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Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
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FINALLY.

A credit card for international students

We’re making it easy for international students to get a credit card and build credit in the U.S.

A better credit card for international students

A better credit card for international students

Build credit, get cashback, earn high APY and recieve international transfers – all in one place.

No ssn?
apply with your passport.

Our credit card is specially designed for international students without an SSN.  Apply easily with your passport and start building your credit score in the U.S. with Firstcard.
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Why IS building credit in college important?

  • Easier access to credit
  • Lower interest rates on loans
  • More apartment lease options
  • Better access to financial products
  • Helps employment background checks
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i am an international student

what do i need to apply for firstcard?

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Have a legal U.S. residential address
  • Have an SSN, an ITIN, or a valid passport
If you want to get an ITIN We’ve partnered with an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent
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Build credit 

while studying abroad

Building credit in the U.S. is crucial for securing loans, renting apartments, and even getting jobs.

Get an international student credit card with Firstcard. Start building credit early.
Dining
Electronics
Rent
Car
KTV
Tuition
Coffee

Firstcard helps you build your credit early and safely

Build your credit score every time you swipe with Firstcard. Monitor your credit score right in the app. Enable Autopay to ensure on-time payment.
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Safer Credit Building with Autopay

Autopay is a feature that helps you build credit score worry-free. The feature ensures on-time payment by automatically paying off your Firstcard credit card bills using the money you’ve already deposited into your account.
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earn while you learn

get 5% cashback on 12
most-loved educational platforms

Why Firstcard Is a Great Credit Card for International Students

International students face unique challenges when managing finances in a new country. Firstcard provides a credit-building solution that doesn’t require a SSN or U.S. credit history. See why Firstcard is a great choice for international students below:
No SSN Required

Did you know that most credit card issuers in the U.S. require a SSN in order to open a credit card? Firstcard is a great credit card for international students because no SSN is required in order to get approved. You can apply online in minutes with just your passport along with your student visa or ITIN!

Earn Cashback on Campus

Firstcard is a great credit card for international students, whether you’re shopping on campus or exploring nearby stores. You can earn up to 15% cashback at over 29,000 partner retailers, up to 10% surprise cashback on all eligible purchases, and unlimited 1% cashback on all purchases when you subscribe to Firstcard Premium.

0% APR

Did you know that most student credit cards in the U.S. have a variable APR between 17.49% and 26.49%? Firstcard is a better credit card for international students because there is 0% APR. This helps ensure you won’t accumulate large sums of high-interest debt.

No Hard Credit Inquiry

Many credit cards in the U.S. require a hard credit check in order to get approved. What makes Firstcard a great credit card for international students is that there is no hard credit inquiry required. This means that even if you have no credit or bad credit you can still get approved!

Build Credit Early

Building credit early is crucial as it opens doors to better financial opportunities in the future. A strong credit history can help secure loans, rent apartments, and more. Firstcard is a good credit card for international students because it helps establish credit in the U.S. from the start which provides a solid foundation for long-term financial success.

Security & support you can trust

Safe and Secure
Firstcard uses industry-standard encryption technology to ensure your account and information are safe and secure.
Insured up to $250,000
Money in your Firstcard account is insured up to the maximum amount of $250,000 through our bank partner Regent Bank, a member of FDIC.
Powered by Mastercard
Powered by Mastercard with Zero Liability Fraud Protection guarantee for unauthorized charges.

Questions From International Students Without An SSN

How to get a credit card without an SSN for international students?

If you are an international student, start by looking for banks and financial institutions that offer credit cards specifically designed for international students. For example, you can apply for a credit card with Firstcard even without an SSN. Firstcard understands the unique needs of international students and does not require an SSN or credit history. With Firstcard, international students can get a credit card using their passports. Once you get a credit card for international students, use it responsibly to build your credit history in the U.S.

To learn more about how to get a credit card without an SSN, read this article.

Why is it important for international students to build credit in the US?

It is important for international students to build credit in the US because a good credit history can significantly impact their financial opportunities. Having a credit card for international students helps establish credit, which is crucial for renting apartments, getting loans, or even securing certain jobs. Building credit with a credit card for international students can also lead to better interest rates and credit offers in the future!

 With bad credit, international students may face higher interest rates on loans and credit cards, resulting in increased borrowing costs over time. Renting an apartment can become more challenging, as landlords often check credit scores and may require larger security deposits or deny your application altogether. Therefore, it’s crucial for international students to build credit early on in the US.

Why is Firstcard the best credit card for international students?

Firstcard is the best credit card to build credit for many reasons. First, Firstcard accepts international students without an SSN, making credit building accessible for international students. It also helps international students build credit faster without requiring a credit check or hard inquiry. With Firstcard, international students can earn up to 15% cashback at selected merchants while building your credit. Additionally, it offers multilingual customer support in English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese, ensuring a smooth experience for diverse users. With a 0% APR, Firstcard is a cost-effective way to build credit efficiently and safely.

our users love us

Firstcard makes credit building fun!

Firstcard's cashback program has been a fantastic bonus for me as an international student. Earning up to 15% cashback when I dine out or buy boba and enjoying an additional 10% cashback through the app’s spinning wheel have made managing my expenses while building credit much more fun and rewarding.

Leon Y
Safe Credit Building with Autopay!

I love using Firstcard as an international student! The autopay feature ensures my card is always paid off on time, helping me to build credit safely. The excellent cashback rewards are a great way to save a little extra money whenever I shop or eat out. Thanks to Firstcard, I’m able to build my credit and manage my expenses effectively in the US.

Patricia P
The easiest way to build credit in the US!

