Easy approval credit cards

Explore credit cards with low credit limit requirements and easy eligibility criteria, and get tips to help improve your likelihood of getting approved the first time.

By   |   Verified by David Boyd   |   Updated 16 May 2023

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Comparing easy approval credit cards

Westpac Low Rate Cashback Credit Card

FeaturedApply by 29 June 2023

Westpac Low Rate Cashback Credit Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

13.74% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$59.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get up to $250 cashback when you apply online by 29 June 2023. Get a $50 cashback each month you spend over $1,000 for the first 5 statement periods.
  • Low ongoing 13.74% p.a. interest rate on purchases.
  • $59 p.a. annual fee.

Pros

  • Get up to $250 cashback when you meet the criteria.
  • Low 13.74% p.a. interest rate on purchases.
  • 55 days interest-free on purchases.
  • $500 minimum credit limit.

Cons

  • No rewards program although there is a cashback offer.
  • No complimentary travel insurance.
St.George Vertigo Visa

Apply by 30 September 2023

St.George Vertigo Visa

Balance transfer

32 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

13.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$55.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Enjoy 0% for 32 months on Balance Transfers with a 0% balance transfer fee. Reverts to cash advance rate of 21.49% p.a.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Low annual fee of $55 p.a.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers with no balance transfer fee.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Low annual fee of $55 p.a.

Cons

  • Balance transfer rate reverts to 21.49% p.a. after 32 months.
  • There are no rewards program for this card.
Qantas American Express Discovery Credit Card

On website

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

23.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 1.75 Qantas Points on eligible Qantas products and services.
  • Earn 0.75 Qantas Point for every $1 spent on Card purchases, except spend at government bodies in Australia where you will earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent.
  • Pay no annual card fee.
  • Up to 4 Additional Cards for family members or friends with no extra fee.

Pros

  • Ongoing $0 annual fee, a rarity among rewards credit cards.
  • Earn 0.75 Qantas points per $1 spent and 0.5 Qantas points per $1 for government spend.
  • No cap on the number of points you can earn.
  • Add up to 4 additional cards for family members or friends with no extra fee.
  • Complimentary Card Purchase Cover and Card Refund Cover.

Cons

  • There is a 3% foreign transaction fee.
  • Lacks complimentary travel insurance.
  • There is no access to a concierge service.
Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card (Altitude)

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

19.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$99.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Receive 100,000 Altitude bonus points when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval. Terms and conditions apply.
  • $99 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($150 p.a. annual fee thereafter).
  • Earn 3 Altitude points per $1 on Qantas and Jetstar flights bought in Australia, eligibility criteria apply.

Pros

  • 100,000 bonus Altitude Points when you spend $3,000 in 90 days.
  • Additional savings with the $99 first-year annual fee ($150 p.a. thereafter).
  • Comes with complimentary travel insurance.
  • Earn 1 Altitude point per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

Cons

  • Only up to 45 days interest-free on purchases.
  • Does not include lounge access.
The Low Rate Credit Card from American Express

On website

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

10.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Enjoy a low 10.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases.
  • $0 annual fee for as long as you have the card.
  • Up to 55 days interest-free.

Pros

  • Low 10.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases and $0 annual fee.
  • Comes with Card Purchase Cover and Card Refund Cover.
  • Up to 55 days interest free.

Cons

  • There are no rewards program for this card.
Bankwest Breeze Mastercard

Balance transfer

15 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

15 months at 0% p.a.

Annual fee

$0.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Enjoy 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 15 months (2% BT fee, 12.99% p.a. thereafter).
  • 0% p.a. for 15 months on purchases (reverts to 12.99% p.a.)
  • First-year annual fee waiver. $49 p.a. thereafter.
  • New customers only. Limited time. Other fees and charges, T&Cs apply.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 15 months.
  • 0% p.a. for 15 months on purchases.
  • First-year annual fee waiver. $49 p.a. thereafter.

