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Compare instant decision credit cards
Know straight away if you'll be accepted
Get a quick and clear answer on whether your application has been approved or declined
Find your ideal credit card in seconds
Add your details to our eligibility checker
Explore your options from top credit card providers
Choose the right card for your needs
Find your ideal credit card in seconds
Add your details to our eligibility checker
Explore your options from top credit card providers
Choose the right card for your needs
1,130,072 customers have visited Uswitch to explore credit cards in the last 12 months
16,827 people used our eligibility checker in December 2024
Find the best credit cards from trusted providers
Our experts browse hundreds of products to find the best deals
Our best instant-decision credit cards
Virgin Money Everyday Cashback (27.9%)
Virgin Money Everyday Cashback (24.9%)
MBNA Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
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- Balance transfers – 0% for up to 22 months on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening ( 3.49% Transfer Fee), then 5% fee thereafter
- Purchases – 0% for up to 22 months on purchases made within the first 60 days of account opening
- Money transfers – 0% for up to 9 months on money transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening ( 4% Transfer Fee), then 5% fee thereafter
- You may be eligible to apply for this as a second credit card. Terms apply
- be a UK resident for at least 3 years
- be 18 or older
- hold a UK bank or building society account
- have a good credit history
- not have been declined for an MBNA credit card within the last 30 days
- You cannot transfer a balance from another card issued by MBNA
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
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- 0% for 28 months, 3.9% balance transfer fee (minimum £5)
- 0% for 3 months on purchases
- Up to 56 days interest-free credit on purchases.
- Up to 3 additional cardholders (you will be responsible for the use of and payments on the additional cards).
- Get cashback, vouchers, prize draws and other offers personalised for you with Santander Boosts.
- Credit is subject to status, to UK residents aged 18 and over.
- be a permanent UK resident
- be 18 or older
- minimum income of £10,500
- have a good credit rating
- must not be an existing Santander balance transfer credit card customer
- additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply
Lloyds 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Card
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- Up to 19 months 0% on balance transfers ( 2.99% fee) made within 90 days of account opening 5% fee thereafter.
- 0% on purchases made in the first 21 months from account opening.
- be a permanent UK resident
- be 18 or older
- have a good credit rating
- not been declined a Lloyds Bank credit card within the last 30 days
- You cannot transfer a balance from another card issued by Lloyds Bank
- additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply
Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer (22/19) (31.9%)
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Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer (19/22)
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- Get £20 cashback when you transfer a balance of £2,500 or more within 60 days of opening your account. Offer ends 6 February 2025. T&Cs apply
- 19 months 0% balance transfer (3.45% transfer fee applies. Terms and conditions apply).
- Earn up to 15% cashback automatically when you spend at a range of participating retailers with Barclaycard Cashback Rewards. This is a new benefit, available to all Barclaycard Visa credit card customers. T&Cs apply
- be a permanent UK resident
- be 21 years or over
- not have had any Individual Voluntary arrangements, County Court Judgements and must not have been declared bankrupt
- not already hold a Barclaycard credit card
- best suited to customers with an income of £20,000
- additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply
Santander All in One Credit Card
More Information
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers, with no balance transfer fee.
- 0% for 15 months on purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0.5% cashback (up to £10 a month) on all your purchases.
- £3 monthly fee
- be a permanent UK resident
- be 18 or older
- minimum income of £10,500
- have a good credit rating
- must not be an existing Santander balance transfer credit card customer
- additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply
Uswitch Limited is a credit broker, not a lender, for consumer credit.
Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.
What are instant credit cards?
Instant decision credit cards let you know whether you’re likely to be accepted or not when you enter your details.
This means you don’t have to wait to see if you have access to credit and if you are declined you may be able to apply for a different product right away.
While most credit cards can be quickly applied for online, in many cases after making an application it can take a card provider a few days to a week to get in touch with the outcome of the application.
An instant approval credit card typically gives you an answer in as little as 60 seconds as to whether or not you’re likely to be successful.
Many card providers have introduced instant decision technology as a marketing tool to encourage new customers to apply.
How do instant decision credit cards work?
Accepted
If your credit score is good and matches the criteria you’ll be instantly accepted.
Rejected
If your credit score is poor, you’re likely to be instantly declined, but most credit card providers will explain why if you ask.
Referred
If you have been referred, your application was too close to make an automatic judgement on. The provider may request additional information to complete the application process.
How long will it take to receive an instant decision credit card?
Once you’re accepted you will still need to wait for the credit card provider to carry out extra checks to confirm your application and for the card to arrive by post.
With advancements in technology, credit card providers can issue new cards more quickly than ever before, with cards typically arriving in between 5 and 14 days of the application being approved.
You may need to confirm the application by signing an agreement and posting it back before your card is issued. However, most companies now use electronic signing for online applications.
Sadly, despite many online stores and apps existing that let you pay with your phone, you'll need to wait for your card to physically arrive before you can activate it.
After that, you can start using it more or less instantly.
Can I get and use a credit card instantly?
No. Rules in the UK mean you need to pass several checks before a card is issued to you.
