Instant approval credit cards

Compare credit cards with instant approval.

By Verified by Yvonne Taylor   |   Updated 10 Oct 2024

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Comparing of 5 instant approval credit cards

Neo Credit Card

On website

Neo Credit Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

From 19.99% p.a. ongoing

Interest-free days

N/A

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn up to 15% cashback on your first purchase at participating partners.
  • Earn enormous bonuses — like 15% cashback — on your first purchase at most partners. Plus an average 5% cashback at Neo partners.
  • Boost your cashback by choosing a flexible, monthly rewards plan.
  • No annual fee.

Bank promo

  • Receive $25 when you signup today. Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros

  • Earn an average of 4% cashback at thousands of local and national gas, grocery stores, and more.
  • Get up to a $10,000 credit limit.
  • You can cash out anytime with just one tap.
  • $0 p.a. annual fee.
  • Get up to 4% cashback on all purchases at Shell gas stations and convenience locations. T&Cs apply.

Cons

  • There is a 2.5% Foreign Exchange Fee.
Refresh Secured Card

On website

Refresh Secured Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

17.99% p.a. ongoing

Interest-free days

N/A

Annual fee

$12.95 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Low annual fee of $12.95 p.a. (with $3 monthly maintenance fee).
  • Get a credit limit starting at $200 up to $10,000. Secure your credit limit with a required deposit then build your credit by making the same everyday purchase you already make.
  • No credit check is required.

Pros

  • No credit check is required.
  • The minimum deposit starts at $200.
  • Comes with an interest-free period of 21 days.

Cons

  • There is no rewards program on this card.
BMO Rewards Mastercard

Apply by 31 May 2024

BMO Rewards Mastercard

Balance transfer

9 months at 0.99% p.a.

Purchase rate

20.99% p.a. ongoing

Interest-free days

N/A

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Receive 10,000 BMO Rewards points when you spend a minimum of $1,000 within the first 3 months from the account open date. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • 0.99% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers (2% balance transfer fee applies). Reverts to cash advance rate of 22.99% p.a.
  • No annual fee.

Pros

  • The $0 annual fee.
  • Earn 1 BMO reward point for every $1 spent.
  • Get up to 25% off rentals at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-a-Car locations.

Cons

  • There is a 2% balance transfer fee.
Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard

Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

19.99% p.a. ongoing

Interest-free days

N/A

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Collect 4% in Canadian Tire Money at Canadian Tire stores. Plus, collect 5¢ per liter in Canadian Tire Money at Gas+ and participating Husky Stations.
  • No annual fee.
  • No fee, no interest financing on qualifying purchases of $150 or more at participating stores.

Pros

  • Earn up to 4% cashback.
  • $0 p.a. annual fee.
  • Get access to exclusive events and extra savings.

Cons

  • Canadian Tire Money cannot be redeemed everywhere.
Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card

Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card

Balance transfer

N/A

Purchase rate

6 months at 9.99% p.a.

Interest-free days

N/A

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 4% cashback on restaurants, 1.50 % on gas, groceries, drugstore and .50% on all other purchases (cashback cap applies except for other purchases).
  • No annual fee.
  • Enjoy 9.99% introductory annual interest on purchases for the first 6 months (19.99% p.a. thereafter).
  • Add up to 3 additional cardholders and earn cashback faster.

Pros

  • Enjoy the 9.99% introductory annual interest on purchases for the first 6 months.
  • No annual fee.
  • Includes Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance.

Cons

  • You can only spend your reward dollars at Walmart Canada.

Instant approval credit cards are better described as instant decision credit cards. Approval is not guaranteed, but a speedy decision is. So if you’re looking into instant decision credit cards and don’t know exactly how they work, you’ve come to the right place.

Credit cards with fast approval aren’t exactly straightforward and many people are confused by what it really means. It goes like this: you fill out an online application for a credit card and shortly after your application, the issuer will let you know if you were approved or not. Of course, the biggest advantage of this process is being able to know the result quickly, without the need to wonder or guess every day if your credit score or income was good enough.

How credit card approval works

You may sometimes receive a mail notification that you have been pre-approved or pre-qualified for a particular credit card. But you will still need to go through a formal application process. For many card issuers, fast credit cards can be approved by going to their website and applying. Once they get all the required information from you, they will start reviewing your credit. Of course, they will ask you to confirm your identity, and if you answer the questions correctly, and they see no other problems, you’ll get a quick answer on whether you were approved for the new credit card or not.

Benefits of instant approval credit cards

There are many benefits to getting instant approval on your card, such as:

  • You will get an answer right away.
  • You’ll immediately know what your credit limit is.
  • If you have a financial emergency, such as urgent car repairs or medical bills, you have instant access to credit.
  • You may get instant discounts, cash back, and rewards, even before your physical card arrives in the mail depending on the card you’re approved for.
  • Instant access to helpful card features, such as a balance transfer, may accompany your card.

Alternatives to instant approval credit cards

There are plenty of other ways to get cash quickly if you’re not approved for instant credit. Perhaps the easiest course is to open an account with one of the buy now pay later services:

  • Sezzle, one of Canada's highest rated buy now pay later services, is a financial technology company that allows customers to purchase and receive an item while giving them time to pay for it over a six-week period. Founded in 2016, it has since gathered thousands of participating merchants and allows users to make interest-free payments and also reschedule a payment once per order. Late payments and failed payments will incur fees. The great thing about Sezzle is that you don’t need to have a good credit score to use their services, nor do they charge an annual fee, and the more you use it, the bigger the purchases you'll be approved for.
  • Afterpay, just like Sezzle and Klarna, allows shoppers to purchase an item with interest-free installment payments but possible late payment fees. It has more than 65,000 retailer partners globally. Afterpay doesn’t let users keep using the service if they fail to make a payment, helping them to avoid mounting debts. Like their competitors, they don’t look at your credit score or charge an annual fee.

