When Can I Apply for a Credit Card?
Updated: 16 Oct 2025
Ready to step into the glitzy world of credit card rewards? Here’s when you can apply for a credit card, and how to know if you’re ready for one.
The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. While we review and compare financial products to help you find the best options, we do not provide personalised recommendations or investment advisory services. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.
Credit cards are undoubtedly advantageous in many ways. They generate rewards as you use them so you get better value from your money, come in many different varieties so you can pick ones that are best suited to your lifestyle and preferences, and provide you with perks and privileges that help you enjoy life just a little better.
A useful financial tool, credit cards can help you manage your cash flow with interest-free installment plans. In a pinch, you can even take a cash advance to help you out, such as when you’re stuck overseas and require cash urgently.
If you’ve been dreaming of earning free plane tickets to your favourite holiday destination, or getting an instant discount on everything you buy, you might be chomping at the bit to get your very first credit card.
>> MORE: Best credit card strategy: How to choose the best credit card for you
Credit cards that are easy to apply for
Card | Hot Reward Pick | SingSaver Reward | Earn Rate & Perks | Min. Annual Income | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UOB EVOL Card | S$1,299 | 10% cashback on online & mobile spend | S$30,000 | ||
 | DBS Live Fresh Card | - | S$300 | 6% cashback on shopping & transport | S$30,000 | |
 | POSB Everyday Card | - | S$300 | 10% cash rebate on everyday spends | S$30,000 | |
 | Citi SMRT Card | S$719 | 0.3 - 5 % cashback | S$30,000 | ||
 | KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card | - | - | - | S$30,000 | |
 | HSBC Revolution Credit Card | S$719 | 4 mpd / 2.5% cashback | S$65,000 |
UOB EVOL Card
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Hot reward pick: Apple Watch SE Gen 3 40mm GPS + Cellular (worth S$419); or
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S$60 Cash via PayNow
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SingSaver reward: S$419
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Earn rate & perks: 0.3 - 10% cashback
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Enjoy no FX fees on overseas foreign currency spend with no min. spend.
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Enjoy 10% cashback on Local Online and Mobile Contactless (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, google Pay) Spend. 10% on Selected Gym, Telco and Streaming Spend.
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Get 1% cashback on all Overseas FX Spend till 31 Jan 2026.
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Get 10% cashback on mobile contactless MYR spend in Malaysia till 31 Jan 2026. All other spends earn 0.3% cashback.
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Gain access to over 1,000 deals at eco-friendly, dining, and online shopping merchants. Receive a first-year annual fee waiver.
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Annual fee for subsequent years waived with min. 3 transactions every month.
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Get greater savings with up to 4.5% p.a. interest with UOB One Account+.
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Minimum spend of S$800 each statement month to enjoy accelerated cashback earn rate.
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S$80 total cashback cap per statement month (S$30 cap for local online and mobile spend; S$20 cap for selected gym, telco and streaming spend; and S$30 cap for all other spend.
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Plus, additional $20 cap on the 1% cashback on all Overseas Foreign Currency Spend till 31 Dec 2025.
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Additional S$20 cap on 10% cashback on mobile contactless MYR spend in Malaysia and S$20 cap on 1% cashback on all overseas FX spend till 31 Jan 2026.)
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Minimum annual income: S$30,000
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Ideal for: New grads
DBS Live Fresh Card
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Hot reward pick: -
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SingSaver reward: S$300 cashback
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Earn rate & perks: 6% shopping/transport
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Get up to 6% cashback on Shopping and Transport spend.
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Get unlimited 0.3% cashback on all spend.
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Earn an extra 3.25% cashback on In-store Overseas Spend at your favourite destinations in Asia from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and more.
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Enjoy first-year annual fee waiver.
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Enjoy more fresh deals and exclusive perks.
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Spending on the card and crediting your salary can earn you 0.05% p.a. or more on your DBS Multiplier account.
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Min. monthly spending of S$800 required to earn up to 6% cashback on Shopping and Transport spend.
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Cashback on Shopping spend capped at S$50 per calendar month. Cashback on Transport spend capped at S$20 per calendar month)
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Minimum annual income: S$30,000 (≤55); S$15,000 (≥56); foreigners S$45,000
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Ideal for: Everyday spend & commuters
POSB Everyday Card
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Hot reward pick:
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SingSaver reward:
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Earn rate & perks: 0.3 - 10 % cashback
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Up to 10% cash rebates on food delivery via foodpanda, GrabFood and Deliveroo.
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Up to 10% cash rebates on in-store spend in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
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Up to 10% cash rebates on SimplyGo.
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Up to 5% cash rebates on Amazon.sg, Lazada, Shopee, RedMart, Taobao and TikTok Shop.
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Up to 5% cash rebates at Popular bookstores (in-person and online)
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5% cash rebates at Sheng Siong supermarkets.
