If you have an ITIN and are trying to figure out whether to start with a secured or unsecured credit card, here is the short answer: your U.S. credit history (or lack of it) decides for you. Most ITIN holders with no U.S. credit file need to start with a secured card, build a track record over 6-18 months, and then either graduate to an unsecured product at the same issuer or apply for one elsewhere. This guide pulls together the real numbers, the real issuers, and the real timelines in one place.
How we compiled this: We cross-referenced issuer product pages, third-party card databases (WalletHub, Bankrate, Credit Karma), and ITIN-specific guides to verify deposit ranges, APRs, annual fees, ITIN acceptance status, and graduation policies for each card listed. Last verified: July 13, 2026.
At a glance: secured vs. unsecured ITIN cards compared
| Feature | Secured Cards | Unsecured Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit required | Yes, refundable ($49-$5,000) | No |
| ITIN acceptance | Widely available | Fewer options |
| Approval with zero U.S. credit | Likely (some with no credit check) | Difficult to near-impossible |
| Credit check at application | Sometimes waived entirely | Almost always required |
| Starting credit limit | Equal to deposit | Set by issuer based on creditworthiness |
| Typical APR range | 21%-29.99% variable | 29.99%+ variable |
| Rewards | Rare but available | More common |
| Graduation path | 6-18 months of on-time payments | N/A |
| Best for | ITIN holders with no U.S. credit history | ITIN holders with established credit (680+ score) |
What actually is the difference between a secured and unsecured credit card?
Secured credit cards require a cash deposit to open. Unsecured cards require no collateral. Secured cards are built for people who are new to credit or rebuilding it; unsecured cards typically require decent credit to qualify.
For ITIN holders, the practical implication is simple. Secured cards ask for a refundable deposit and tend to carry lower credit limits, but that structure is exactly what lets issuers approve people without a U.S. credit history. It lowers the risk enough to get you in the door.
The deposit is not a fee you lose. Think of it as collateral the bank holds temporarily, not an expense. When you close the account or graduate to an unsecured card, you get it back.
On the unsecured side, lenders set your credit limit based on income, creditworthiness, and debt-to-income ratio. These cards are also more likely to carry rewards programs, which is why people with established credit prefer them.
Do ITIN holders qualify for unsecured credit cards?
Secured cards are easier to get with an ITIN, especially if you are new to U.S. credit, but they are not your only option. Some lenders accept ITINs for unsecured cards too. Whether you get approved depends on your income, any existing credit history, and the specific issuer’s policies.
Capital One is the clearest example of an issuer that offers both pathways. The Capital One Platinum is an unsecured card aimed at people with no credit history or fair credit scores. There is no security deposit, no annual fee, and Capital One may consider you for a credit limit increase after as few as six months.
That said, this is the exception. Unsecured cards for ITIN holders generally require a stronger financial profile or some existing credit history. If you have no U.S. credit history at all, you need a secured card first. Use it for small purchases, pay the full balance every month, and your score will climb within about six months.
Which secured cards accept ITIN in 2026? Here are the real numbers.
The table below reflects current data from issuer websites and verified third-party sources. Confirm live rates at each issuer before applying, as APRs are variable and shift with the prime rate.
| Card | Min. Deposit | Max. Deposit | Annual Fee | Purchase APR | Credit Check? | ITIN Accepted | Graduation Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum Secured | $49, $99, or $200 | $1,000 | $0 | ~28.99% variable | Yes (soft pre-qualify available) | Yes | Auto-review after 6 months |
| Citi Secured Mastercard | $200 | $2,500 | $0 | Variable | Yes | Yes | Periodic review, ~18 months typical |
| OpenSky Secured Visa | $200 | $3,000 | $35 | ~21.14% variable | No | Yes | Graduation to OpenSky Gold in 6+ months |
| OpenSky Plus Secured Visa | $300 | $3,000 | $0 | ~28.24% variable | No | Yes | Graduation to OpenSky Gold in 6+ months |
| BankAmericard Secured | $200 | $5,000 | $0 | ~25.99% variable | Yes | Yes (in-branch only for ITIN) | Auto-review at ~12 months |
| Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony) | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | 10% fixed | Yes | Yes (may require branch/phone verification) | Graduation to unsecured store card after 12 months |
Editorial note: The Discover it Secured Card was a strong option: $0 annual fee, cash-back rewards, and a 7-month graduation review. As of June 2, 2026, Discover is no longer accepting applications for it. Capital One, which acquired Discover in 2025, says it will relaunch the card later this year. We will update this table when it does.
