $95 annual fee

This card can be even more lucrative for consumers who use their card frequently, as those who make at least 30 purchases with their card per billing period will earn 50% extra points on those purchases.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express provides a hard-to-beat rewards package, including 6% cash back on grocery purchases (once you have your physical card in hand, that is; only digital purchases can be made with your temporary information).

• Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6k a year) & on select U.S. streaming services
• Earn 3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases
• Pay a $95 annual fee

Spending $32 a week in grocery purchases with your Blue Cash Preferred® card will let you break even on the $95 annual fee, so don’t let a high fee scare you off from potential rewards.

Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good travel card that can often be used to make online hotel or airline purchases before you’ve even received your card.

• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points per $1 on flights/hotels booked directly with the airline/hotel or American Express Travel
• Receive up to $200 in Uber credits per year
• Receive a $200 airline fee credit each year

If you travel often enough to use the travel credits that accompany the card, the Platinum card’s high $550 annual fee can be cut down quite a bit.

Best Store Cards for Immediate Use

The most common type of credit card that allows you to start purchasing right away is a branded store card. Frequently offered right at the register when you check out, you can typically put your current purchase on your new card, as well as any other purchases you care to make that day (or any day, for that matter). Many store cards will even provide you with a special discount or rewards offer for signing up and using your card the same day.

Amazon.com Store Card

Whether you forgot an important event or simply are running out of needed supplies, being able to use your Amazon.com Store Card right away can be a huge boon, especially when combined with one-day (or even one-hour, in some locations) shipping. While the card itself has no annual fee, if you choose to use Amazon Prime, be prepared to pay a yearly fee for the service.

• Receive special financing on eligible Amazon.com orders of $149 or more made with your card
• Amazon Prime members also get 5% cash back on Amazon purchases
• Pay no annual card fee

Many store cards with special financing operate under deferred interest, and the Amazon.com Store Card is one of them. Pay off your balance before your financing expires to avoid being charged interest fees on your full purchase amount.

Home Depot Consumer Credit Card

With the Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, you can not only finance that important home improvement (or repair) purchase right away, but if your purchase is $299 or more, you can also take advantage of special financing.

• Receive special financing on Home Depot purchases of $299 or more made with your card
• Get exclusive product-specific and seasonal offers
• Pay no annual fee

As with many special financing deals, the Home Depot Consumer Credit Card charges deferred interest, so you’ll be charged interest on your entire purchase amount if you don’t pay it off before the end of your financing period.

Target REDcard

Whether you’re running short on groceries, or simply can’t wait for that new TV, the Target REDcard can often be used as soon as you’re approved to make any Target purchases you need.

• Get 5% off your total purchase at checkout for eligible in-store or online Target purchases
• Receive exclusive deals & discounts
• Pay no annual fee

The Target REDcard’s discount can also stack with manufacturer’s coupons and Target coupons for extra savings. Keep in mind that certain transactions, such as gift wrapping, may not qualify for the 5% discount.

+See More Store Credit Cards

One of the hardest lessons for many people to truly embrace is that patience is a virtue, and one we should all practice. At the same time, while it may be a virtue, patience isn’t always an option — like when a hurricane is headed your way and you need important supplies.

In situations where you just can’t wait for your card to arrive, you may still have some options for finding immediate financing. Of course, you’ll need to be a little picky about which card you apply for, and what type of purchases you can make with your credit account before your card arrives.

Furthermore, you should be careful about racking up a huge balance before you have account information in hand to avoid issues when it comes time to pay the bill. This can be especially important for store credit cards, as you often won’t set up your online account until after you receive your card, making it more difficult to pay your bill, particularly if you cannot pay your credit card balance in-store (which is often the case).