How Often Can I Apply For a Credit Card?
4 Min Read | Published: April 25, 2025
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
Learn how often you can apply for a credit card, how hard inquiries affect your credit score, and how long you should wait between applications.
At-A-Glance
- Applying for multiple credit cards in a short period can trigger hard inquiries that may lower your credit score.
- Waiting at least six months between credit card applications may help protect your credit and improve approval chances.
- Prequalification and preapproval can help you gauge your chances of approval for a particular card without impacting your credit score.
There are plenty of good reasons to get a new credit card, like expanding your buying power, ensuring you have a backup payment method, or switching to a card with a rewards structure that matches your spending habits, such as a travel rewards card.
However, applying for multiple credit cards in too short a window of time could negatively impact your credit score. It’s important to know how long to wait between credit card applications and make use of tools that can help you check on your eligibility in advance.
How Long Should You Wait In Between Credit Card Applications?
There isn’t a set amount of time to wait in between credit card applications, though there are some things to keep in mind.
- Multiple credit card applications can result in multiple hard inquiries on your credit report, which could damage your credit score. Hard inquiries may stay on your credit report for up to two years but likely won’t impact your score after one year.1
- Some credit card issuers may not accept applications if you have applied for multiple cards within a specific period of time, so it’s important to check any restrictions for the card issuer with which you plan to apply.2
- If you’re after a hard financial season or you’re building credit for the first time, it may make sense to wait as long as possible between applications to give your score time to improve.
- Waiting at least six months between credit card applications could help to protect your credit score.3
Did you know?
You can apply for a U.S. American Express Personal Card and know if you’re approved with no impact on your credit score. There is no hard credit check during the application process; it only occurs after you’ve accepted the Card. If you choose to accept the Card, the information we provide to the credit bureau(s) may impact your credit score.
Check offers and apply with confidence.
What Happens if You Apply for Too Many Credit Cards?
Applying for many credit cards at once could have a negative impact on your credit score. Here are two reasons behind the potential dip in your score:
- Reduced Average Age of Accounts
Your FICO score is calculated using several factors, with 15% of your score derived from the length of credit history, or how long you’ve had credit accounts open.4 When you apply for several new credit cards at once, it may decrease the average length of your credit account history, which could decrease your score. - Multiple Hard Inquiries
Each time you officially apply for and accept a credit card, the card issuer triggers a hard inquiry to check your credit. The key difference between a soft inquiry and a hard inquiry is that a soft inquiry won’t impact your credit, while a hard inquiry may. Applying for many credit cards in a short period may trigger multiple hard inquiries that could damage your credit score.
Tips to Help Improve Your Chances Before Applying
As you bide your time between credit card applications, there are steps you can take that may improve your chances of being approved for a card.
- Lower Your Credit Utilization
Credit utilization is the amount of credit you’re using compared to your available credit. A lower utilization, under 30%, may indicate to card issuers that you’re a more responsible borrower, while a higher utilization could indicate you may not be able to responsibly handle more credit.5 A credit utilization calculator can help you understand your credit utilization ratio and whether you’re in a favorable range.
There are several ways to lower utilization, including paying down card balances, requesting a credit limit increase (but note this could trigger a hard credit inquiry), and keeping old credit cards open to increase available credit. - Research Prequalification and Preapproval
The terms prequalification and preapproval are often used interchangeably, but ultimately, they refer to a pre-screening process where you may be able to find out the likelihood that you’ll be approved for a particular card before you apply (and without a hard credit check). You may be able to submit a pre-screening application on the card issuer’s website to see which cards you might prequalify for, while a preapproval offer that comes via mail may also indicate you have a high likelihood of being eligible for the card.
Keep in mind that prequalification and preapproval are not guaranteed. You’ll still need to submit to the formal application and approval process to determine your eligibility. And note that approval parameters vary by the card issuer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically speaking, there is no number that counts as too many credit inquiries, but you might see a dip in your credit score if you apply for a lot of credit at once. Lenders may view a lot of applications for credit as a higher-risk behavior and be concerned that you may not be able to manage any additional debts.
If you are a responsible cardholder, having multiple credit cards can be beneficial for your financial and credit health. But different financial institutions or card issuers may have varying rules about what constitutes too many credit cards, such as applying for a certain number within a 12- or 6-month period.6 Check your bank’s terms and keep your overall credit health in mind when building your credit history.
The Takeaway
While there is no set timeframe to wait between credit card applications, waiting at least six months could provide sufficient time between hard inquiries to alleviate negative impacts on your credit score. As you consider applying for a new credit card, consider prequalification and preapproval offers, which can help you assess the likelihood of being approved for a particular card without damaging your credit score.
1 “Can You Remove Hard Inquiries From Your Credit Report?,” Experian
2,3 “How Long to Wait Between Credit Card Applications,” Experian
4 “What's in my FICO® Scores?,” myFICO
5 “What Is a Credit Utilization Rate?,” Experian
6 “How long should I wait between credit card applications?,” Bankrate
Brooke Joly is a writer on a mission to unravel the mysteries of personal finance and make them accessible to the everyday reader. When she’s not behind the keyboard, you can find her enjoying the outdoors in Charleston, SC.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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