Applying for a Chase credit card

If you're interested in applying for a credit card with us, you're in the right place. Here you'll find some of the most commonly asked questions about our eligibility checks and the application process.

In order to get a credit card with us, you'll need to:

  • be 18+
  • be a resident of the UK only
  • have a smartphone and a UK mobile number
  • be a tax resident of the UK
  • have a Chase account
  • be free of bankruptcies, County Court Judgements (CCJs) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) for the last 6 years
  • pass our creditworthiness and affordability checks

What is a credit score and how does it affect my eligibility?

A credit score is a rating based on how you manage your finances. Using your credit score, lenders will assess your ability to pay back money you borrow. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be accepted for credit products.

Your commitments, how quickly you pay back money you owe and the way you manage your accounts all play a part in determining your credit score.

We've got a lot of info about credit scores and how to improve them.

What determines my credit limit?

The credit limit you're given is based on data we get from credit referencing agencies (like your credit score) as well as the amount we, as a responsible lender, believe you can afford. The higher your credit score, the higher your credit limit is likely to be.

How do you check my eligibility?

To get a view of your finances, we check your credit file with TransUnion or Equifax – or sometimes both if we need more info. If you'd like to know what information credit reference agencies have about you, you can get in touch with them using the details provided under the 'What can I do if I'm not eligible or my application was rejected?' FAQ below.

We also use information provided to us by other third parties such as Cifas, the UK's fraud prevention service.

What can I do if I'm not eligible or my application was rejected?

We might determine you ineligible for a credit card with us for a number of reasons, including the following:

  1. A low credit score or poor credit history, including missed payments or bankruptcy

  2. Insufficient income or a having a lot of existing debt

  3. Unstable employment or having too many existing credit accounts

  4. Inaccurate information on your application, like an old address or incorrect income

  5. Having too many credit application in a short period of time on your credit file

If a decline was unexpected, it's worth checking your statutory credit report on the Equifax (Opens in new window) and TransUnion (Opens in new window) websites to note any activity you don't recognise. You can do this for free anytime – and the information gets updated every month. You can also get in touch with them using these details:

Equifax Ltd
Customer Service Centre
PO Box 10036
Leicester
LE3 4FS

Tel: 0800 014 2955

TransUnion
One Park Lane
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS3 1EP

Tel: 0330 024 7574

You can also ask for a copy of information held about you from Cifas. You can do this by completing a Data Subject Access Request (Opens in new window) (DSAR) online – it's free of charge.

There's also plenty of advice on how to improve your credit score from credit agencies, MoneyHelper (Opens in new window) and in our credit score article.

What are soft checks and hard checks?

To check your eligibility for a credit card, we'll perform a 'soft check' on your credit file. This won't affect your credit score, and other lenders won't be able to see whether you're eligible or not after it's done.

If you're eligible for a credit card, we'll perform a 'hard check' as part of your application to make sure you're suitable for it. Hard checks show up on your credit report, so companies will be able to see that you've applied and the result of your application. Hard checks can also have an impact on your credit score.