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6% cash rebates at SPC.
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3% cash rebates at Pet Lovers Centre.
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0.3% cash rebates on all other eligible spend.
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Cash rebates (in Daily$) never expire.
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Read our full review of the POSB Everyday Card.
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Min. spend of S$800 per calendar month required for accelerated cash rebate earn rate.
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S$20 monthly cash rebate cap for dining, Sheng Shiong, Popular, online shopping, SimplyGo, and MYR categories respectively.
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Minimum annual income: S$30,000 (SG/PR); S$45,000 (foreigner)
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Ideal for: Families, grocery & fuel savings
Citi SMRT Card
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Hot reward pick: Limited time flash deal:
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Win an Apple Watch Series 11 (Aluminum, 42mm, GPS) (worth S$599); or
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S$360 Cash via PayNow; or
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Apple Watch SE Gen 3 40mm GPS + Cellular (worth S$419); or
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Apple iPad (A16) 11" WiFi 128GB (worth S$499); or
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S$450 Grab Vouchers; or
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Dyson Airwrap™ Origin multi-styler and dryer (worth S$549); or
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Dyson WashG1™ wet floor cleaner (worth S$999) (Top up S$100); or
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Dyson Airstrait™ straightener (worth S$799) (Top up S$80); or
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Dyson Digital Slim Submarine™ (worth S$699) (Top up S$50); or
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Nintendo Switch 2 (worth S$719) (Top up S$300)
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SingSaver reward: S$899
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Earn rate & perks: 0.3 - 5 % cashback
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5% savings on online purchases.
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5% savings at all supermarkets & grocery stores.
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5% savings on taxi & public transport rides.
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Minimum monthly spend of S$500 required to get higher cashback rates.
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Minimum annual income: S$30,000 (SG/PR); S$42,000 (foreigner)
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Ideal for: Commuters & value hunters
BOC F1RST Card
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Hot reward pick:
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SingSaver reward:
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Earn rate & perks: 0.5% cash rebates
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Minimum annual income: S$18,000 (no minimum income for students)
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Ideal for: Entry-level users building credit history
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card
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Hot reward pick:
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SingSaver reward:
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Earn rate & perks: 1.2 - 3 miles / dollar
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Earn 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, Kris+ and Pelago purchases.
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Earn 2.4 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on dining, food delivery, online shopping, online travel and transport spend, with min. S$1,000 annual spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot and KrisShop
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Earn 1.2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 on all other spend.
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5,000 Welcome miles with first eligible spend (min. S$5).
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10,000 KrisFlyer miles with annual renewal fee payment.
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Exclusive privileges on Scoot (via flyscoot.com/krisflyeruob), Kris+ and more.
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Terms and conditions apply for all abovementioned privileges. Visit here for more details.
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Insured up to S$100k by SDIC.
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Minimum annual income: S$30,000
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Ideal for: Aspiring miles chasers
HSBC Revolution
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Hot reward pick: S$400 Cash via PayNow
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Dyson WashG1™ wet floor cleaner (worth S$999) (Top up S$100); or
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Dyson Airstrait™ straightener (worth S$799) (Top up S$80); or
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Dyson OnTrac™ headphones (worth S$699) (Top up S$50); or
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Dyson Digital Slim Submarine™ (worth S$699) (Top up S$50); or
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Dyson Airwrap™ Origin multi-styler and dryer (worth S$549) (Top up S$30); or
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Apple iPad (A16) 11" WiFi 128GB (worth S$499); or
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Shark TurboBlade Multi-Directional Cooling Fan (worth S$499) ; or
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DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Standard Combo (worth S$489)
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SingSaver reward: S$899
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Earn rate & perks: 0.4 miles / dollar
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Minimum annual income: S$65,000 (or S$30,000 with HSBC TRB ≥S$50k)
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Ideal for: Higher-income applicants, HSBC clients
Looking for your first credit card as a young adult?
Kickstart your financial journey with cards designed for digital lifestyles, cashback perks, and easy approval.
When can I apply for a credit card?
Getting a credit card isn’t terribly complicated or difficult, as there are only two requirements to fulfil. These are age, and annual income. As long as you can clear these two hurdles, you can start applying for a credit card.
Credit card minimum age
The minimum age to qualify for a credit card is 21. This applies for all retail credit cards that provide a full range of features and benefits, and have a credit limit up to approved levels.
However, there are subcategories of credit cards that come with a lower minimum age of 18. These are supplementary cards which are tied to a main credit card, and student or low-limit credit cards that offer reduced rewards and a maximum credit limit of S$500.
Credit card salary requirement
You’ll also need to fulfil the salary requirement when applying for a credit card.
The vast majority of credit cards require a minimum annual income of S$30,000 for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. If you’re a foreigner, the salary requirement will be higher, typically S$45,000 per year or more.
