Credit Card Eligibility Checker

Find out in
60 seconds

  • Up to £8,000 credit limit
  • Use your card before it arrives
  • Checking won’t affect your credit score
Check my eligibility
Intelligent Lending Ltd (credit broker). Capital One is the exclusive lender.

Why should I check my eligibility first?

Know before you apply

Get a clearer idea of your chances before you submit a full application.

Check as often as you like

It won't leave a mark on your credit file.

Avoid unnecessary declines

A declined application leaves a mark on your file — checking first helps you avoid that.

What is a credit card eligibility checker?

An eligibility checker shows you how likely you are to be accepted for a credit card — before you apply.

It uses a soft search on your credit file, so checking won't affect your credit score no matter how many times you do it. 

39.9% APR Representative (variable)

How to check

1

Fill in a few details

Without affecting your credit score

2

We’ll tell you if it’s a yes

Usually in under 60 seconds

3

Apply if you’re eligible

If approved, you'll receive your card within 10 days

What you'll need

  • Your name and date of birth 
  • Your current address (and previous addresses if you've moved recently)
  • Your employment status and income 
  • Details of any dependants and household income

How to improve your chances

Small changes can make a real difference to how lenders see you.

  • Register on the electoral roll

    Lenders use the electoral roll to verify your identity - and it takes minutes to sort.

  • Set up Direct Debits

    Even one missed payment can leave a mark on your file. Direct Debits takes the risk of forgetting out of the equation.

  • Check your credit report

    Errors can affect your chances without you even knowing. All three main credit agencies offer free reports.

  • Don't apply for lots of credit at once

    Every full application leaves a mark on your file. Several in a short space of time can raise red flags with lenders.

What happens after you check?

If you’re pre-approved

You can apply with Capital One within 30 days. They'll carry out a hard search as part of the full application, and you'll get a final decision shortly after.

If you’re unsuccessful

Don’t worry - it won’t affect your credit score. It may be worth contacting the lender directly to understand their decision before applying again.

Checking your eligibility first takes the anxiety out of applying for a credit card. You'll have a better idea of where you stand before you commit to anything — and that peace of mind can be worth a lot.

Fiona Peake,Content Specialist
It’s all about you.

Let's make
it a yes

Join over 1.5 million people accepted for credit

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35 years experience of helping with credit

Got Questions?

To apply for an Ocean Credit Card, you must be:

  • At least 18 years old 
  • A resident of the UK

A hard search is a full review of your credit report and leaves a mark on your file. Multiple hard searches over a short period of time may reduce your chances of being accepted for credit.

Meanwhile, a soft search involves verifying basic information such as your name, DOB and repayment history. Soft searches are only visible to you, and do not affect your credit score or any other applications for credit.

Improving your eligibility for a credit card could be a matter of a few simple steps. These include:

By doing as many of these as you can, you should start to see your credit score improve within a few months, making you more likely to be accepted.

You can check your credit report with a service like CredAbility. From there, you can get personalised tips to improve your chances of being accepted for a card. 

Yes, there are bad credit credit cards designed for this reason. They typically have lower credit limits, and if used responsibly (paying your balance off in full each month), can help to build your credit rating.

No, it does not. The purpose of an eligibility checker is to find out your chances of being approved, without affecting your credit score. To do this, a soft search is completed, which is only visible to you.

If you complete an application, then a hard search is conducted. This can decrease your credit rating temporarily and is visible to potential credit providers viewing your report for up to 1 year.

Last updated

Reviewed by: Matt Waller

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