Toni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Written By Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Lead Editor Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
| Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel Rewards
Updated: Dec 14, 2023, 12:32pm
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Whether applying for a new credit card or ordering a replacement card, the time it takes to receive a new card varies from issuer to issuer. When credit cards are sent to the cardholder’s billing address, a cardholder can generally expect to receive a card within seven to ten business days. It can take longer to receive a card in certain circumstances. That said, some issuers will offer instant access to your account.
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
When applying for a new credit card, it’s important to consider the time needed for the approval process and card delivery. While some applicants can be approved instantly, it typically takes seven to 10 business days to receive a new card in the mail. If you need a replacement card, it may arrive in as few as three to five business days, or even sooner in an emergency for a fee. To get instant access or a temporary card, check with the issuer or look for credit cards that offer this feature.
Most credit card companies make it easy for nearly anyone to apply for a new card online as arguably the fastest way to get a new card. Online applications typically ask for personal information like name, date of birth, social security number, annual income and monthly expenses. An applicant who fits the issuer’s criteria can receive approval in minutes and receive a card in the mail within a one to two weeks, if not faster.
Applying by phone or mail may result in a longer waiting period to receive a new card. It can take as long as several weeks to receive an approval or rejection from a card issuer, though many approvals take only days, if not hours. An additional seven to 10 business days to receive the new card by mail can be added to this waiting period.
If the applicant isn’t approved right away whether online or over the phone, the card issuer will manually examine the application to make a final decision. This could extend the waiting period by two weeks or more.
The actual waiting period to receive a new card in the mail varies from issuer to issuer. Discover and Bank of America each advertise on company websites that it can take up to 10 business days for a new card to arrive—a standard waiting period among many issuers.
Some issuers offer expedited service if someone needs a new credit card faster than in the standard waiting time. Some issuers may offer it for free (often to existing account holders) while others charge a small fee. Call customer support to find out whether expediting a new card is possible and what the potential charge could be.
Replacement cards can arrive faster than a brand new card. This is because replacement cards are processed soon after the request is made (often on the same day), while new cards can take a few days for an application to process. Those who already have an account don’t need the same approval as those applying for a new account.
A new Chase credit card, for example, usually takes around 10 business days to arrive, but a replacement card should arrive within five to seven business days. Some issuers have services to issue emergency replacements in the event of a lost card and can—sometimes for a fee and sometimes not—overnight a new card.