If you’re an international student looking for the easiest way to start building credit in the US look no further! Firstcard’s credit-building features are top-notch, and the ease of use without requiring an SSN are just a few of the reasons why I love Firstcard.

Nicholas S.
Firstcard makes my financial life abroad much easier

Managing my finances in a new country was a major concern, but Firstcard made it so much easier. The support team is always responsive and helpful, and I can ask questions and receive help in Spanish which is amazing!

Paolo G
The best credit card experience!

The benefits and support provided by Firstcard are fantastic for international students. Would highly recommend to any international student looking for the best card to start building credit in the US

Omari A
Helped me build credit abroad!

The app is straightforward to use, and the financial tools have helped me manage my budget effectively. I love the peace of mind that comes with the app’s security features and the easy money transfers.

Alec P
A must-have for International Students

Firstcard has been an essential tool for me as an international student from India. The app is easy to navigate and offers fantastic features tailored for students

Anika K
Firstcard makes credit building fun!

Firstcard's cashback program has been a fantastic bonus for me as an international student. Earning up to 15% cashback when I dine out or buy boba and enjoying an additional 10% cashback through the app’s spinning wheel have made managing my expenses while building credit much more fun and rewarding.

Leon Y
Safe Credit Building with Autopay!

I love using Firstcard as an international student! The autopay feature ensures my card is always paid off on time, helping me to build credit safely. The excellent cashback rewards are a great way to save a little extra money whenever I shop or eat out. Thanks to Firstcard, I’m able to build my credit and manage my expenses effectively in the US.

Patricia P
The easiest way to build credit in the US!

If you’re an international student looking for the easiest way to start building credit in the US look no further! Firstcard’s credit-building features are top-notch, and the ease of use without requiring an SSN are just a few of the reasons why I love Firstcard.

Nicholas S.
Firstcard makes my financial life abroad much easier

Managing my finances in a new country was a major concern, but Firstcard made it so much easier. The support team is always responsive and helpful, and I can ask questions and receive help in Spanish which is amazing!

Paolo G
The best credit card experience!

The benefits and support provided by Firstcard are fantastic for international students. Would highly recommend to any international student looking for the best card to start building credit in the US

Omari A
Helped me build credit abroad!

The app is straightforward to use, and the financial tools have helped me manage my budget effectively. I love the peace of mind that comes with the app’s security features and the easy money transfers.

Alec P
A must-have for International Students

Firstcard has been an essential tool for me as an international student from India. The app is easy to navigate and offers fantastic features tailored for students

Anika K

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FTC

Firstcard is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Regent Bank, Member FDIC. Firstcard credit cards are issued by Regent Bank, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Valid for 18+ and subject to account approval. FDIC deposit insurance up to $250,000 per qualified customer account on a "pass-through" basis; FDIC insurance only covers failure of insured depository institutions. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC deposit insurance to apply.

Forbes Featured Partner:  https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/best/international-students/

Time Featured Partner:  https://time.com/personal-finance/article/best-credit-cards-for-students/

CNN Featured Partner:  https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/best-credit-cards-college-students

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Valid for 18+ and subject to account approval. Pre-approved means that you have met the initial criteria for this credit card; however, your application may be rejected if any of the following apply: you provided incorrect information or we are unable to verify your identity under federal law; you are under 18 years old.

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Merchant Cashback: The amount of cashback is determined by the transaction and participating merchants. See firstcard.app/cashback-policy.

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Random Cashback: Users will receive up to 10% of random cashback on qualifying purchases. A qualifying purchase is a purchase that has been processed and accepted by the merchant and has settled in the entrant's Firstcard account. This purchase may, but not necessarily, include tips, holds, and deposits related to the qualifying purchase. Additionally, the following transaction categories are NOT qualifying purchases and will not be eligible to earn entries into random cashback: ATM withdrawals, wire transfers or cash transfers, purchasing gift cards or other cash equivalents, gambling or online casino, peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, such as Venmo, Cash App, transfers between Firstcard users, or similar services, gambling, bill payment, prepaid phone recharge and any other transaction types that we may deem ineligible at our sole discretion. See firstcard.app/random-cashback-policy.

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The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Deposit Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of November 7, 2024. . For cardholders without an SSN, credit monitoring and APY features are unavailable. For ITIN cardholders, APY feature is available; however, credit monitoring remains unavailable. No minimum balance is required. Firstcard Standard members are eligible for 0.75% APY. Firstcard+ members are eligible for 2.00% APY. Firstcard Premium members are eligible for 4.00% APY. Annual fees and other fees may impact your yield.

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Firstcard Premium customers will earn an additional 1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases. Exclusions apply. Cashback rewards are not earned on ATM withdrawals, P2P transfers, purchases of gift cards or other cash equivalents, and certain other types of transactions as determined by Firstcard. Cashback is awarded within 7 days of the eligible transaction posting to your account. No minimum balance required to earn cashback.

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Data pulled from Chase Bank as of January 10, 2025: https://www.chase.com/content/dam/chase-ux/ratesheets/pdfs/rdfl1.pdf

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Data pulled from Bank of America as of January 10, 2025: https://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/bank-account-interest-rates/

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Data pulled from Wells Fargo as of January 10, 2025: https://www.wellsfargo.com/checking/prime/

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Data pulled from Discover It Secured Credit Card as of January 10, 2025: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/secured/

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Data pulled Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card from as of January 10, 2025: https://creditcards.chase.com/cash-back-credit-cards/freedom/unlimited

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Data pulled from Bank of America Secured Credit Card as of January 10, 2025: https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/secured-credit-card/

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According to the FDIC, the national average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.42% APY (as of December 16, 2024). https://www.fdic.gov/resources/bankers/national-rates/.