Cons

  • There are no rewards on this card.
  • There is a 2% BT fee.
NAB Low Rate Card

Balance transfer

32 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

12.49% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Enjoy 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 32 months with no balance transfer fee. Reverts to variable cash advance rate of 21.74% p.a. after the promotional period.
  • $0 first-year annual card fee ($59 p.a. thereafter).
  • Get a response in 60 seconds.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 32 months.
  • No balance transfer fee.
  • The waived annual fee for the first year.
  • Additional credit card is free.

Cons

  • No rewards program for this card.
  • No insurance coverage.
NAB StraightUp Credit Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

0% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get the newest credit card from NAB - simple, cheap and most of all no interest charges!
  • No Use, No Pay. If you don't use your NAB StraightUp credit card during the whole statement period, the monthly fee will be reversed. No surprise charges!
  • Use your card to pay foreign currency and enjoy no foreign transaction fees!
  • Predictable fixed minimum payments based on your credit limit, giving you certainty of what to pay each month.

Pros

  • Charges a monthly fee based on your selected credit limit.
  • The monthly fee will be reversed if you do not have any outstanding balance or purchase.
  • No interest charges or other fees, including foreign currency fees and late payment fees.

Cons

  • No rewards program for this card.
  • No balance transfers or cash advances.
NAB Rewards Signature Credit Card

Balance transfer

12 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

19.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$195.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Earn up to 140,000 bonus Points. Receive 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account approval date and 40,000 bonus points when you keep your card open for over 12 months. Terms and conditions apply.
  • $195 p.a reduced annual card fee for your first year (reverts to $295 p.a. thereafter).
  • Earn 2.5 points on purchases made in major department and hardware stores.
  • Earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent on everyday purchases.

Pros

  • Earn up to 140,000 bonus NAB Rewards Points when you meet the criteria.
  • The discounted $195 annual fee on the first year.
  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months.
  • Includes international travel insurance.

Cons

  • There is a 3% balance transfer fee.
Bank of Melbourne Vertigo Visa

Apply by 30 September 2023

Bank of Melbourne Vertigo Visa

Balance transfer

32 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

13.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$55.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Enjoy 0% for 32 months on Balance Transfers with no balance transfer fee. Reverts to cash advance rate of 21.49% p.a.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Low annual fee of $55 p.a.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers with no balance transfer fee.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Low annual fee of $55 p.a.

Cons

  • Balance transfer rate reverts to 21.49% p.a. after 32 months.
  • There are no rewards program for this card.
BankSA Vertigo Credit Card

Apply by 30 September 2023

BankSA Vertigo Credit Card

Balance transfer

32 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

13.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$55.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn up to $400 cashback on your supermarket shop or enjoy 0% for 32 months on Balance Transfers with a 0% balance transfer fee. Reverts to cash advance rate of 21.49% p.a.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Up to 55 days interest-free on purchases.

Pros

  • Get 10% cashback on your supermarket shop or 0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers with no balance transfer fee.
  • 13.99% p.a. low variable interest rate on purchases.
  • Up to 55 days interest-free on purchases.

Cons

  • Balance transfer rate reverts to 21.49% p.a. after 32 months.
  • There are no rewards program for this card.
NAB Low Fee Credit Card

Balance transfer

12 months at 0% p.a.

Purchase rate

19.74% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$30.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Enjoy up to $240 credit back. Get $80 back per month for the first three months when you spend $500 per month.
  • Low $30 p.a. ongoing annual fee.
  • 12 months at 0% p.a. on balance transfers (3% balance transfer fee applies). Reverts to variable cash advance rate of 21.74% p.a.

Pros

  • The opportunity to get a cashback up to $240.
  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months.
  • Apply for an additional cardholder at no extra cost.

