In a Nutshell
The best credit cards for international students are more likely to accept students with little to no credit history and reward them for handling credit responsibly. Whether you’re an international student or studying abroad, you can find a card that’s right for you.A great credit card for international students is out there — even for those who don’t have an extensive credit history or, perhaps, even a Social Security number.
The best cards will also limit fees and may even offer rewards. Here are our top choices for the best credit card for international students and what we like about each one.
How we picked these cards
As we sorted through dozens of student cards, we looked for ones that accepted alternate forms of validating identity or determining risk for the lender. These two features will be critical for international students, especially those who don’t have a Social Security number.
We also looked for cards that charge fewer fees, which can be helpful for students. And we looked for cards that offered some sort of rewards, like cash back (for making on-time payments or getting good grades) or points that could be used toward free travel.
How to make the most of international student cards
If you don’t have credit scores or a Social Security number, these cards could make it possible for you to start building a credit history.
While that’s a great thing, it also comes with great responsibility. To get the most credit-building mileage out of student cards, you need to make sure that you make at least your minimum payments on time and in full every month. You may even want to set up automatic payments so that you don’t ever accidentally miss a payment.
And if you use a card that offers an introductory 0% purchase APR for a certain amount of time — say to purchase school supplies or cover an emergency — you need to make sure that you bring your balance down to $0 before the introductory period ends if you want to avoid interest charges. And once the intro period is up, you’ll face an APR that will be based on the lender’s assessment of your credit risk.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that these are primarily best “first” cards. That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily be the best cards for you a few years down the road. Once you’ve built up your credit, you’re probably going to want to see if you can qualify for credit cards that offer more rewards and perks.