Learn about instant approval credit cards

Find out how they work and how you can get the most out of them.

  • FAQs

  • Pros & cons

  • Tips

Are some banks faster at approvals than others?

Yes. For fast approval banks, if you’re not approved instantly, you can expect an approval within 7-10 business days, and another 7-10 business days for delivery of your card. For other banks, the standard timeframe for you to expect to get approved is approximately 3-4 weeks if done by mail.

Can I get a credit card on the same day?

Unfortunately, most banks don’t provide physical cards this quickly, even if your account is instantly approved. However, some banks may offer expedited shipping, which can have the card delivered to you in as fast as two days. Other card providers may give you the card account number, which means that you can use it online.

Do any banks give you a credit card number instantly?

While you can get an instant decision on your application, it’s not the norm for a card provider to give out a credit card number for you to use on the same day.

How fast can you receive a credit card?

If you’re approved instantly, it usually takes about 7-10 business days to send your credit card in the mail after you’re approved for an account. But in some cases you can get faster access to your account if you are given your account number before the card arrives.

How long does it take to get a final decision?

Some instant credit card providers take as little as 60 seconds to determine whether you will get approved or not. If your credit score is excellent, and you have supplied all the required information, you could get a final decision, and access to your account, within minutes. But if your information is incomplete, or the lender needs to check something further, the final decision may take several days. And you may have to wait for around 7-10 business days for the issuing of the actual physical credit card.

What can I do to improve my chances of being approved?

It’s best to have a good credit score and to have a consistent source of income to show lenders that you won’t be at a high risk of defaulting. Work on improving your credit score if it is low, by paying all your bills on time. You also need to meet all the eligibility requirements in order to avoid having your application rejected.

What is the easiest credit card to get approved for with no credit?

The easiest type of card to be approved for, if you have no credit history or a poor history, is a secured credit card. To get a secured credit card you must place cash on deposit with the lender, in an amount at least equivalent to the credit limit you are looking for on the card. Many banks offer secured credit cards.

What's the quickest way to get a credit card?

The fastest way to get a card is by going straight to the website of the credit card company and applying online. By clicking on the green 'Application' button below each card's image at Finty, you will be taken straight to the credit card's website to complete your application. In most cases, the process of the entire credit card application can be done in less than 20 minutes.

A hasty decision could be the wrong one

Just because you're being offered instant approval, don't make an instant decision yourself. It could be the wrong one. Take your time to compare your options, read the fine print, and then apply for a card that best suits your spending habits, income and lifestyle.

Credit checks can lower your credit score

Comparing your credit card options here at Finty before you apply has absolutely no impact on your credit score. But once you complete an online application for the card you have chosen, the lender will request your credit history and score from a credit bureau. Each time this happens, your credit score will be reduced slightly — and temporarily. So don't be tempted to apply for lots of cards at once, to see which ones you're instantly approved for, as this will damage your score.

Instant approval doesn't mean guaranteed approval

Instant approval' actually means 'fast decision'. You'll find out very quickly, but the answer could be either approval or rejection, or, in some cases, a request for further information.

Know where you stand at once

Instant approval cards give you a fast decision. You know right away whether you've been approved or not, and what your credit limit will be, even if you have to wait a few days for your card to arrive in the mail.

Low-cost loan

If there’s an urgent purchase that you need to make, you can charge your purchase now and then pay it off when you get your paycheck. Just remember that you need to be able to pay off the charge by the due date.

Rewards and perks

Many instant approval credit cards come with extra benefits, just like a regular credit card. You can choose from a wide range of discounts or cash back based on your purchases, or reward points or travel miles. It’s best to compare all the cards available to you so you can see which rewards will best fit your needs and spending habits.

Check the eligibility requirements

While some banks can give approval within 60 seconds, you may miss out on getting approved completely if you’re not able to meet the eligibility requirements, which may include:

  • Citizenship or residency status. Some cards may only let you apply if you’re a permanent Canadian resident. However, there are other banks that offer cards for temporary residents, so make sure to look at those if you need to.
  • Income. Although there is no minimum income requirement to get approval, you'll need an income that's enough to make the bank confident that you can meet your repayments. If you’re rejected on the grounds of low income, it’s best to look at low-income credit cards for comparison.
  • Credit history. Some banks will only accept applicants with a good credit history and no record of defaults.

Check your credit score

You are more likely to be approved if you have a good credit score. So it's a good idea to check your credit score from a credit bureau before you apply. Checking your own credit score has no impact on your score.

Choose the card that's right for you

When you’re looking for the right card for you, here are a few things you will need to compare before choosing one to apply for:

  • The APR
  • The annual fee
  • Any additional fees for cash advances, late payments, foreign transactions
  • Credit limits available
  • Introductory offers like balance transfers, sign-up bonuses, promotional APR
  • Rewards and perks attached to the card, such as cash back, store discounts, points, complimentary insurance

Collect the necessary documents and information

Before applying for a credit card online, make sure that you have all the documents and personal information that you need, in order to receive instant approval. Here are a few things that you may need to provide:

  • Personal details. Your full name, residential address, and contact details.
  • Proof of identity. You’ll need to show proof of your identity, such as your birth certificate or driver’s licence.
  • Date of birth and citizenship status. You'll need to be over 18. If you're not a Canadian citizen you'll need to provide details of your residency visa.
  • Years at residential address, and whether you own or rent.
  • Employment and income. Provide details of your employer along with recent pay slips. If you’re self-employed, you can provide your accountant’s details with any proof of income.
  • Details of any assets, possibly including bank accounts.