Does Applying for a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit?

Yes, applying for a credit card can hurt your credit score a little, because most applications trigger a hard credit check (hard inquiry).

The drop is usually small and temporary, but applying for multiple cards in a short time can hurt more.

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Why Your Score Can Drop After You Apply

When you apply, the lender checks your credit report to decide whether to approve you.

That check is usually a hard inquiry, and hard inquiries can lower your score temporarily.

When a Credit Check Does Not Hurt Your Score

Some checks are “soft” and do not affect your score, like:

• Checking your own credit report or score

• Some pre-approval checks

• Some non-lending checks (like certain employment or account review inquiries)

How Long Does the Impact Last?

Hard inquiries can stay on your credit report for up to about 3 years (36 months), but the score impact usually matters most in the short term.

How to Reduce the Credit Impact

• Apply only when you actually need a card

• Avoid multiple applications close together (one or two is better than five)

• Keep your credit usage low after you get the card, and pay on time