To get a bank card in Australia, you usually should be 18 or over, reside right here, have an everyday earnings you may show and go the lender’s credit score verify. The catch is that the financial institution additionally needs to be happy you may repay your complete credit score restrict inside three years, so your earnings and present money owed matter as a lot as your credit score rating.
Right here’s the way it works, step-by-step, and how you can give your self the very best shot at a “sure”.
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Don’t apply for many playing cards without delay. Each software is recorded in your credit score report, and a number of purposes in a short while can hurt your credit score rating, which makes the following “sure” more durable to get.
Key numbers
- 18: the minimal age to use on the large banks (for instance CommBank and Westpac)
- 3 years: lenders should verify you may repay your full credit score restrict inside this time (ASIC rule since 1 January 2019)
- Each 3 months: how typically you may get your credit score report without cost
- ~$223 a month: roughly what it takes to clear a $6,000 restrict in 3 years at an instance price of 20% p.a.
Methodology: eligibility from CommBank and Westpac’s software pages, credit score report details from Moneysmart and the 3-year rule from ASIC, all checked 4 October 2026. The ~$223 determine assumes the complete restrict is spent and repaid in equal month-to-month quantities over 36 months at an instance 20% p.a., with no charges. It’s illustrative solely.
Who can get a bank card in Australia?
Each lender units its personal guidelines, however the fundamentals on the large banks seem like this:
- Age: you must be at the very least 18.
- Residency: normally an Australian citizen or everlasting resident with an Australian tackle. Some banks settle for sure visa holders, however the guidelines differ. CommBank asks for an eligible visa with greater than 6 months left, whereas Westpac asks for at the very least one 12 months.
- Earnings: an everyday earnings you may show. Westpac, for instance, asks for verifiable Australian taxable earnings for at the very least 3 months, and the minimal quantity is dependent upon the cardboard.
- Credit score historical past: you’ll must go a credit score verify, so maintaining with payments and mortgage repayments helps.
If you happen to’re self-employed, count on to indicate a bit extra paperwork. We’ve coated that in our information to making use of for a bank card once you’re self-employed.
What do banks verify earlier than saying sure?
Since 1 January 2019, ASIC has required lenders to evaluate whether or not you may repay your complete credit score restrict inside three years. That’s why your earnings, your bills and your different money owed all rely.
Right here’s the straightforward maths behind it, utilizing an instance rate of interest of 20% p.a.:
| Credit score restrict | Approx. month-to-month compensation to clear it in 3 years |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | ~$74 |
| $6,000 | ~$223 |
| $10,000 | ~$372 |
As a tough information, repaying a full credit score restrict in equal month-to-month quantities over 3 years (36 months), at an instance price of 20% p.a. with no charges, works out to about $74 a month for a $2,000 restrict, $223 a month for a $6,000 restrict and $372 a month for a $10,000 restrict.
So in case your finances can comfortably cowl about $223 a month on high of all the pieces else, a $6,000 restrict is extra more likely to stack up. Banks use their very own calculations, so deal with this as a tough information quite than a go mark.
They’ll additionally have a look at your credit score report. Right here’s what’s on it:
| What | Element | Supply |
|---|---|---|
| Free copy of your report | Each 3 months | Moneysmart |
| Credit score rating vary | 0 to 1,000 or 1,200 | Moneysmart |
| Compensation historical past proven | Final 2 years | Moneysmart |
| Defaults keep listed | 5 years (7 for a clearout) | Moneysmart |
| Restrict you may repay | Inside 3 years | ASIC |
| Minimal age to use | 18 | CommBank, Westpac |
Sources: Moneysmart, Credit score scores and credit score experiences; ASIC media launch 18-257MR; CommBank and Westpac eligibility pages. Appropriate as at 4 October 2026.
You may get a free credit score report each 3 months. Scores vary from 0 to 1,000 or 1,200 relying on the company, compensation historical past covers the final 2 years and defaults usually keep for five years (7 for a clearout). The graphic additionally recaps the minimal software age of 18 and the 3-year compensation check.
