Credit Card Eligibility Criteria in India, Explained
Updated 6 May 2026
Every card has its own published eligibility criteria, but they all draw from the same handful of factors, and understanding how those factors interact helps you target applications that are actually likely to succeed.
The core factors
Minimum age (typically starting around 18–21 for the primary applicant, occasionally higher for premium cards), minimum income (varies enormously by card tier, and is often verified via salary slips, bank statements, or ITR), employment type (salaried vs self-employed thresholds usually differ), and credit score band.
They don't work independently
A strong score can sometimes offset borderline income, and a long-standing banking relationship (existing account, FD) can offset a thin credit file — issuers weigh the whole profile, not a single pass/fail cutoff on each factor. This is also why two people who each individually meet a card's stated minimums can still get different outcomes.
Where to check the specifics
Every card page on this site lists the specific eligibility figures (minimum score, minimum income, employment types, age range) we've verified for that card, rather than relying on the issuer's general marketing language.