You’ll also need to receive the physical card before you can activate it and use it online or pay using services like Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Even providers that offer instant virtual cards in the USA and operate in Britain, such as American Express, don't offer the service in the UK.
Rules here say to be eligible for a credit card you need to be:
18 or older
A UK resident
Not legally restricted from obtaining credit
It’s not possible to check everything and issue the card over the internet alone, so you have to wait for a card to be posted out before it can be activated.
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Does getting an instant decision matter?
While instant approval credit cards simplify the application process, it shouldn’t be the only factor you consider. It's important to look beyond just the speed of approval and evaluate the card's features. Make sure it offers the benefits, rewards, and APR that align with your financial goals, especially if you won’t be able to pay off your balance in full each month.
Additionally, be cautious about applying for too many cards in a short period, as each formal application can impact your credit score. Multiple applications may signal financial desperation to future lenders, making it harder to get credit in the future. If you’ve been rejected, avoid reapplying immediately. Instead, check your credit report or ask the card provider for specific reasons behind the decline.
Many credit card providers offer pre-application checks, which perform a ‘soft search’ on your credit report. This won't affect your credit score and can give you a better idea of your chances of approval without the risk of a formal credit check.
What is the easiest card to get approved for?
The easiest cards to get approved for are credit card cards designed for bad credit and credit building credit cards.
These are designed for people with lower credit scores or limited credit histories - for example if you've just moved to the UK.
However, they tend to come with lower credit limits and higher interest rates than standard credit cards.
That means it's always a good idea to use an eligibility tool to see if you'll qualify for a better card than you might think.
Instant decision credit card FAQs
Will an instant decision credit card affect my credit rating?
Credit cards with instant approval offer a 'soft search' credit check, which means that it shouldn’t impact your credit score if you're rejected.
Eligibility checkers used ahead of applications also leave no visible footprints on your credit report.
However, if you're accepted and proceed, your application will be recorded and will be visible if a company does a credit check on you.
Also, be aware that too many formal applications can damage your credit rating, so always choose a soft search option or eligibility check if it's available.
If you’ve been rejected, rather than applying again it could be worth looking at your credit report to see why you’ve been declined or asking the credit card provider why.
Credit scoring is a measure of how creditworthy a lender thinks you are, based on a picture of your current and past financial circumstances.
Can I get an instant approval credit card with no credit check?
No. It’s not possible to get an instant approval credit card without a credit check in the UK. Credit card providers are required by law to assess your creditworthiness before approving your application, and while some cards offer an instant decision, they still involve a credit check to determine eligibility.
Am I likely to be eligible for an instant decision credit card?
That depends on your personal financial circumstances and your credit rating. It also depends on how much potential credit you already have, and whether you have made a lot of recent applications for credit.
There are bad credit instant decision credit cards available for people with a less than perfect credit history.
Are instant decision credit cards available for bad credit?
There are instant credit cards available for those with bad credit, though these typically come with higher APRs and lower credit limits.
The better your credit rating, the better the offers you’ll be able to get on your credit card. So if your credit rating isn’t up to scratch, it’s worth taking steps to improve it – such as paying bills on time and correcting any mistakes on your credit file.
If you don't think you can clear your balance at the end of each month, a low APR credit card may be more suitable.
What is APR?
APR stands for "annual percentage rate" - it's the interest rate charged on money borrowed on your credit card.
It reflects the costs you'll pay over the course of a year and includes any standard fees associated with the card.
In most cases, you can avoid paying interest by paying off your credit card balance in full by the due date of every billing cycle.
The exact APR you'll get will also depend on your individual circumstances, so it's worth checking this before applying.
Do I have to pay more interest on an instant decision credit card?
There is a range of interest rates available on easy approval credit cards.
Some instant decision credit cards might not offer the most competitive interest rates or APRs (annual percentage rates), but others might offer lower rates.
If you want a credit card and plan to pay off the outstanding balance in full each month, you don’t need to worry too much about the card’s APR.
However, if you think you might not pay off the balance in full, the APR is important.
The higher the APR, the more you’ll pay in interest, and potentially, the longer it will take you to pay off your credit.
How long will it take to receive my instant decision credit card?
Once you’re approved for an instant decision credit card in the UK, it typically takes between 5 and 14 days for the physical card to arrive. While you may get an immediate decision on your application, the card provider will still need to complete additional checks and process the card before it’s sent to you.
How Uswitch compares credit cards
What does ‘most popular’ and ‘popularity’ mean?
When we use the term ‘most popular or ‘popularity’ on Uswitch in reference to credit cards, these cards are ranked by the number of clicks they have received on the site in the past 30 days.
The most clicked on cards are at the top, with the least at the bottom. This reflects how popular they are with visitors to Uswitch.com. Consequently, this is a good table to look at if you’re interested in seeing which cards most people think are worth getting.
Does Uswitch compare all the credit cards on the market?
We compare over 100 credit cards from all of the major banks and credit card providers.
However, we do not compare all the credit cards that are available in the UK.
This is because some credit card providers have offers that are only available exclusively through their own website or branch, or through other comparison websites - in the same way some credit cards are exclusively available through Uswitch.
There are also many credit cards that are only available to people in member organisations and clubs.
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