Why does the Capital One Platinum Secured have such a low minimum deposit?
The Capital One Platinum Secured works like any secured card: you put down a refundable deposit that becomes your credit limit. Most secured cards require a dollar-for-dollar match between deposit and limit. Capital One does something different. Depending on your creditworthiness, you may qualify for a $200 credit limit with only a $49 or $99 deposit. That gap is what makes it stand out.
Use the card for small purchases, pay on time, and Capital One may consider you for a credit line increase in as little as six months.
For ITIN holders on a tight budget, the $49 entry point is genuinely useful. You lock in a reporting tradeline and start building your U.S. credit file without tying up several hundred dollars.
One thing to know: the card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, but it carries a 28.99% variable APR on purchases. Pay your balance in full each month and the APR is irrelevant. Carry a balance and the cost adds up fast.
What is the OpenSky Secured Visa, and why do ITIN holders use it so often?
The OpenSky Secured Credit Card is one of the few secured cards that openly approves applicants without an SSN. An ITIN works. There is no credit check during the application, which makes it accessible when your U.S. credit history is thin or nonexistent. You set the credit limit with your refundable deposit, OpenSky reports your activity to all three major bureaus every month, and there are no hidden fees.
OpenSky now offers a small family of three secured cards at different price points. The original card is still available, but two newer options flank it: a lower-deposit entry tier (Launch) and a no-annual-fee tier (Plus). All three skip the hard pull, all three report to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, and all three are issued by Capital Bank, N.A.
Which OpenSky tier makes sense for an ITIN holder? For first-time credit builders who can fund $300 up front, the Plus card is the best long-run value. For people who can only spare $100, the Launch card opens the door. The original card, with its $35 annual fee, now sits in the middle and carries the lowest APR of the three.
According to OpenSky’s own data, users improve their credit scores by an average of 50 points in six months. OpenSky also advertises graduation to the OpenSky Gold unsecured card in as little as six months, one of the shortest advertised graduation timelines among ITIN-friendly secured cards.
Can Bank of America ITIN holders apply online?
This is a detail many comparison sites bury or miss entirely. If you have an SSN, you can apply online or at a branch. If you have an ITIN, Bank of America requires an in-person branch visit.
That makes Bank of America’s secured cards, which are genuinely competitive products, a practical barrier for anyone who does not live near a branch. Capital One, Citi, and OpenSky all let ITIN holders complete the full application online.
If you can get to a branch, the BankAmericard Secured Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, a $200 minimum deposit, a $5,000 maximum, and a 25.99% variable APR. The graduation period is typically one year, assuming on-time payments and low utilization. Bank of America also offers rewards-bearing secured versions (the Customized Cash Rewards Secured and the Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured) at the same $200-$5,000 deposit range.
What about the Amazon Secured Card and the Citi Secured Mastercard?
These two cards occupy specific niches worth understanding.
Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony Bank): The Amazon.com Secured Card is accessible to ITIN holders even if you rarely shop on Amazon. It is designed for people with no credit history or a limited U.S. credit profile, and it reports payment activity to all three major bureaus. The refundable deposit runs from $100 to $1,000 and acts as your credit limit. The standout feature is a fixed 10% APR, which is well below most starter cards. After 12 months of responsible use, Synchrony may graduate you to an unsecured store card and return your deposit. The catch: it is a closed-loop card, accepted only at Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh. It works best as a secondary card paired with a general-purpose secured card.
Citi Secured Mastercard: The Citi Secured requires a deposit between $200 and $2,500, which sets your credit limit. That gives you control over how much credit you want to access based on what you can afford to set aside. You will need to provide your name, address, and SSN or ITIN to apply. There is no annual fee. Citi’s requirements pages list ITIN as an acceptable identifier alongside SSN, making this a viable route when your documentation and address validation clear their checks. The card offers no rewards, but its wide deposit ceiling and clean graduation track make it a solid pick for ITIN holders who can meet the documentation requirements.
Unsecured ITIN credit cards: what options exist after you build credit?
Once your ITIN credit file has 6-18 months of positive payment history, unsecured cards become genuinely available. The table below covers the primary options.
| Card | Annual Fee | Purchase APR | Deposit Required | Min. Credit Profile | ITIN Confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum | $0 | ~29.99% variable | None | Limited/fair | Yes |
| Capital One SavorOne Student | $0 | Variable | None | Student (no prior history needed) | Yes |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student | $0 | Variable | None | Student (no prior history needed) | Yes |
| Capital One SavorOne (standard) | $0 | Variable | None | Fair to good | Yes |
| Mission Lane Visa | $0-$59 (based on profile) | Variable | None | Limited/fair | Yes |
Capital One’s SavorOne card is an unsecured rewards card for people with no credit history or fair credit. Cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, plus 1% on everything else, for a $39 annual fee.