Premium credit cards come with even higher salary requirements; you’ll need an annual income of at least S$120,000 to be eligible.
Both retirees and those who are unemployed can choose between two methods to get a personal loan to secure additional funds. Depending on whether you have certain assets, you may prefer one method over the other.
>> MORE: Best credit card and savings account combos in Singapore (2025): Boost your savings while you spend
What if I don’t meet the eligibility requirements to apply for a credit card?
If you do not meet the salary requirement for a credit card, you can try applying for a secured credit card instead. Generally, this will require you to maintain a minimum of S$10,000 in a fixed deposit account for the duration of your credit card use, though amounts vary bank-to-bank and card-to-card.
If you do not wish to apply for a secured credit card, you can try increasing your income by switching to a better-paying job or starting a side hustle. Remember, it’s your total annual income that counts, not just your salary.
Besides, for the purposes of credit card applications, non-employment income such as rental income can be included, according to MAS rules.
For those who are 55 and above, you may apply for a credit card if you meet any one of the following criteria:
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Annual income of at least S$15,000
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Total net personal assets exceeding S$750,000
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A guarantor whose annual income is at least S$30,000
What to do if my credit card application is rejected?
The bank has sole discretion over whether to grant or deny your credit card application. Simply fulfilling the requirements doesn't mean your card application will automatically be accepted. If you have a poor credit score or are heavily indebted, your application could be rejected.
If your credit card application is rejected, you should contact your bank to find out why. There may be some missing documents or information, which can be easily remedied by submitting the required documents.
However, if your application is rejected because of a poor credit score or because you have exceeded your borrowing limits, you will have to remedy the situation by paying off your debts and repairing your credit score.
Only when your credit score is high enough, and your debt levels have been sufficiently reduced, will you be able to apply for a credit card again.
>> MORE: 7 major reasons why your credit card application was declined
When should I apply for a credit card?
Going by the annual salary requirement of at least S$30,000, that means you should apply for a credit card once you start your first job that pays at least S$2,500 per month, correct?
Well, things may not be so straightforward, You see, credit cards do give awesome rewards, but only if used the right way. Specifically, credit cards reward retail spending, which can range from necessities such as groceries, food, transport and petrol, to discretionary expenses like movies, coffee, dining out and travel.
If you have not yet established good money habits and have a tendency to overspend, getting a credit card can be a bad idea. You may be tempted to spend beyond your means while rationalising that the rewards you’re earning will make up for it (it never does!).
This can cause you to start racking up credit card debt, which can be more difficult to pay off than you may realise.
Rather, it may be better for some to wait till they have established an emergency fund, or start earning a higher salary so there’s more room for discretionary spending.
Having said that, there’s no harm in getting a credit card as soon as you become eligible – early as long as you use it wisely. For example, you can restrict your credit card usage only to sporadic expenses you have already saved up for. This will ensure your ability to pay your credit card bill on time, which is essential in healthy credit card use.
When is the best time to apply for a credit card?
The best time to apply for a credit card is during a sign-up campaign. You will be able to receive bonus points, air miles or exclusive giveaways like luggage cases when you sign up during the promotional period, giving you a nice boost at the start.
However, signing up for the card is just part of the story. You will also need to satisfy the promotion requirements such as spending a certain amount within a certain time period of getting your card, in order to claim your sign-up rewards.
So if you find a sign-up promotion that you can comfortably fulfil, that would be the best time to sign up for your credit card.
But even if you can’t fulfil the promotion requirements, go ahead and sign up anyway. You won’t get the bonus rewards, but you can still get your credit card and start spending on it to earn rewards.
Time to apply for a credit card?
Browse the best credit cards that align with your spending habits and income.
When is the best time to apply for a supplementary credit card?
You’re unlikely to find sign-up promotions for supplementary credit cards, so there’s no “best time” to apply for one.
Instead, you can consider getting supplementary cards for your spouse or children when it becomes appropriate. For instance, you may want to get a supplementary card for your daughter going to study overseas to fund her living expenses. Or you might want to give your 18-year-old a supplementary card for practice purposes, while also collecting rewards from his transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can apply for a credit card on your own as soon as you turn 21 and have an annual income of at least S$30,000.
Otherwise, you can try applying for a student credit card at age 18. These cards have reduced rewards and benefits, and come with a maximum credit limit of S$500.
Credit cards require an annual income of at least S$30,000. This can include salary, as well as non-employment income such as rental income.
Technically, there are no limits to how many credit cards you can apply for in a day. As long as you fulfil the eligibility requirements, you can apply for as many credit cards as you wish.
However, it is not advisable to apply for multiple credit cards within a short period of time. The repeated credit lookups can cause your credit score to be temporarily flagged for heightened credit risk, which may impact your applications and cause some to be rejected.