The hardest credit cards to get

So you want an exclusive credit card?

For many people, credit cards may simply be a means to an end, used for the occasional purchase. But for a select group of people with strong credit scores and a lot of spending money, a variety of exclusive credit cards may be available — sometimes by invitation only.

These exclusive credit cards come with larger-than-life perks.

We handpicked these credit cards and based their level of exclusivity on the following:

• Availability — By nature, exclusive cards aren’t available to many people, and some are only available via invite.
• Annual fee — The higher the annual fee, the less likely average consumers can afford the card.
• Benefits — These cards offer exclusive benefits for cardholders that are unmatched when compared to “regular credit cards.”
• Exclusive perks — Not only do these exclusive cards offer great benefits, but they offer exclusive perks to invite-only events, specialized gifts and more.
• Reviews — Based on our research, these cards are the cream of the crop, and the costs are worth the rewards.

Read on to learn about the hardest credit cards to get and find out if they’re really worth the hype.

How to qualify for exclusive credit cards

The hardest credit cards to get typically have pretty high qualification requirements. So what do you need to do to get one?

Issuers don’t typically lay out approval requirements for credit cards — and for an invite-only card, you’re often relying on rumors to verify what you need to qualify. But generally, the following restrictions to apply to luxury credit card requirements:

• Having good-to-excellent credit
• Having a high income

Depending on the card, already having an account or another credit card with the bank could help your chances of approval.

If you’re interested in getting one of the cards in this article — even if you’re confident you’ll qualify — consider whether it’s worth it for you. Will the benefits outweigh the annual fee? It’s possible to find less-expensive cards that will help you access the travel and lifestyle perks you’re after.

Bottom line: Are exclusive credit cards worth it?

What separates the most exclusive credit cards from the rest of the pack? Usually, it’s part urban legend and part brilliant marketing. While most of these prestigious credit cards are unattainable for regular folks, they are available for wealthy individuals at the higher echelon of society.

You can apply for some of these cards on your own — if you can stomach the annual fees.

The exclusivity of these cards can mean access to a variety of perks, luxuries and special events, as well as a higher credit limit. It can carry some status as well.

Review how the perks and bonuses shape up against the cost. Depending on your situation, some of these perks could be worth the cost. On the other hand, you don’t want to be stuck with a card you can’t afford.

*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.