Cons

  • There is a 3% balance transfer fee.
  • Ongoing interest on purchases and cash advances is not low.
  • Doesn't earn rewards.
MONEYME Freestyle Virtual Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

18.24% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

From $0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Use virtual card instantly once approved (typically within 60 mins)
  • Tap n Pay with up to 55 days interest free
  • Use credit to transfer money to anyone
  • Exclusive perks & many more features
  • Thousands of 5-star customer reviews

Bank promo

  • Get MONEYME's lowest advertised rate EVER of 18.24% p.a.
  • Annual fee of $0 to $149 p.a. based on credit limit plus a monthly fee of $5 for balances over $20.
  • Be eligible for deals and credit back offers at over 2,000 participating stores thanks to MONEYME Perks, powered by Cashrewards. Terms and conditions apply.

Pros

  • Available to use immediately after approval.
  • Money can be transferred to your bank account.
  • Get cashback at participating stores with Cashrewards.

Cons

  • The maximum credit limit is comparatively low.
  • Combination of annual and monthly fees can be quite expensive for the highest credit limit.
  • There is a 1.5% withdrawal fee.

Applying for a credit card can be a daunting task, especially if you have a low credit score or income. However, there are certain types of credit cards that are considered easy to apply for. These include low annual fee cards, low credit limit cards, low income requirement cards and low interest cards.

Types of credit cards with typically easier approval

  • Low annual fee cards. These cards typically have a lower annual fee – and sometimes no annual fee – and come with no added benefits or rewards, making them an entry level product that's usually easier to be approved for.
  • Low credit limit cards. These cards have lower credit limits and very little by way of benefits and perks and are typically easier to get approved for than cards with high minimum credit limits.
  • Low income requirement cards. With a relatively low requirement in terms of income, applicants with a good credit report and proof of a steady income are usually accepted.
  • Low interest cards. These cards typically have a lower interest rate, making them an option for those who plan to carry a balance on their credit card. Cards with low interest typically have little to offer in terms of rewards and benefits.

Types of credit cards that are harder to get approved for

  • Frequent flyer credit cards. These credit cards often come with a high annual fee and require a high credit score and income for approval. However, they offer rewards points or miles that can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades and other travel-related perks.
  • Black credit cards. These cards are considered top-tier, often requiring applicants to have a high credit score and income. They come with a wide range of premium benefits, such as higher rewards points, travel insurance and airport lounge access.
  • Rewards credit cards. These credit cards offer rewards points or cashback for every purchase made on the card. They may require a high credit score and income to be approved. They often have a higher annual fee as well.
  • Metal credit cards. This class of credit card is actually made of metal and is considered to be a status symbol, with an annual fee to match. They typically set a very high bar in terms of the minimum criteria for credit score and income to be approved.

Applying for a credit card online

Applying for a credit card online is convenient and can save you time. It also allows you to compare different credit cards and their rates and fees more easily.

Eligibility criteria to be aware of

  • Age. You must be 18 or older to apply for any credit card.
  • Residency status. You must usually be an Australian citizen or resident, but some card issuers may also accept temporary residents (with additional paperwork and proof being required).
  • Income. You may need to be earning at least a specified annual income to be eligible for certain credit cards.
  • Credit history. You'll need a good credit score to be eligible for some credit cards.

Documents and proof

You'll need to provide personal details (including your name, address, etc.) and proof of income (typically payslips if employed or accounting details if you are self-employed).

FAQs

Which banks make it easy to apply for a credit card?

ANZ, Westpac, St.George, NAB, and CommBank make it easy to apply for a credit card online, but it is generally a straightforward step-by-step process (that you can leave and pick up again later) regardless of who you apply with.

Which card is easiest to get approved for?

There is no single 'easiest' card, but several cards with low eligibility requirements in terms of income and credit history can be considered easy to get approved for.

Can I get a credit card without a credit check?

No, credit checks are a standard part of the credit card application process at any issuing bank or financial institution in Australia.

Can you get a credit card with bad credit?

It's not impossible, but it does make it more difficult. If approved, you'll have a lower credit limit and may be subject to higher interest rates or fees.