October 27, 2025 · 9 mins read
Santosh Kumar
Student credit cards generally don't require a deposit, but secured credit cards need a deposit. The cards are designed to meet the financial needs of college students and come with basic features of a credit card, such as an interest-free period, rewards earning, and discounts. Offered in the form of entry-level or secured credit cards, these cards can be a great tool for students to learn financial responsibility and the basics of building financial credibility.
Students above the age of 18 years can apply for student credit cards with top card issuers such as SBI Card, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, etc.
Student credit cards are a cheap alternative to standard credit cards, which can be secured by young individuals who do not have a robust credit history. You can apply for them if you are above 18 years of age with the least documents.
You can secure student credit cards in 2 ways, i.e., an add-on card service to your parental accounts or a credit card based on your fixed deposit. You can get a 90% credit limit on your fixed deposit. These cards are effective if you are studying and have a limited income.
‘How can a student get a credit card?’ is a common question. So, let’s understand what makes you eligible for a student credit card. There are certain requirements set by banks to provide you with student credit cards.
1: You should be of legal age to be eligible, i.e. 18 years.
2: You must be an Indian citizen to qualify for a student credit card in India.
3: If you have a fixed deposit account with your bank of a minimum of ₹50,000, you are eligible for a student credit card.
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How to get a student credit card is a common query that people often ask, so for this, you should know some essential documents required, and this makes it easy for an individual to apply for a student credit card. Such knowledge makes the application process smooth.
Ensure that you have the documents listed below for your student credit card application. You may be asked to bring additional documents based on different situations.
1: Aadhaar Card
2: Pan Card
3: Passport Size Photograph
4: Proof of student (ID card or enrolment form for your university or college).
In some cases, you may need to submit the following:
1: Guarantor details
2: Income proof
3: Linked parental account details for the add-on linked credit card
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There are 2 ways by which you can secure a credit card in India, i.e.
Add-on credit card: The add-on cards act as the secondary card to the primary card. Your student card will be linked to the parent card, and you can enjoy the majority of the parent card benefits without paying extra fees or charges.
Credit card against fixed deposit: If you have a fixed deposit at a bank, you can apply for a secured credit card against your FD. You can get a student credit card with a credit limit of 90% of the FD amount. The minimum tenure and amount of the fixed deposit, for which it should be activated, are decided by banks.
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To secure your credit card online, you need to follow the steps below.
Step 1: Check your eligibility based on age, documents needed, guarantor details, etc.
Step 2: Go to the bank’s credit section on the official website, and choose from the range of credit cards with different features or options as listed.
Step 3: Apply online for the card, and fill out its related form on the follow-up page. Fill in details, name, education, income, and more.
Step 4: Upload documents as asked, which are mainly an Aadhaar card, enrolment certificate, guarantor details, photo, etc.
Step 5: Submit the application by uploading it.
Step 6: The approval process starts, which may include further bank contacts for verifications, and may demand some additional documents.
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While student credit cards are for students who want to build credit, secured cards can be for students or anyone else who wants help building or repairing credit. Secured credit cards are easy to get approved for, so they are often marketed to people with low credit scores or bad credit due to past mistakes.
Secured credit cards require a cash deposit to get started, but the deposit is refundable when the account is closed in good standing or upgraded to an unsecured account. Secured credit card issuers usually report card activity to the credit bureaus, which means cardholders can build credit with responsible use. Some secured cards also offer rewards and charge no annual fee.
1: You don’t have to be a student to apply. Anyone can apply for a secured credit card, whether they’re a college student or not.
2: Build credit with responsible use. These cards report to the three credit bureaus, which can help build credit for the future.
3: Earn rewards for spending. Many of the best secured credit cards earn cash back for each dollar spent.
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1: Collateral requirement. You’ll have to put down a cash deposit to begin building credit with one of these cards.
2: Rewards and perks are limited. Rewards and cardholder benefits are fairly limited among secured credit cards.
3: Potential for a very low starting credit limit. Your security deposit typically equals your credit limit, so putting down collateral can mean having a credit limit only on your card.
Some of the features of secured credit cards are-
Issued Against FD: Secured credit cards are issued against a Fixed Deposit, which is held with the card issuer as collateral. The card issuer has the right to recover the due balance on your secured credit card in case you are unable to pay your credit card bills on time.
Minimum FD Amount: Usually, there is a minimum amount that you must deposit with the bank as a fixed deposit in order to get a secured credit card. This amount can be anywhere between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 25,000 for different secured credit cards from different banks. For example, ICICI Bank requires a fixed deposit of a minimum amount of Rs. 10,000 for its Instant Platinum Credit Card, while the minimum fixed deposit amount required for the more premium Rubyx Credit Card against Fixed Deposit is Rs. 75,000. Axis Bank requires a fixed deposit of a minimum of Rs. 20,000 to issue its My Zone Credit Card, while the minimum Fixed Deposit amount required for the SBI Unnati Credit Card is Rs. 25,000.
Credit Limit: The credit limit of a secured credit card is usually between 75% to 90% of the Fixed Deposit amount against which the card is issued.
Minimum FD Tenure: Card issuers usually issue secured credit cards only against fixed deposits of a tenure of a minimum of 6 months.
Lower Interest Rate: Sometimes, card issuers charge a lower interest rate on secured credit cards. For example, ICICI Bank charges an interest rate of 2.49% per month on its secured credit cards compared with the interest rate of 3.40% per month applicable on most unsecured ICICI Bank Credit Cards.
Proof of Income: Secured credit cards are issued without the submission of any document(s) as proof of income.
Credit Builder: Secured credit cards are also sometimes referred to as credit builder credit cards, as they help the cardholder build a credit history. The cardholder can build a strong credit profile if they pay their bills regularly on time.
Student credit cards are a good opportunity to start with and build a strong credit history with little or no annual charges or fees, in the case of FD-based and add-on credit cards. You should be 18 years old and should be enrolled in an educational institution to secure your credit card. Always ensure timely payment for better credit opportunities in the future.
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You can look for student credit card options on the official website of the banks and then fill out the form by clicking on ‘Apply’. After filling in your details, upload the required documents. Finally, submit your application and wait for the bank’s approval.
Yes, many Indian banks offer student credit cards via 2 different means, i.e. add-on and fixed deposit-based credit cards.
Being a student, you can secure 2 sorts of credit cards, i.e. add-on credit cards based on your parental accounts; yours would be the secondary one. You can have a fixed deposit-based credit card with a credit limit of 90% of your FD.
No, you won’t be eligible for a student credit card if you are not enrolled in school or any educational institution.
The credit limit assigned to the student varies from case to case. The card issuer will inform you about the credit limit once your application has been approved.
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