What Does it Mean to Be Pre-Qualified for a Credit Card?

Finding the right credit card for you can be tricky. Understanding whether you're pre-qualified for a credit card could help you compare credit cards without affecting your credit score.

What does pre-qualification mean?

Pre-qualification is an initial check that lets you know if you might be eligible for a credit card.

The process usually begins when you provide a few personal details — such as your income, monthly housing costs and Social Security number — to a credit card issuer through an online pre-qualification tool. The card issuer will likely perform a soft credit inquiry, which doesn't affect your credit score. The card issuer uses this information to evaluate your creditworthiness and determine your eligibility for one of their cards.

How to see if you're pre-qualified for a credit card

Here are a few ways to see if you pre-qualify for a credit card:

• Mail or email offers: Check any promotional communication from your lender or credit card issuer. If a bank has reviewed your credit profile and thinks you might qualify, they may send you a pre-approved offer.
• Online pre-qualification tools: Many credit card issuers allow you to check for pre-qualified offers on their websites at no cost. You'll need to provide basic details like your name, address and income.
• Visit a bank branch: You can ask a representative to check which credit cards you may pre-qualify for at a physical branch. This may be helpful if you prefer in-person assistance or want to ask questions before applying.
• Contact the card issuer by phone: You may be able to call a card issuer directly to ask about pre-qualified offers that may be available to you. A representative can explain your options and guide you through the next steps if you want to apply.

Does checking to see if you're pre-qualified affect your credit score?

No, checking whether you're pre-qualified will not impact your credit score. Card issuers who offer pre-qualification rely on a soft credit inquiry to access your credit profile. Soft credit inquiries don't affect your credit score in any way.

When you apply for a credit card, on the other hand, the card issuer typically runs a hard credit inquiry on your credit. A hard credit inquiry can lower your credit score by a few points for about a year, and multiple hard credit inquiries in a short time can signal risk to lenders.

Credit card pre-qualification vs. pre-approval

The terms pre-qualification and pre-approval both describe early steps in the credit card application process that may help you gauge whether you might be eligible before applying.

Many card issuers use the terms pre-qualified and pre-approved interchangeably. However, in some cases, because pre-approval may involve a more detailed review of your creditworthiness, it may be a stronger indication that you meet a lender's criteria for a credit card.

Pre-approval involves a card issuer reviewing information from your credit report or an existing account to determine whether you may meet its initial requirements for a specific credit card. Pre-approval may require more personal information than pre-qualification.

If you're identified as a potential match, you may receive a targeted offer by mail or email. In fact, card issuers mailed out an estimated 2.8 billion pre-approved credit card offers in 2024 alone, according to the Federal Reserve. While only a small percentage of consumers act on them, these offers still account for a significant share of all new credit card applications.

Does pre-qualification guarantee you'll be approved for a credit card?

While neither pre-qualification nor pre-approval guarantees approval, both can give you a sense of which cards might be a good fit for you. Whether you're pre-qualified or pre-approved, you'll still need to complete a full application and meet the card issuer's requirements before being approved for a new credit card.

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.