Does Applying for a Credit Card Negatively Impact Your Credit?
4 Min Read | Published: December 22, 2025
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Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit? Get the facts on hard inquiries and tips for applying wisely to minimize the impact on your credit score.
At-A-Glance
- Applying for a credit card usually causes a small, temporary dip in your credit score.
- Multiple applications in a short time can add up, but responsible credit card use can help scores recover.
- Prequalification tools let you check for offers with no initial impact to your credit score.
Thinking about applying for a new credit card, but worried it might hurt your credit score? You’re not alone. While a credit card application can cause a slight dip in your credit score, it’s usually minor and temporary. What really matters is how you manage your credit after you’re approved. Let’s walk through how credit card applications can affect your credit score and how you can minimize the impact.
How Credit Card Applications Affect Your Credit
Your credit score is a dynamic representation of your credit history, and it changes based on how you’ve repaid debts in the past, as well as other factors. You can ding your credit score by making late payments or using too much of your credit limit, but applying for a new credit card can also temporarily lower your credit score.1 So why do credit card applications affect your credit?
When you apply for a credit card, lenders make a hard credit inquiry on your credit report, which shows your history of repaying debt. Hard inquiries may lower your score by a few points,2 and they can stay on your credit report for up to two years.3 While they can stay on your report for a while, their impact gets less serious over time.4 If you only apply for credit cards occasionally and make your payments by the due date, the negative effect of a hard inquiry should be brief.
How to Minimize the Impact
There are a few different ways you might be able to reduce the hit to your credit score when you apply for a new credit card, like:
- Leave Room Between Applications
Avoid multiple applications at once. Space them out to avoid looking risky to lenders. - Prequalification Tools
Some credit card issuers have ways to check if you qualify for a credit card before you formally apply and trigger a hard credit inquiry. By using these tools, you can have a better idea of your chances of getting approved for the card before you lower your score. - Manage Your New Card Responsibly
After you get your new card, keeping your balances low and paying bills on time can help your score recover and grow.
When Applying Could Be a Smart Move
It can be challenging to know if now’s the right time to apply for a new credit card, and some people might not be ready for a new card just yet. If you’re considering a new card, here are some signs that you might be ready:
- You’re Looking for More Benefits
If you’re on top of your credit card payment each month and see a card that offers rewards, travel perks, or lower interest rates that fit your lifestyle, you might want to consider applying for it. - You’re Building Credit
If you’re new to credit, getting a credit card for the first time could be a useful way to build a history of making payments. Having a credit history can make it easier for you to take out loans, rent or buy property, and upgrade to a more rewarding card in the future. - You’re Improving Your Credit Long-Term
Part of your credit score is made up of your credit mix, or the different types of credit you have at your disposal. Even if you already have a credit card, you may be able to boost your credit score long-term by opening another account, as long as you manage it responsibly. - You Haven’t Applied for a New Card Recently
Too many credit card applications in a short-term period may raise alarm bells for some lenders, so you want to make sure that you leave space between credit card applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hard credit inquiry when you apply for a new credit card usually drops your score just a few points. The effect is temporary if you continue using credit responsibly.
One application isn’t usually a big deal, but it does generally temporarily ding your credit score. The greater risk is submitting too many applications within a short period.
Not if you do it strategically. A card that fits your lifestyle and is managed responsibly can help you build credit and earn rewards.
The Takeaway
Applying for a credit card may nudge your credit score down briefly, but it doesn’t have to be a setback. Prequalification tools let you explore your options without an initial credit impact, and responsible card use can improve your score over time. If you’re ready to see what’s available, explore CardShop to find the right fit for your lifestyle.
1,2 “What Affects Your Credit Scores?,” Experian
3 “What Is a Hard Credit Inquiry and How Does It Affect Credit?,” Experian
4 “How Long Do Hard Credit Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?,” Experian
Scott Drueding Hanson is a content writer and copywriter based in Brooklyn. His work focuses primarily on personal finance.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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