What paperwork do you want?
| If you happen to’re… | You’ll normally want |
|---|---|
| Anybody making use of | Picture ID (driver’s licence or passport), your tackle, particulars of your present money owed and a cell quantity for verification codes |
| Employed (PAYG) | Current payslips or financial institution statements exhibiting your wage |
| An informal employee | Round three months of payslips or financial institution statements |
| Self-employed | Current tax return or Discover of Evaluation (CommBank, for instance, desires at the very least 12 months of buying and selling) |
Each financial institution’s listing is a little bit completely different, so verify the “what you want” web page for the cardboard you’re making use of for.
How lengthy does it take to get a bank card?
It is dependent upon the lender and on how easy your software is. If all the pieces checks out, some on-line purposes get a call shortly. If the financial institution must see extra paperwork, you would possibly get a conditional approval first, and the ultimate “sure” comes when you’ve despatched them by way of.
The quickest option to velocity issues up? Have your ID, payslips and debt particulars prepared earlier than you begin.
How will you enhance your possibilities of approval?
- Examine your credit score report first. It’s free each 3 months from the credit score reporting companies, and it’s value fixing any errors earlier than a financial institution sees them.
- Ask for a wise restrict. A decrease restrict is simpler to justify underneath the 3-year check, and also you don’t should take the complete quantity supplied.
- Pay down different money owed, or shut playing cards you now not use, earlier than making use of.
- Decide a card that matches. A primary card doesn’t should be a premium rewards card. A no annual charge card or a scholar card is commonly a greater place to start out.
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Tip: Earlier than you hit “apply”, learn the cardboard’s key details sheet and verify the acquisition price, annual charge and interest-free days. Then work out what a month of your common spending would value when you couldn’t pay it off in full. If that quantity makes you wince, choose an easier card.
“Getting accepted isn’t actually about having an ideal credit score rating. It’s about exhibiting the financial institution you may comfortably deal with the restrict you’re asking for. Ask for what you want, not the most important quantity on provide, and also you’ll make life simpler for your self and the financial institution.”
Pauline Hatch, bank card knowledgeable at CreditCard.com.au
What in case your software is declined?
Don’t panic, and don’t rush off to use elsewhere right away. Moneysmart suggests you:
- Ask the lender why. They should let you know in case your credit score report was the rationale.
- Get a free copy of your credit score report and verify it for errors.
- Wait at the very least a couple of months earlier than making use of once more, and use that point to pay down money owed and construct a small financial savings buffer.
You possibly can learn extra in Moneysmart’s information to selecting a bank card.
Continuously requested questions
How outdated do it’s a must to be to get a bank card in Australia?
Not less than 18 on the large banks, together with CommBank and Westpac. If you happen to’re youthful, a debit card is the same old option to begin.
Can short-term residents get a bank card in Australia?
Typically. It is dependent upon the financial institution and your visa. CommBank, for instance, asks for an eligible visa with greater than 6 months left, whereas Westpac asks for at the very least one 12 months. Examine every financial institution’s eligibility web page earlier than you apply.
Can I get a bank card with out a job?
You’ll want some common earnings you may show, but it surely doesn’t all the time have to return from a job. CommBank, for instance, lists different earnings sorts, akin to authorities advantages, funding earnings and tremendous. Regardless of the supply, the financial institution nonetheless needs to be happy you may repay the restrict inside three years.
Does making use of for a bank card damage my credit score rating?
Every software is recorded in your credit score report, and a number of other in a short while can decrease your rating. One well-chosen software is best than a handful of hopeful ones.
How lengthy does it take to get a bank card?
It varies by lender. Some on-line purposes get a fast determination, whereas others want further paperwork first. Having your ID and earnings proof prepared is the simplest option to velocity issues up.
Last ideas
- Begin together with your credit score report so there are not any surprises.
- Apply for one card, chosen rigorously, quite than a number of.
- Preserve the restrict sensible. It’s simpler to get accepted, and simpler to repay.
- Perceive the curiosity. Our guides on how bank card curiosity is calculated and how interest-free days work are value a learn earlier than your first assertion lands.
- Evaluate first. If a sign-up deal issues to you, verify the present introductory provides (verify every card web page for the newest provide).
Normal recommendation solely: this text is common data and doesn’t keep in mind your targets, monetary scenario or wants. Think about the Goal Market Willpower (TMD), the phrases and circumstances and the product disclosure paperwork earlier than making use of for any bank card. Eligibility guidelines are set by every lender and might change. Particulars are primarily based on data from ASIC, Moneysmart, CommBank and Westpac. Card particulars are appropriate as at 4 October 2026 and might change.