The realistic path for most ITIN holders is still: secured card first, unsecured card after 6-18 months of on-time payments. After 12 months of clean history, your score will typically land in the 680-720 range, at which point more mainstream unsecured cards become realistic options.
How long does it actually take to graduate from secured to unsecured?
Six to 18 months is the typical range, though it varies by issuer and by how responsibly you use the card. And not every secured card automatically converts to unsecured at the end of that road.
The timelines differ meaningfully by issuer:
- Capital One Platinum Secured: Capital One reviews your account after 6 months for a possible unsecured upgrade.
- OpenSky (original and Plus): Graduation to the OpenSky Gold unsecured card in as little as 6 months.
- Citi Secured Mastercard: Citi does not publish a fixed review timeline. Most independent sources cite 12-18 months as typical.
- Bank of America Secured: The graduation period is typically one year, assuming on-time payments and low utilization. Bank of America generally handles this automatically, via a soft pull, at the one-year mark.
- Amazon Secured (Synchrony): After 12 months of responsible use, Synchrony may graduate you to an unsecured store card and return your deposit.
Two graduation pathways exist: automatic review and manual request. Some issuers will review your account after 6-12 months of responsible use and offer to convert it to unsecured without you doing anything. Others require you to apply separately for an unsecured card.
Not all secured cards are on a graduation path at all. Before opening any secured card, confirm whether the issuer offers a graduation track, or whether you would eventually need to close the account and apply fresh elsewhere.
What happens to your deposit when you graduate?
When you graduate to an unsecured card at the same issuer, you typically get your deposit back as a statement credit. If you instead close the secured card and move to a different issuer, you receive your deposit back after paying the balance in full.
One thing to keep in mind: if the closed account was your oldest, losing it shortens your credit history and lowers the average age of your accounts, which can ding your score. If the new card has a higher limit and you keep utilization low, your score may still climb overall.
The cleanest outcome is graduating at the same issuer. You keep your account age, get your deposit back, and increase your available credit, all at once.
Should I get a secured card or skip straight to an unsecured one with my ITIN?
One variable settles it: do you have any existing U.S. credit history?
If the answer is no, start with a secured card. The deposit lowers the lender’s risk and makes approval far more likely, and several issuers skip the credit check entirely.
If you have some U.S. credit history (say, six or more months of a reporting account), check Capital One’s pre-qualification tool. Capital One offers the Platinum Secured with a $49, $99, or $200 deposit opening a $200 credit line, but it also offers the unsecured Platinum for thin-file applicants: no deposit, approximately 29.99% variable APR, no annual fee, and an automatic credit line review after six months on time.
Running the pre-qualify check costs nothing in terms of your credit file and tells you exactly which product you qualify for before you formally apply. Our guide on how to pre-qualify for a credit card with an ITIN walks through this process step by step.
Do both secured and unsecured ITIN cards build credit the same way?
Yes. Both card types build credit through on-time payments and low balances. The credit bureaus do not distinguish between secured and unsecured when calculating your score. What matters is the reporting, not the collateral structure behind the card.
Credit scores typically appear after 3-6 months of responsible card use. Once your score is established, the same rules apply regardless of card type: pay on time, keep utilization below 30% (below 10% is better for score optimization), and avoid closing your oldest account. For a closer look at how ITIN credit cards report to the bureaus and what actually shows on your file, see our guide on whether your ITIN credit card reports to all three bureaus.
According to OpenSky’s own cardholder data, cardholders typically see an average 47-point increase in their credit score within the first six months. That kind of early progress is achievable with either a secured or unsecured card, provided payments are on time and balances stay low.
What documents do I need to apply for either type of ITIN card?
The documentation requirements are essentially the same for secured and unsecured ITIN cards, though some issuers add a step for ITIN holders. The standard package is:
- Your 9-digit ITIN (from your IRS-issued ITIN letter)
- A valid government-issued photo ID (foreign passport is widely accepted; consular ID works at many issuers)
- Proof of a U.S. address (a lease, utility bill, or bank statement in your name)
- Proof of income (pay stubs, bank statements, or a tax return)
- A U.S. bank or fintech account to fund the security deposit (for secured cards)
For secured cards, have a U.S. bank or fintech account with routing and account numbers ready for ACH funding. The account does not open until the deposit is received within the issuer’s funding window, so plan ahead.
