How to Get an Instant Approval Credit Card—and Use it Instantly!
6 Min Read | Last updated: October 31, 2024
It takes 3 steps to get and use an instant approval credit card – which is different from credit card pre-approval. Learn how to apply for one online.
At-A-Glance
- When you apply for a credit card online, many card issuers decide whether you’ll be approved in minutes.
- But being approved for credit is not the same as being able to access credit – yet.
- If you want to actually use an instant approval credit card instantly, you need an instant card number, too.
Your lunch break just started. Before it’s over, you want to buy something and pay for it with a credit card. But you don’t have a credit card. Can you pull it off? It’s not a trick question. The internet and automated algorithms make instant approval credit cards possible.
But instant approval does not mean instant use. To use an instantly approved card, well, instantly, you also need an instant credit card account number to use before you get the actual card.
As with most things in modern life, the reality of instant approval credit cards is complicated, and there are no guarantees. But if you truly want it right now, there are steps you can take to improve your odds of obtaining an instant account number for a new instant approval credit card.
How to Get a Credit Card for Same Day Use
If you’re seeking instant approval and use — and you’re not standing at the register in a retail store asking for an instant approval store credit card — an online application is likely your best bet. Most credit card issuers process such applications in real time. Some also offer instant approval (but not instant card numbers) for applications made over the phone.
There are three steps to getting an instant approval credit card that you can actually use immediately:
- Online credit card application
- Instant approval of that application
- Instantly obtaining a credit card number that you can use right away, virtually anywhere that card issuer is accepted. (If you plan to shop in person, not online, note that you likely won’t be able to use the instant card number without the physical card — unless you add it to a digital wallet.)1
Online credit card applications are typically simple and take just a few minutes to complete. Once you click “submit” there are typically three possible outcomes — approved, denied, or pending:
- If you’re approved or denied, you’ll likely get a decision within a few minutes.
- If your application is pending, the card company is going to look at it carefully before making a decision.
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A couple of factors can push your application into pending status:2
- If the credit card company is unable to verify your identity.
- There’s something questionable on your credit report.
In general, the better your credit the more likely you are to get instant approval.3 But that doesn’t mean that only people with excellent credit score should seek instant approval.
Instant Approval Store Credit Cards
It’s worth noting that retail store credit cards exist somewhat outside this typical process. You may be able to apply for most co-branded/store credit cards in-store at the time you make a purchase and be either approved or denied. In some cases, an instant approval store credit card may only be used in the issuing store. It’s a good idea to confirm whether you’ll be able to use an instant card number elsewhere, as well as whether you’ll be able to use the physical card elsewhere.4
No Instant Approval Without Credit Card Number
Being approved for a credit card is not the same as being able to use it. And instant approval is not instant access. Most cards are still mailed, in which case it will typically take seven to 10 days to get to you. If you want it sooner than that, many credit companies will expedite shipping (even overnight), but they usually charge for that service.5
If you truly want to use the card during the same lunch hour in which you apply, you’ll need to choose a card that offers an instant credit card number. Besides the co-branded/store cards, not all card issuers will give you an account number that you can use for online purchases right away, and which you can keep using until you receive your actual card.5 You can find online resources that identify creditors that offer instant credit access, or you can ask any credit card provider whether it offers that option.
Even for Instant Approval, Don’t Forget the Fine Print
Even if instant approval is literally the only factor that matters to you, it’s still a smart idea to read a card’s fine print before applying. Several factors determine how much a card costs and how you can (or will want to) use it. For example, consider factors like the card’s:
- Credit limit
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
- Interest rates (cash advances might have higher interest rates than standard purchases, for example)
- Late fees and other penalties
- Annual fees (if any)
- Rewards for using the card
Instant Credit Card vs Credit Card Pre-Approval
Don’t be confused by offers that sound similar to instant approval but aren’t, like pre-screened offers.
Only with instant approval credit cards will your application be evaluated and a decision made in real time. Instant decision is probably a more accurate term — since it’s always possible that your application will be instantly declined.
Pre-screened offers, sometimes referred to as pre-approval or pre-qualified offers, mean a lender has looked at your credit profile and extended you a conditional offer. The inquiries are soft pulls that don’t impact your credit score. Creditors may do this proactively by sending you a letter or email saying you’re pre-approved for a new card, or they may provide the option for you to explore pre-screened offers online. Either way, you must still apply formally, and there’s no guarantee that the application will be approved.6
The Takeaway
Technology makes it possible to be approved for a credit card — and even start using it — within minutes. But instant approval credit cards with instant account numbers that you can use the same day might not be easy to find. You’ll have to be sure the card issuer offers instant access to a card number that you can use while you wait for your physical card to come in the mail — and you’ll have to meet qualification requirements.
1 “What Happens After I Apply for a Credit Card?,” Experian
2 “What It Means When Your Credit Card Application is Under Review,” Experian
3 “How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Approved for Credit,” Experian
4 “Pros and Cons of Store Credit Cards,” Experian
5 “How Long Does It Take to Get a Credit Card?,” Experian
6 “Pros & Cons of Pre-Screened Credit Card Offers,” Equifax
Allan Halcrow is a freelance writer concentrating in business, human resources, and diversity and inclusion. He is also the author of four books on management.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
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