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Many people believe that without an SSN, they cannot have access to financial products such as credit cards, but this simply isn’t true. Below, we will look at how to apply for a credit card without SSN along with the best options to consider.
Chase Freedom Rise
Our verdict
The Chase Freedom Rise card is designed for individuals new to credit, including students. It offers a 1.5% cashback bonus on all purchases, with higher bonuses available for Lyft ride purchases. This $0 annual fee card also offers a $25 statement credit for signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening an account. Additionally, valuable benefits relating to DoorDash and Instacart are available.
Pros and Cons
There is no annual fee to hold the card
Cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made with the card
There is no introductory APR period
The variable APR starts quite high at 26.99%
There is no sign-up bonus for the card
Card Details
- Receive a $25 statement credit after enrolling in automatic payments in the first three months of account opening
- Evaluated for a credit limit increase after six months
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
- Complimentary three-month subscription to DashPass and Instacart+
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
American Express® Gold
Our verdict
Amex Gold card offers some of the best reward rates (4x points) on purchases made at restaurants, including delivery and takeout, and U.S. supermarkets. If these are your largest spending categories, the Amex Gold should have a place in your wallet.
Pros and Cons
4x points on dining and at U.S.
supermarkets.
Monthly Uber Cash.
Monthly dining credits.
No foreign transaction fees.
$250 annual fee.
Bonus point categories are only worth 1x points after spending $25,000 per year.
Card Details
- Up to $10 in statement credits per month at participating dining partners
- Up to $10 in Uber Cash per month
- Get a $100 experience credit when you use your card to book a two-night stay at The Hotel Collection
- Access to the Global Assist Hotline
- Baggage insurance plan
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Access to Amex offers, experiences, and preferred access
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Our verdict
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card is designed for people with “fair” credit, which is better than “poor” credit, but not as strong as “good” or “excellent” credit. The credit card offers an unlimited 1.5% cashback bonus on all purchases. It also provides access to Capital One Travel perks, benefits relating to Uber and a cutting-edge array of account management and security features. The annual fee for this credit card is a modest $39.
Pros and Cons
1.5% cash back on every purchase made on the card
Low annual fee of only $39
No sign-up bonus offered
No introductory APR period offered
High starting APR at 30.49%
Card Details
- Receive up to six months of complimentary Uber One membership through 11/14/2024
- Automatically be considered for a higher credit line after six months
- 50% off handcrafted beverages at Capital One Cafes
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students
Our verdict
For students with a limited or no credit history who want a straightforward rewards structure, this card is a great option. Not only will you earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but also 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Pros and Cons
No credit history required.
Introductory APR.
No annual fee.
1.5% cash back on all purchases and 10% cash back on Uber & Uber Eats purchases.
Complimentary Uber One membership.
No foreign transaction fees.
Relatively high APR.
Card Details
- Exclusively for students
- 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases and free Uber One membership through 11/14/2024
- 50% off handcrafted beverages at Capital One Cafes
- Extended warranty
- Travel accident insurance and 24-hour travel assistance services
- Access to Capital One dining and entertainment
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured
Our verdict
If you have limited or poor credit and spend in the reward categories offered, the Altitude Go Visa is worth considering, as it will help you build credit and earn cash back on your purchases at the same time.
Pros and Cons
No annual fee.
Qualify with bad/limited credit.
Rewards in various categories.
$300 minimum deposit.
Relatively high APR.
Card Details
- $15 streaming service credit after 11 months of streaming purchases
- Choose your payment due date
- Redeem points towards a monetary charitable contribution, and U.S. Bank will match your contribution at 100%
| Credit Card | Reward Rate | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | APR | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chase Freedom Rise
Apply now
with Chase
| 1.50% Earn 1.5% Cash Back rewards for each $1 spent
| $25 | $0 | 26.99% | Good |
|
American Express® Gold
Apply now
with American Express
| 1x - 4x4X Points at Restaurants in US. 4X Points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year. 3X Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. 1X Points on other eligible purchases.
| 60,000 Points | $250 | 21.24% - 29.24% | Good |
|
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Apply now
with Capital One
| 1.50%Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day. Plus, get access to valuable benefits.
| NA | $39 | 30.74% | Fair |
|
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards for Students
Apply now
with Capital One
| 1.50%Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
| $50 | $0 | 19.24% - 29.99% | Fair |
|
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured
Apply now
with U.S. Bank
| 1x- 4x4X points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery, 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations and EV charging stations, 1X point on all other eligible purchases
| NA | $0 | 19.88% - 29.99% | Fair |
Why do card issuers require social security numbers?
Naturally, when looking at getting a credit card without SSN or ITIN, you may be wondering why card issuers even often require this information in the first place. The government holds financial institutions responsible for the people who partner with them and, as a part of this, requires a form of identification to track financial activity to spot criminals or financial terrorists. This is also why another form of identification is required if you cannot provide an SSN.
Card issuers that will consider applications without SSN
As mentioned based on the above cards, many companies will consider issuing a credit card if no SSN has been presented. However, the most commonly seen issuers include:
1. American Express Global Card Relationship
This member-only service offered by American Express allows select card members to apply for a new American Express personal card in select countries around the world, naturally meaning no SSN is required for those other cards.
2. Citibank Global Banking
Similar to the American Express Global Card Relationship, the Citibank Global Banking experience offers additional credit cards for other countries that do not require an SSN.
3. Other card issuers
Based on the above, several different card issuers offer cards without an SSN. Chase, U.S. Bank, and more are other brands that offer special cards for this purpose.
How to get a credit card without a social security number
When applying for a credit card without a social security number, a person will not simply be able to breeze through the application process without something in its place. Typically, with no SSN, a person must show proof of identification via a driver’s license and ITIN, which is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number that is only available to nonresident and resident aliens within the United States who pay taxes.
Methodology
In looking at the best credit card without SSN for international students, general residents, and more, a variety of factors were considered. The most notable of these factors included:
- Whether or not a card had an annual fee and how much the annual fee was
- Whether or not the card offered rewards earnings categories
- Whether or not the card offered a sign-up bonus to the cardholder
- Whether there was a potential opportunity to upgrade the card eventually
- The reputation of the card issuer overall
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
FAQs
Generally, once you have been approved for a credit card what you do on that account is up to your discretion. In certain situations, however, a company may require you to present the SSN of an authorized user which is something to be prepared for. Other companies may just require their name, birthday, and address, though this is less common.
No, international credit history will generally not transfer to the U.S., and the major financial institutions will instead look at bank account records to gain a sense of your financial history.
Yes, international students are among the most common groups to apply for a credit card without an SSN while in the U.S. By applying for a credit builder card with loose requirements and showing an alternative form of identification and proof of income, international students can get approved for certain credit cards with no SSN.
At a Glance 
In this article
September 20, 2023
3 min 