For Bank of America specifically, ITIN applicants must apply in person at a local branch, so bring originals of all documents. For Capital One, Citi, and OpenSky, the full application can be completed online.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of the full application process, see our guide on how to apply for a credit card with an ITIN. If your application gets declined, our guide on what to do when your credit card is denied with an ITIN covers the next steps.
Our editorial verdict: which should you choose?
Based on current issuer data, here is our straightforward recommendation by situation:
Zero U.S. credit history, any budget: Capital One Platinum Secured. Depending on your creditworthiness, a $49 or $99 deposit can open a $200 credit line. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and the full application is online with ITIN accepted.
Zero U.S. credit history, want no credit check: OpenSky Plus Secured Visa. No annual fee, no credit check, three-bureau reporting, and a 6-month graduation path. If you can fund $300 up front, this is the best long-run value in the no-credit-check category.
Already have some U.S. credit history (6+ months of a reporting account): Check Capital One’s pre-qualify tool for the unsecured Platinum card. Unsecured cards are harder to get with a limited credit history because there is no deposit backing them up, but Capital One’s Platinum is specifically designed for people new to credit and accepts ITIN.
Want rewards while building credit with a secured card: The Amazon Secured Card’s fixed 10% APR is well below most starter cards, and it reports to all three bureaus. Pair it with a general-purpose secured card so you have broader network acceptance.
Whatever product you choose, the mechanics of credit building are identical: pay your full statement balance before the due date every single month, keep your utilization low, and do not close your first account once you qualify for something better. Those three habits, applied consistently over 12-18 months, are what move an ITIN holder from a secured starter card to a full unsecured rewards card.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a secured credit card in the U.S. with only an ITIN? Yes. Multiple major issuers accept an ITIN for secured cards, including Capital One, Citi, Bank of America, and OpenSky. No SSN is required. You will need a valid photo ID, proof of address, and a funded U.S. bank account to cover the security deposit.
Can I get an unsecured credit card with an ITIN and no U.S. credit history? It is very difficult with zero credit history. A few issuers like Capital One offer unsecured cards (the Platinum card) targeted at limited-credit applicants, but most require at least several months of established credit history. Starting with a secured card first is the recommended path.
How much security deposit do I need for an ITIN secured credit card? Deposits vary by issuer. Capital One Platinum Secured starts at $49. OpenSky Secured starts at $200 and goes up to $3,000. Citi Secured requires $200-$2,500. Bank of America secured cards accept $200-$5,000. The deposit almost always equals your starting credit limit.
How long does it take to graduate from a secured to an unsecured card with an ITIN? Typically 6-18 months of responsible use. Capital One reviews accounts after 6 months. Citi typically takes about 18 months. OpenSky advertises graduation to the OpenSky Gold unsecured card in as little as 6 months. Timelines vary and depend on consistent on-time payments and low utilization.
Does a secured credit card with an ITIN report to the credit bureaus? Yes, virtually all secured cards from major issuers report to all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This monthly reporting is the primary mechanism for building a U.S. credit file with your ITIN.
Do I get my security deposit back when I graduate to an unsecured card? Yes. When your secured card graduates or is upgraded to an unsecured product, the issuer returns your full deposit, typically as a statement credit. If you close the account instead of graduating, you also receive your deposit back after paying the balance in full.
What unsecured credit cards accept an ITIN in 2026? Capital One Platinum (no annual fee, ~29.99% APR), Capital One SavorOne Student, Capital One Quicksilver Student, and the Mission Lane Visa are among the unsecured options that accept an ITIN. Most of these require at least a limited credit profile (fair credit or some history).
Is a secured credit card considered a real credit card for building U.S. credit? Yes. A secured credit card is a fully functional credit card. The issuer reports your payment history and balances to the credit bureaus each month, just like any unsecured card. The only difference is the upfront refundable deposit that acts as collateral.
What is the best ITIN secured credit card with no credit check? OpenSky Secured Visa and OpenSky Plus Secured Visa both skip the credit check entirely, accept ITIN, and report to all three bureaus. The Plus version has no annual fee but requires a $300 deposit. The original OpenSky charges a $35 annual fee but starts at $200 and has a lower APR.
Can Bank of America ITIN applicants only apply in person? According to Bank of America’s own requirements page, ITIN applicants must apply in person at a branch, while SSN holders can apply online or in person. This is an important logistical consideration when comparing issuers.