With 7.7 million credit cards originated as of April 2025, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it’s no surprise that many people are looking for ways to narrow down their credit card choices. Finding out which credit cards you might qualify for using a process called pre-qualification may help streamline your search.
Pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved for a certain card, but it can indicate you may be approved. Pre-qualifying may also save you the hassle of applying for credit cards you are unlikely to qualify for. Pre-qualification involves a soft credit inquiry, so there’s no impact to your credit score.
Here’s what you need to know about the pre-qualification process.
How do card issuers decide whether you qualify for a credit card?
Card issuers may consider several factors when deciding whether you qualify for a credit card, such as:
- Credit Score: With a credit check, card issuers typically see things like your payment history and credit utilization, which may help them gauge overall financial reliability to decide if you qualify for a certain credit card.
- Income: Card issuers use this information to assess whether you have the funds to pay your credit card bills. Your income may also inform your credit limit if you’re approved.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Card issuers may also want to see how much of your income goes toward debt payments. This helps them determine how risky it might be to extend you more credit.
- Number of recent credit applications: If you’ve applied for many credit cards recently, card issuers may view you as a higher-risk borrower.
What does it mean to get pre-qualified for a credit card?
When you’re pre-qualified for a credit card, it means a card issuer has checked your credit history via a soft credit inquiry. The card issuer may be able to review details like your payment history and credit utilization, which can help them decide how likely you’ll be to qualify for certain credit cards.
Pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee approval — it simply means you’re more likely to be approved if you officially apply.
Does getting pre-qualified impact your credit score?
When a card issuer pre-qualifies you for a card, they perform a soft credit inquiry. Unlike hard inquiries, which generally happen when you apply for new credit, soft inquiries don’t negatively impact your credit score.
4 Ways to check if you pre-qualify for a card
There are several ways to see if you pre-qualify for a card.
1. Fill out an online pre-screening application
You may be able to fill out a screening application on the card issuer’s website with basic personal information, like your name, email address, physical address and last 4 digits of your Social Security number (SSN). After you submit the form, you’ll see which credit cards you may pre-qualify for, if any.
2. Receive physical mail or email
Card issuers may also let you know that you pre-qualify for a card via physical mail or email. By scanning a QR code on the mailer or clicking a link in the email, you’ll then be able to officially apply for the credit card.
3. Contact the card issuer via phone
You might choose to call a card issuer directly to see which cards you may pre-qualify for.
4. Stop in a brick-and-mortar location
If you live close to a physical bank branch, you may be able to ask a representative to help you see which credit card offers you may pre-qualify for.
Reasons to check which cards you pre-qualify for
Pre-qualification can be helpful in many ways as you decide which credit card to apply for.
- No impact on your credit: Since pre-qualification triggers a soft credit inquiry, there’s no impact on your credit score.
- Narrow down your options: If you’re struggling to decide between a few credit cards, pre-qualification may help you narrow the options. Once you see which cards you’re more likely to qualify for, you’ll be better prepared to compare other features, like which cards offer rewards programs that align with your current spending habits.
- Avoid damaging your credit score: If you apply for several cards, it could trigger several hard inquiries. Hard inquiries can bring your credit score down by a few points temporarily, and multiple hard inquiries may be a red flag to lenders.
- Save time on applications: Filling out a credit card application takes time. Only applying for a credit card you pre-qualify for may save you the time and hassle of filling out applications for cards you aren’t likely to get approved for.
What to do if you don’t pre-qualify for the card you want
If you don’t pre-qualify for the card you want, there are steps you can take to help build your credit and improve your chances of pre-qualifying in the future.
- Focus on responsible credit management: If you already have credit cards or other loans that are reported to the credit bureaus, practice responsible debt management. That means making payments on time and as agreed. Building a history of timely payments could help show lenders that you’re a responsible borrower.
- Keep credit utilization low: Credit utilization is the percentage of total available credit you’re using. Card issuers may look more favorably on lower credit utilization, so try to keep your balances low.
- Take steps to rebuild credit: If you’re looking to rebuild your credit history after a difficult financial period, you might consider steps like finding a secured credit card and using it to show responsible credit use over time.
Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.
