What the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card is and how to get one
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card is a credit card issued by Chase that gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and other spending. You get it by going to Chase's website or Amazon's website, filling out a credit card form, and waiting for Chase to make a decision based on your credit history and income.
The card comes in two versions: one for Prime members and one for non-Prime members. The Prime version gives you higher cash back rates on Amazon purchases (typically 5%) and at Whole Foods (2%), while the non-Prime version gives lower rates. Both versions charge no annual fee.
Chase will tell you within minutes or a few days whether you are approved, denied, or need to provide more information. If approved, the card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can then use it to make purchases and start earning cash back rewards.
Key Takeaways
- You can request the card directly through Chase or through Amazon's website, and Chase will review your credit report and income to make a decision.
- The card has no annual fee, but the cash back rates you earn depend on whether you are a Prime member and where you spend.
- Approval decisions usually come within minutes to a few days, and approved cards arrive within 7 to 10 business days.
- Each time you request a card, Chase pulls your credit report, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
- You do not have to be a Prime member to request the card, but Prime members earn higher cash back rates on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
Where to request the card and what information you will need
You can request the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card through two main routes: Chase's website (creditcards.chase.com) or Amazon's website (amazon.com/primecard). Both lead to the same Chase process form. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and information about your income and employment.
Chase will also ask whether you want the Prime member version or the non-Prime version. If you are not sure whether you are a Prime member, check your Amazon account before you start the form — it takes 30 seconds and saves you from having to correct it later.
The form takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Have your Social Security number and a recent pay stub or tax return handy so you can fill in income information accurately. Chase uses this information to decide whether to approve you and what credit limit to offer.
What happens after you submit the form
After you submit, Chase pulls your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). This is called a hard inquiry and will show up on your credit report. It typically lowers your credit score by a few points for a few months.
Chase then reviews your credit history, income, and existing debts to decide whether to approve you. Most decisions come back within minutes or hours. Some applications go to a review queue and take a few days. Chase will email or mail you the decision.
If you are approved, you will see your new credit limit and card details. The physical card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can often use the card number to make purchases online before the physical card arrives, depending on Chase's current policy.
Cash back rates and how rewards work
The cash back you earn depends on where you spend and whether you hold the Prime member version or the non-Prime version. Prime members earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases, 2% at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh, and 1% on all other purchases. Non-Prime members earn 3% on Amazon.com, 2% at Whole Foods, and 1% elsewhere.
Cash back is not paid out automatically. Instead, it sits in your account as a balance that you can redeem. You can use it to pay your credit card bill, get a statement credit, or transfer it to your Amazon account as a gift card. There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.
Rewards do not expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing. If you close the card, you typically have a window (often 90 days) to redeem any remaining cash back before it is forfeited.
What credit score and income you typically need
Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but approval is more likely if your credit score is 670 or higher. People with scores below 650 are sometimes approved, but it depends on other factors like your income, existing debts, and credit history length.
Chase also looks at your income and debt-to-income ratio. You will need to report your annual income on the form. There is no published minimum income requirement, but higher income generally makes approval more likely. Chase also considers how much debt you already carry and how much of your available credit you are using.
If you are denied, you can call Chase's reconsideration line within 30 days to ask them to review your process again. Sometimes providing additional information about your income or explaining a recent credit issue can change the outcome.
Annual fees, interest rates, and other costs
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card has no annual fee. You pay nothing just to hold the card, whether you use it or not.
If you carry a balance and do not pay it off in full each month, you will pay interest. The interest rate (called the APR) varies by person and is based on your creditworthiness. Chase will tell you the APR range before you finish the form. Typical APRs range from 17% to 25%, but your actual rate depends on your credit profile.
There are no other regular fees. You will not be charged for late payments unless you miss a payment, in which case late fees explore. There are no foreign transaction fees if you use the card outside the United States, though the exchange rate may include a markup.
How a pre-approval offer differs from requesting the card yourself
A pre-approval offer means Chase has already reviewed some of your information (often from credit bureaus or existing Chase customer data) and determined that you are likely to be approved. Pre-approval offers sometimes come with may provide approval or a may provide credit limit, though this varies by offer.
When you use a pre-approval offer, you still fill out a full process form and Chase still pulls your credit report. However, the pre-approval suggests that Chase has already done preliminary screening and believes you meet their criteria. This can mean faster approval or a higher starting credit limit than if you requested the card without a pre-approval offer.
If you received a pre-approval offer in the mail or email, it usually includes a code or link. Using that code when you explore may improve your chances or speed up the process, though the final decision still depends on the full process review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Prime member to get the card?
No. You can request either the Prime member version or the non-Prime version. If you request the Prime version but are not a Prime member, you will still be approved for the card — you just will not earn the higher Prime member cash back rates until you become a Prime member. You can upgrade to the Prime version later if you join Prime.
What happens to my credit score when I request the card?
Chase pulls your credit report, which is a hard inquiry and typically lowers your score by a few points for a few months. The impact is usually small and temporary. If you are denied and want to request again, wait at least 30 days between requests to minimize the impact on your score.
Can I request the card if I have been denied before?
Yes. You can request again after 30 days. If you were denied, it often helps to wait longer, work on paying down existing debt, or dispute any errors on your credit report before requesting again. You can also call Chase's reconsideration line within 30 days of a denial to ask them to review your process once more.
How long does it take to get approved?
Most decisions come within minutes or hours. Some applications take a few days if they go to a review queue. Once approved, the physical card arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can often use the card number online before the physical card arrives.
What if I already have a Chase credit card?
You can request the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card even if you already have another Chase card. Chase will review your process the same way. Having an existing Chase account in good standing may slightly improve your chances, but it is not may provide.