How long to wait before applying for another credit card after rejection?

Asked by: Mckenna Balistreri  |  Last update: December 6, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (1 votes)

It's a good idea to wait three to six months between credit card applications. Otherwise, it might look like you're applying for too much new credit in a short period of time.

How long after being denied a credit card can you apply again?

As a general rule of thumb, consider waiting around three to six months before reapplying. In the meantime, try to improve your creditworthiness, which might increase your chances of getting approved when you reapply.

Is it okay to apply for another credit card after being denied?

In general, wait at least three months after being denied a credit card before applying again. This will allow you to work on improving your credit score and demonstrating that you are a responsible borrower.

What is the 2/3/4 rule for credit cards?

According to cardholder reports, Bank of America uses a 2/3/4 rule: You can only be approved for two new cards within a 30-day period, three cards within a 12-month period and four cards within a 24-month period. This rule applies only to Bank of America credit cards, though, and not all credit cards.

Can I apply for a credit card again if it is declined?

Before re-applying for a credit card, you should ask the bank regarding your application and find out the cause behind the rejection. During that process, you can refer to the terms of eligibility provided by the bank for credit card application.

How long should you wait to apply for a credit card after being declined?

35 related questions found

How long does declined credit card stay on file?

How long does refused credit stay on file? Two years. All enquiries for credit are removed from credit reports after two years, although credit rating agencies do not record whether an application for credit is refused or accepted.

How many hard inquiries are too many?

There's no such thing as “too many” hard credit inquiries, but multiple applications for new credit accounts within a short time frame may point to a risky borrower. Rate shopping for a particular loan, however, may be treated as a single inquiry and have minimal impact on your creditworthiness.

How long should I wait to apply for another credit card?

It's a good idea to wait at least six months between credit card applications to protect your credit score and avoid exceeding certain card issuers' restrictions. Several applications submitted within a short time frame could damage your credit score for a period of time.

What is the 50 30 20 rule for credit cards?

50% goes towards necessary expenses. 30% goes towards things you want. 20% goes towards savings or paying off debt.

What is the 90 day rule for credit cards?

Number and timing of applications

The general rule of thumb is to limit applications to no more than one personal and one business card within 90 days. Still, I've also read reports of applicants being approved for two personal cards in a month. It's also worth pausing to talk about risk tolerance here.

Is getting declined for a credit card bad?

A hard inquiry from a card application can cause a small, temporary drop in credit scores. A denial or approval won't hurt your credit scores, because decisions aren't reflected in credit reports. When making lending decisions, card issuers use credit reports and credit scores to determine creditworthiness.

How long after closing a credit card can you reapply?

Technically, you could close a card and apply for another one immediately after. However, it's best to wait at least 90 days between credit card applications, especially if you closed a card and are applying for a card with the same issuer.

Why would you get denied CareCredit?

You Have Poor Credit or No Credit Score

Many credit card issuers check one of your credit scores when deciding whether to approve an application, and the interest rate and credit limit on new accounts. If you have a low credit score, you might find it's difficult to qualify for many cards.

Is it OK to apply for another credit card after being denied?

In practice, this means that it can be smart to wait a few weeks or months before applying for a new credit card after a denial. Several applications in a short time can make you look more risky to potential credit card issuers.

How soon after being denied a visa can you reapply?

However, you can reapply as soon as you are able to provide new information or documents that you initially failed to submit. However, it is best to wait until after 6-12 months before reapplying. As if you opt to reapply and your situation has not changed, they will deny you once more.

How long do you have to wait to reopen a credit card?

You'll probably need to wait several months — and possibly even a few years — before applying for a card you've previously had.

What is the 524 credit rule?

The 5/24 rule, often referred to as the Chase 5/24 rule, is an unofficial Chase guideline that states you will not be approved for a new Chase card if you have opened five or more credit card accounts from any bank within the past 24 months.

What is the 40 credit rule?

The number of credits you need to be eligible for benefits depends on your age and the type of benefit. Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits. How many credits you need for disability benefits depends on how old you are when your disability began.

Is it bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance?

Keeping a low credit utilization ratio is good, but having too many credit cards with zero balance may negatively impact your credit score. If your credit cards have zero balance for several years due to inactivity, your credit card issuer might stop sending account updates to credit bureaus.

How long should I wait to apply for a credit card after being denied?

It's a good idea to wait three to six months between credit card applications.

Is 10 hard inquiries bad?

There's no specific number of hard inquiries that's too many or too few. Although some hard inquiries might hurt your credit scores a little, credit scoring models also ignore many hard inquiries when consumers shop for a new loan.

What is the Capital One 6 month rule?

What is Capital One's 1/6 rule? The Capital One 1/6 rule means you can only get approved for one Capital One card every six months. If you apply for more cards within six months, your application will likely be denied.

Is it bad to have 2 hard inquiries in one day?

Although a single hard inquiry might only hurt your credit scores a little, multiple hard inquiries could increase the impact. And an application can lead to a hard inquiry even if the creditor denies your application.

Does credit karma hurt your credit?

Credit Karma allows you to check your credit report and score for free, without affecting your score. The service doesn't hurt your credit score because it counts as a self-initiated inquiry, which is a soft credit inquiry.

What shows on a soft credit check?

A soft pull on your credit shows basic personal information, a summary of your credit history, recent inquiries, any public records related to your credit, and sometimes a summary of your credit scores. It does not reveal detailed account-specific information and doesn't affect your credit score.