Compare credit cards for low-income earners in Australia and find a card that suits your financial situation.
There is a range of credit cards in Australia that have minimum income requirements of $15,000 to $25,000 per year. These cards provide people in lower income brackets with access to credit, and often also keep fees and charges to a minimum. Some even come with introductory interest rate offers. Here, you can compare low income credit cards, with the minimum income requirements listed in the far right column of the table. We also outline different features available and key factors to consider so you can choose a credit card that suits your income and needs.
Low Income Credit Cards Comparison
What are the features and benefits of a low income credit card?
- Lower minimum income requirements. As the name suggests, low income credit cards usually have lower minimum income requirements starting at $15,000 p.a. If your annual income fits within the $15,000 and $25,000 bracket, applying for a low income credit card could also increase your chances of approval when applying for one of these cards.
- Competitive annual fee. Low income credit cards usually come with lower annual account keeping fees than more premium cards. You might even be able to find a low income card that doesn't charge ongoing annual fees or has a $0 annual fee promotional offer.
- Lower interest rate. Low income cards tend to double as low rate cards, and there’s a good possibility of finding a card that charges a purchase rate of less than 12% p.a. Look out for low income cards with low or 0% promotional interest rates as well.
- Interest-free days. Most low income cards offer interest-free days on purchases, though the number of days (such as up to 55 days) would vary from card to card. To take advantage of these interest-free days, you have to pay your account’s closing balance completely every month.
- No frills features. Since such cards keep the fees and interest rates low, most don't offer extras like rewards, access to a concierge service, travel benefits, and complimentary insurance covers.
- Build credit. If you're using a low income credit card with low interest rates, you could use the card to build up a healthy credit rating if you pay off your debt each statement period. With good creditworthiness, you'll have increased chances of approval when applying for other loans in the future.
What should I consider when comparing for a low income credit card?
Applying for a low income credit card requires that you pay attention to certain important aspects, and here’s what you need to know:
- Minimum income requirements. Not all cards have the same minimum income requirements. While some allow applications from individuals who earn $15,000 p.a. or more, some others increase this requirement to $20,000 or $25,000. Make sure that you have all of the necessary documents to prove your annual income before you apply.
- Earnings. If you don’t meet the minimum income requirement of any given credit card, you still have options. For instance, you could apply for a joint account and add your spouse’s income to your income as the total household earning. If this is not an option, start by opening a transaction account and try to increase your work hours for a few months so you can meet minimum income requirements.
- Credit history. If you suffer from a poor credit history, work on repairing your credit before applying for a credit card. You can consider getting a temporary part-time job to increase your monthly income. Making sure you provide all the required information in your application also increases chances of approval. If you're not eligible to apply for a credit card, you might want to consider some alternatives for applicants with a bad credit rating.
- Affordability. Before you apply for the card, make sure you've confirmed if you can afford it. If you end up borrowing more than you can repay and build up debt, this will have a negative impact on your credit rating. Use the reviews on finder and read the relevant product disclosure statement to make sure you understand the costs of the card before applying.
Low Minimum Income Credit Card Offer
The Westpac Low Rate Card offers low interest rates on balance transfers and purchases, plus a competitive annual fee. You can also use paperless eStatements to have your bills electronically delivered, saving paper and time.
- $59 p.a.
- 13.49% p.a. on purchases
- 0% p.a. for 18 months with 2% balance transfer fee on balance transfers
- Cash Advance Rate of 21.49% p.a.
- Up to 55 days interest free
- Minimum Income Requirement of $15,000 p.a.
Frequently asked questions about low-income credit cards
What eligibility criteria do I have to meet to apply?
Apart from meeting minimum income requirements, you should be at least 18 years old, a permanent Australian resident and have a healthy credit history.
How quickly can I complete the application?
If you wish to submit an online application and have the required information at hand, the process should take around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the card provider.
Do low income cards provide rewards?
The norm is that they don’t, but the ANZ Frequent Flyer credit card is a low income card that comes linked to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
Do I have to pay a fee for balance transfers?
This depends on the credit card you choose. While some cards offer fee-free balance transfers, some others might require you to pay a one or two percent balance transfer fee.
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My annual salary is 210000.is it possible to get credit card
Hi Ritu,
Thanks for your question.
I’m afraid that the credit cards we feature on our pages are available to people who are in Australia only. You’d be best to get in touch with a bank in India to discuss your chances of approval for a credit card.
