What Credit Score You Need to Get the Amazon Visa Card

Amazon wants to see a credit score of around 670 or higher, though the exact number varies

Amazon's store card comes in two versions: the Amazon Prime Visa (for Prime members) and the Amazon Visa (for everyone). Both are issued by Chase Bank. Neither card publishes a minimum credit score requirement, but based on what cardholders report and how Chase typically structures its cards, you generally need a score in the 670 to 700 range to have a real chance at approval.

That said, Chase sometimes approves people with scores in the 650s, and occasionally denies people in the 700s. Your actual score matters less than your full financial picture — how much debt you already carry, whether you pay bills on time, how long you've had credit accounts open, and how recently you've applied for new credit. A score of 680 with one missed payment in the last year looks worse to Chase than a score of 660 with a clean payment history.

If your score is below 650, approval is unlikely. If it's between 650 and 670, you might get approved, but you're in the borderline zone. Above 700, your odds improve significantly, though approval is never may provide.

Key Takeaways

• Amazon's Visa cards are issued by Chase and typically require a credit score around 670 or higher, though Chase does not publish an exact minimum.
• Your full credit profile — payment history, existing debt, and age of accounts — matters as much as your score number when Chase decides whether to approve you.
• Applying for the card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points whether you're approved or denied.
• If you're denied, you can reapply after three to six months of building better credit history, but multiple applications in a short time will hurt your score further.
• The card offers rewards on Amazon purchases and at Whole Foods, but only if you're approved — there is no may provide path to approval at any score.

How Chase decides whether to approve you

Chase runs what's called a hard inquiry when you apply. This means they pull your full credit report from one or more of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and look at everything: your score, payment history, how much debt you're carrying, how many accounts you have, and how recently you've opened new accounts.

A hard inquiry itself lowers your score by a few points for about three months. If you're denied, that damage happens anyway. If you're approved, the score drop is temporary and usually recovers within a few months as long as you pay on time.

Chase weighs recent behavior heavily. If you missed a payment six months ago, that hurts more than a missed payment three years ago. If you've opened three new credit accounts in the last two months, Chase sees you as riskier, even if your score is 750. If you're carrying $15,000 in credit card debt across five cards, Chase worries you're overextended, regardless of your score.

What happens if your score is too low

If Chase denies you, the denial letter will say "credit decision" or "credit profile" as the reason, but won't tell you exactly why. You can call Chase's reconsideration line within 30 days of denial and ask if there's anything you can do — sometimes they'll approve you if you offer to add a co-signer or accept a lower credit limit. Most of the time, though, the answer is no.

After a denial, wait at least three to six months before applying again. In that time, focus on paying every bill on time, paying down existing credit card balances (aim to use less than 30% of your available credit), and not opening new accounts unless necessary. These actions raise your score and show Chase a better payment pattern.

Do not apply multiple times in quick succession. Each application triggers another hard inquiry, which lowers your score further and signals to lenders that you're desperate for credit. Space applications at least three months apart.

Alternatives if you don't meet the score requirement

If your score is below 650 and you want a rewards card now, consider a secured credit card. You deposit cash (usually $200 to $2,500) as collateral, and the card issuer gives you a credit line for that amount. You use it like a normal card, pay the bill each month, and after 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert it to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit. Your score rises as you build a positive payment history.

Capital One, Discover, and Chase all offer secured cards. They report to all three credit bureaus, so the positive payment history helps your score. After 12 to 18 months of perfect payments, you'll likely may have access to for the Amazon card.

Another option: if you have a friend or family member with good credit, ask them to add you as an authorized user on one of their credit cards. Their payment history and credit limit show up on your report, which can boost your score without you having to may have access to on your own. You don't even have to use the card — just being added helps. After your score improves, you can apply for the Amazon card independently.

What the Amazon card actually offers

The Amazon Prime Visa gives 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else — but only for Prime members. The regular Amazon Visa gives 3% on Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere. Both cards have no annual fee.

The rewards are decent if you shop on Amazon regularly, but they're not worth applying for if you'll be denied. A hard inquiry and a denial stay on your report for seven years, and the inquiry itself lowers your score. If you're borderline, it's smarter to spend three months building credit, then apply when your odds are better.

How to check your own credit score before applying

You can see your credit score for free through several services. AnnualCreditReport.com (the official government site) gives you free credit reports from all three bureaus once per year, though it doesn't include your score. Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and most major banks show your score free, updated monthly. These free scores are usually accurate within 10 to 20 points of what Chase will see.

Check your score at least a month before you plan to apply for the Amazon card. If it's below 650, spend that month paying down debt and making on-time payments. If it's between 650 and 670, you're in the gray zone — you might get approved, but there's real risk. If it's above 700, your odds are good.

When you check your score through Credit Karma or your bank, that's a soft inquiry — it doesn't lower your score and doesn't show up on reports that lenders see. Only hard inquiries (from actual credit applications) affect your score.

What to do if you're approved

Once you have the card, treat it like a tool, not assistance programs. Charge small purchases you'd make anyway, pay the full balance every month, and never miss a payment. The card reports to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your score. Missed payments destroy it.

Keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit. If your limit is $1,000, try not to carry more than $300 in any given month. This ratio (called your utilization rate) affects your score significantly. Even if you pay in full, a high balance before the statement closes can lower your score.

Don't close the card after you've used it for a while. The longer you keep an account open with a clean payment history, the better it is for your score. Closing it actually hurts your score because it reduces your total available credit and removes positive history from your active accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will applying for the Amazon card hurt my credit score?

Yes, temporarily. The hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points for about three months. If you're approved, the score usually recovers within a few months as long as you pay on time. If you're denied, the damage is the same — the inquiry still happened — but you don't get the card.

Can I get approved with a 650 credit score?

It's possible but not likely. Chase typically approves people in the 670+ range. At 650, you're below the typical threshold, though Chase looks at your full profile, not just the number. If you have excellent payment history and low debt, you might get approved. If you have recent missed payments or high balances, you probably won't.

What's the difference between the Amazon Prime Visa and the regular Amazon Visa?

The Prime Visa gives 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods (for Prime members only), while the regular Visa gives 3%. Both require the same credit score to get approved. If you're not a Prime member, the regular card is your only option.

How long after being denied should I wait to apply again?

Wait at least three to six months. Use that time to pay bills on time, pay down existing debt, and avoid opening new accounts. Each application triggers a hard inquiry, which lowers your score, so applying too soon makes your situation worse, not better.

Does being an authorized user on someone else's card help me get approved for the Amazon card?

Yes, it can. If the primary cardholder has good payment history and a high credit limit, being added as an authorized user puts that positive history on your credit report, which can raise your score. After a few months of improvement, you'll have a better chance of Amazon card approval on your own.