Key takeaways
- If you meet all the criteria, a credit card application can take 10 to 20 minutes from completion to approval. Some card companies give you a yes or no within 60 seconds.
- It will take between 5 and 10 business days for the physical credit card to arrive in the mail.
- But you can use a virtual version of the card right away on your smartphone.
When will I get my new credit card?
Provider | Application length | Time to get credit card once approved |
---|---|---|
American Express | 10 minutes | 5-7 working days |
ANZ | 20 minutes (approx.) | 2-7 business days |
Bank Australia | Not provided | 5-7 business days |
Bank of Melbourne | 10 minutes | 5-7 business days |
Bank of Queensland | 20 minutes | 7-10 working days |
Bankwest | 15 minutes | Within 10 working days |
Bendigo Bank | 15 minutes | Within 10 working days |
Citi | 10 minutes | 7-10 working days |
Commonwealth Bank | 20 minutes | Within 10 working days |
HSBC | 10 minutes | 7 working days |
ING | 20 minutes | 5-7 working days |
Latitude Financial Services | 10 minutes | 5-10 working days |
MONEYME | 5 minutes | Instant (virtual card) |
NAB | 15 minutes | Within 5 business days |
St.George | 20 minutes | 5-7 business days |
Suncorp | 10 minutes | 5-7 business days |
Virgin Money | 10 minutes | Within 10 working days |
Westpac | 15 minutes | 4-6 working days |
What happens after I've applied for a credit card?
After you submit your credit card application, the credit card issuer assesses your credit history, income, debts and recent spending to determine if you can get a card and how much you can spend (your credit limit).
If you're lucky, you'll get approved within minutes. If your situation is more complicated it take hours or a couple of days.
What happens after I get approved for a credit card?
The real waiting time comes for the card itself. In Australia banks and card companies send out credit cards by post. Between 5 and 7 business days is the common delivery time, but you could wait up to 10.
The welcome pack may arrive before the card and contains information about the bank, the credit card and its terms and conditions of use.
How to activate your credit card
Depending on the issuer, you may be able to activate your credit card online, via app, over the phone or in person at a bank branch.
Information about card activation will also be included in your welcome pack and usually takes just a few minutes to complete.
Remember to sign your card
The signature panel on your credit card gives you the legal authority to use it and protects you against unauthorised transactions if it’s lost, stolen or compromised. Make sure you sign it when you first activate the card.
Add your card to your smartphone and use it immediately
Luckily, you don't have to wait 2 weeks for Australia Post to give you your card.
You can add a virtual version of most credit cards to your phone by:
- Google Pay
- Apply Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Your bank or card provider's app
It's very easy to set your card. Once you've logged into the app you can either take a photo of your card or enter the card details manually. Then you just need to confirm your identity via text.
"Before I got rejected for a credit card I knew I was in trouble. I got a text message within hours saying the it would take a few more days. Then I got rejected. When I re-applied as a joint applicant with my wife we got approved in under an hour. The cards took a week to arrive but we had them on our phones as soon as we got approved."
Frequently asked questions
Compare credit cards with 60-second approval
Compare alternatives
We currently don't have a partnership for that product, but we have other similar offers to choose from (how we picked these ):
More guides on Finder
-
Afterpay vs Credit Card
Both buy now pay later plans and credit cards give you ways to pay off purchases over time – here's how they compare.
-
How to pay rent with a credit card (for those sweet points)
A limited number of payment platforms give you a way to pay rent with a credit card, but are the costs worth it?
-
You can transfer money from a credit card to a bank account, but…
Weigh up your options when you want to transfer funds from a credit card to a bank account.
-
How to pay less interest with an offset mortgage account and credit card
Explore this next-level strategy that can help you save on interest charges and pay off your home loan faster.
-
Student credit cards — basic cards for low income students
Student credit cards can help you manage your money and build credit history for future loans. Learn more and compare student credit cards available in Australia here.
-
Using a credit card for gambling… is very expensive
Find out which credit cards you can and can't use for gambling transactions and how much it'll cost.
-
Can I get a credit card from a different bank?
While most people tend to get a credit card from the same bank where they hold a transaction account, it is possible to get a card from another bank to take advantage of a better deal.
-
Paying your bills with a credit card
Want to pay bills with a credit card? Here's your options, plus when you could earn points per $1 spent for bill payments.
-
Credit cards with car rental excess insurance
If you are renting a car and want to be covered in the case of accidents, then this insurance is for you. Check first your insurance policy and find out which coverage extends to your rental vehicle.
-
Custom credit card options in Australia
As well as credit card companies that let you choose your design, there are stickers and covers that you can get to customise your card.