Cheers,
May
I have been ill for the past 4 years and as a result sent me into bankruptcy. I am now out of my bankruptcy time. My only income is from government disability payments, which equate to approx $28000 pa. Yet I have tried to apply for a low credit amount and still being declined. What can I apply for that WILL be approved and give me a chance to redeem my unfortunate past circumstances.
Regards
Mel
Hi Mel,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Please note that finder.com.au is an online comparison service and is not in a position to recommend specific products, providers and services.
You might want to check our guide about getting a credit card if bankrupt or repaying debt to give you some tips on increasing your chance of getting approved for a credit card in the future.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Arra
my annual income is 160000..is it possible to get credit card
Hi Aman, thanks for your inquiry!
Please see this page for low income credit cards starting from $15,000.
Cheers,
Jonathan
hi, i am looking for low base credit card, my monthly income14500/- is it possible get credit card??
Hi Dhan,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The minimum income required for a credit card application varies depending on the bank but is generally at least $15,000. You may want to check the eligibility requirements on your preferred credit card and speak to a bank representative.
To understand how other eligibility requirements can affect your application, you can refer on this page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
I earn 20k a year, and am looking for a 4k credit card. What are my chances?
Hi Jason, thanks for your inquiry!
Your eligibility for being approved for a credit card depends on the specific bank’s lending requirements and minimum income requirement. The income requirements/ application requirements are available on each review page.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hi im looking for a transfer balance credit card! I have two I would like to put together to make it easier for me this is the amount of 5,000! I am a low income earner of about 19,,000 per year! Can you please point me in the right direction! :)
Hi, Tricia.
Thanks for your question.
This page features cards that are suitable for people with a low income. You may also want to have a look at our low rate credit card comparison page.
You can enter your details into the calculator at the top of the comparison table to see which card offers what in terms of savings when you transfer a balance. You can also use the check boxes to the left of the card name in the table (and then click compare) for a side by side comparison of credit cards. This will allow you to compare multiple credit cards and easily view things like income requirements and fees.
Let us know if you have any further questions about finding a credit card and I hope this has answered your question.
Hello. I attempted to do a balance transfer from my Citibank mastercard to Bendigo basic black. I did try several times online only for those applications being terminated half way through. I then went to my local Bendigo branch and started the process there. My aim was to a have a lower interest rate and better manage my credit card debt. I earn $900 a fortnight gross and own my own home. Bendigo have finally advised after much stuffing around that I do not meet their lending criteria. Please advise what are my options now and does that fact that I have made several applications have an effect on future applications? Thank you cheers Judith.
Hi Judith. Thanks for your question. If you’ve applied for credit a couple of times in the recent past this may have some bearing on your future applications. There is no hard and fast rule about how many times you can apply for credit in a certain time frame before it negatively affects your application, but try to think about it from the lender’s perspective. If they can see that you’ve applied for credit six times in the last month, it would appear to them that you are a credit hungry customer and may be grounds for declining your application. But it’s not all bad if you have had a few applications on your credit file in the past. If you’ve been able to successfully manage the products you’ve applied for then there no reason why you shouldn’t be able to keep applying for credit (within your ability to repay). One possible action is to order a copy of your credit file. This will let you see what the lender sees when you apply for credit. You may want to consider waiting to apply for more credit. Hope this has helped and let us know if you need anything else. Jacob.
I earn 5000 a year can I get a low interest credit card
Hi Dawn. I’m not sure. If you would like further clarification, speak to the lender directly. People on low incomes do get approved though, your credit limit won’t be high. Jacob.
Hi I want credit card but my salary is low only 9000 thousand in hand per month so please suggest
Hi Jitendra. Thanks for your question. With an annual income of only $9,000, it will be difficult to get a credit card. You should check this page, it’s our low rate credit card comparison page, it has information on low rate cards, which have the lowest entry requirements out of all the cards on the market. You can still try and apply for a low fee or low rate card, but if you’re approved, your limit is likely to be only approx. $500.
Hello I was just wondering if I can get a credit card on a single parenting income and if so what one ?
Hi Megan. Thanks for your question. Each credit card has a minimum income requirement that will show how much you must be earning before you can apply. If you do not meet the minimum income requirement, you can try a prepaid credit card, although with these cards you will only have access to your own money. Cheers.