Credit Cards in Germany for ForeignersKreditkarte für Ausländer, explained step by step
You do not need German citizenship to get a credit card in Germany. What banks look at is your residence, your income and your Schufa record. As a newcomer that record is empty rather than bad, so the trick is knowing which card to start with and how to build credit from there.
meinetarife24 Editorial Team
Our editorial team writes the content and updates it regularly.
Key takeaways
- Citizenship is never a requirement. Banks decide on your residence, income and Schufa, not your nationality.
- Most digital banks issue a debit card, not a credit card. They still run a Schufa query when you sign up, so "no Schufa" claims are misleading.
- Prepaid cards are great for spending, weak for deposits. Car rentals like Sixt and Europcar reject prepaid for the security deposit.
- A real credit card usually comes after 6 to 12 months of a bank account, income and on-time contracts that build your Schufa.
- Plenty of cards cost nothing per year. Traditional banks tend to charge 20 to 100 euros; many digital cards are free.
Credit card, debit card or prepaid: what is the difference?
This is the part that trips up most newcomers. In Germany the word "Kreditkarte" gets used loosely, and the card your bank hands you is often a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo. The three types behave very differently when it matters, for example at a hotel check-in or a rental counter.
Credit card
Kreditkarte
You spend now and the bank bills you later, usually once a month. A real revolving or charge card.
Access: Hardest as a newcomer (Schufa check needed)
Deposits: Accepted for hotel and car-rental deposits
Debit card
Debitkarte
Money leaves your account straight away. Most digital banks issue a Visa or Mastercard debit card.
Access: Easy to get, often with just a passport
Deposits: Often refused for deposits, check first
Prepaid card
Prepaid-Karte
You load money first, then spend only what is on the card. No credit is involved.
Access: Easiest option, usually no credit check
Deposits: Not accepted for car-rental deposits
| Card type | When the money leaves you | Credit check | Deposit at car rental / hotel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card (Kreditkarte) | Later, billed monthly | Yes, Schufa checked | Accepted |
| Debit card (Debitkarte) | Immediately | Schufa query at signup | Often refused |
| Prepaid card (Prepaid-Karte) | Upfront, you load it | Usually none | Not accepted |
Key German terms (DE / EN / TR)
You will see these words on application forms and in your online banking. Here they are in German, English and Turkish so you recognise them wherever you meet them.
| Deutsch | English | Türkçe |
|---|---|---|
| Kreditkarte | Credit card | Kredi karti |
| Debitkarte | Debit card | Banka karti |
| Prepaid-Karte | Prepaid card | On odemeli kart |
| Schufa | Credit bureau / score | Kredi notu (Schufa) |
| Girokonto | Current account | Vadesiz hesap |
| Anmeldung | Address registration | Adres kaydi |
| Aufenthaltstitel | Residence permit | Oturma izni |
| Jahresgebühr | Annual fee | Yillik ucret |
| Kreditrahmen | Credit limit | Kredi limiti |
| Bonität | Creditworthiness | Kredibilite |
Your options for a credit card in Germany as a newcomer
Start with a digital bank account
Digital banks such as N26 are the quickest way to get a Visa or Mastercard you can use right away. Be clear on two things: the card is a debit card, not a true credit card, and the bank still runs a Schufa query when you apply. With a low or empty score the free account can be declined and a paid version offered instead. N26 lets many people open an account with a passport before they have an Anmeldung, which helps in your first weeks.
Use a prepaid card for control, not deposits
A prepaid card needs no credit check, so it is the easiest card to get on day one. It works well for online shopping and everyday spending. Just remember its limit: most car rental desks and some hotels will not accept a prepaid card for the security deposit, no matter how much you load onto it.
Move to a real credit card after you build some history
After roughly 6 to 12 months with a German account, a steady income and a few contracts paid on time, a proper credit card comes within reach. This is the card you want for travel, larger online purchases and deposits. Compare the annual fee and the foreign-transaction fee before you apply.
Schufa when you have no German credit history
Schufa is Germany's main credit bureau. Think of it as a credit score in the US or UK, or the Findeks score in Turkey. Banks check it before they grant credit. As a newcomer your file is empty, and that is not the same as a bad one. You simply have not built a record yet.
One myth worth clearing up: paying your rent on time does not build your Schufa. In Germany only rent problems, like defaults sent to collection, end up on the file. What actually helps is a German bank account, postpaid phone, internet or electricity contracts, and any loan or card you service on time. Give it a few months and your file starts to look healthy.
Good to know: you can request a free Schufa data copy under Art. 15 GDPR and check what is recorded. The official German money portal for new arrivals, Make it in Germany, and the consumer guide Finanztip both explain the banking basics. You can read Schufa's own rules in English on schufa.de, and the financial regulator BaFin publishes consumer guidance in English too.
What you need to apply
Nationality is not on this list. Whether you hold an EU passport, a non-EU residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel), a Blue Card or a student visa, the requirements are the same. A Blue Card or a strong work contract often helps, simply because it signals a steady income.
Verified by video chat or PostIdent at a post office.
Required by most banks. A few digital banks start without it.
Aufenthaltstitel for non-EU residents, ID card for EU citizens. Citizenship is not required.
A work contract, payslips or a student grant. This shapes your credit limit.
Compare credit card options
Kreditkarten vergleichen / Kredi kartlarini karsilastir
Advertising notice (Werbehinweis): this page contains affiliate comparison links from our partners. If you sign up through one of them, we earn a commission. This costs you nothing extra and does not affect the results shown.
Before you rent a car or check into a hotel
This is where the type of card really counts. Rental companies block a deposit on your card, and they are strict about how. Sixt and Europcar both state that prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit, and many also turn away debit cards. You usually need a genuine credit card in the main driver's name, with enough free limit to cover the hold.
If you only have a debit or prepaid card for now, call the branch first and ask what they accept. For a deeper look at which card the desk will take, see our guide on the card for a car rental deposit.
How to build your credit in Germany
Missed payments and collections are what hurt your Schufa.
The Anmeldung unlocks most banks and contracts.
A serviced mobile or internet contract adds a positive entry.
A steady Girokonto with regular income looks reliable to banks.
Common questions from newcomers
Häufig gestellte Fragen
More guides for life in Germany
Ready to find your first card?
Compare expat-friendly options and see the fees before you apply. The comparison is free and needs no registration.
Compare credit cardsHow we research this guide: we rely on the banks\' and rental companies\' own terms (N26, Sixt, Europcar), Schufa, Finanztip and the German government portal Make it in Germany, all checked in June 2026. Card terms and fees change often, so always confirm the current conditions on the provider\'s own page before you apply.
Last updated: June 2026 - meinetarife24 Editorial Team