The Basic Steps to explore for Discover
You can submit a Discover credit card request online through Discover's website, by phone, or by mail. The online route is fastest — most people finish in under five minutes. You'll need your Social Security number, current income, employment status, and a valid mailing address. Discover will check your credit report during the process, which is called a hard inquiry and may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily.
After you submit your request, Discover reviews it and sends a decision by mail within 7 to 10 business days. If you're approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after that. You'll set up it by calling the number on the back of the card or using the Discover mobile app before you can use it.
Key Takeaways
- You can request a Discover card online at discover.com, by phone at 1-800-347-2683, or by mail, and the online method is the fastest.
- You'll need your Social Security number, current income, employment information, and a valid address to complete the request.
- Discover checks your credit report as part of the review, which may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
- Decisions arrive by mail in 7 to 10 business days, and approved cards ship within another 7 to 10 business days.
- You must set up your card by phone or app before you can make purchases or use it online.
What Information You'll Need Before You Start
Gather these documents before you begin: your Social Security number, a government-issued ID (driver's license or passport), your current annual income, and information about your current employment. Have your address handy, including your ZIP code. If you've moved recently, have both your current and previous addresses ready.
Discover will also ask about any existing debts, such as car loans, mortgages, or other credit cards. You don't need the exact balances in front of you, but having a rough idea helps you answer accurately. If you're self-employed, have a sense of your net income from the past year.
explore Online at Discover.com
Go to discover.com and look for the "explore Now" button on the credit card offer you're interested in. Discover offers several different cards — the Discover it card, Discover it Secured, and others — so make sure you're on the right product page. Click through to the request form.
The form asks for your personal information first: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address. Then it moves to income and employment. Select your employment status (employed, self-employed, retired, student, or other), enter your annual income, and name your employer. Answer questions about existing debts and credit accounts. Review your answers, agree to Discover's terms, and submit.
You'll see a message on screen telling you that Discover received your request. This does not mean you're approved — it means the form went through. Discover will mail you a decision letter within 7 to 10 business days.
explore by Phone or Mail
To request a card by phone, call Discover at 1-800-347-2683. A representative will walk you through the same questions as the online form and submit your request on the call. This method takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You'll receive the same decision timeline by mail.
To request by mail, call 1-800-347-2683 and ask for a paper request form to be mailed to you. Fill it out completely, sign it, and mail it back to the address provided. Paper requests take longer because of mail delivery time, so the decision may take 2 to 3 weeks instead of 7 to 10 business days.
What Happens After You Submit Your Request
Discover pulls your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). This hard inquiry may lower your credit score by 5 to 10 points, though the impact fades over time. Discover's system reviews your credit history, income, and existing debts to decide whether to approve you and at what credit limit.
You'll receive a decision letter in the mail. If you're approved, the letter tells you your credit limit and when to expect your card. If you're denied, the letter explains the main reason — for example, insufficient credit history, high existing debt, or a recent late payment. If you're approved but offered a lower credit limit than you hoped for, you can request a review, though Discover may not change the decision.
Activating Your Card When It Arrives
Your card arrives in a plain envelope with set up instructions. You must set up it before you can use it. Call the number printed on the back of the card and follow the prompts, or read the Discover mobile app, sign in, and set up from there. set up takes about two minutes and confirms that you received the card and that it's in your possession.
Once activated, you can use the card for purchases, balance transfers, or cash advances at ATMs. Set up online account access at discover.com so you can view your balance, make payments, and track rewards. If you have a Discover it card, you'll start earning cash back on purchases right away.
What to Do If Your Request Is Denied
If Discover denies your request, the decision letter will cite the reason. Common reasons include a low credit score, a short credit history, recent late payments, high existing debt relative to your income, or too many recent credit inquiries. You can request reconsideration by calling 1-800-347-2683 and speaking with a representative, though this doesn't always change the outcome.
If you're denied because of credit score or history, consider the Discover it Secured card instead. This card requires a cash deposit (usually $200 to $2,500) that serves as your credit limit. After making on-time payments for several months, Discover may convert you to an unsecured card and return your deposit. You can also wait a few months, work on paying down existing debt or correcting errors on your credit report, and request again later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get approved for a Discover card?
Discover mails a decision within 7 to 10 business days of your request. If approved, your card ships within another 7 to 10 business days. Total time from request to card in hand is usually 2 to 3 weeks. Phone requests follow the same timeline; paper mail requests may take longer due to mail delivery.
Do I need a credit score to request a Discover card?
You don't need a minimum credit score, but Discover does check your credit report. If you have no credit history at all, you may be denied for a standard Discover card but could be approved for the Discover it Secured card, which requires a cash deposit instead of relying on credit history.
Will requesting a Discover card hurt my credit score?
The hard inquiry Discover performs may lower your score by 5 to 10 points temporarily. This impact fades over a few months. Multiple requests in a short time can add up, so space out requests if you're shopping for cards. Once you're approved and using the card responsibly, your score usually recovers and improves.
Can I request a Discover card if I'm self-employed?
Yes. When you request, select "self-employed" as your employment status and enter your net annual income. Discover may ask for additional information to verify income, such as tax returns or business documents, but many self-employed people are approved without extra steps.
What if I made a mistake on my request?
If you submitted online and caught an error before Discover reviews it, call 1-800-347-2683 right away and explain the mistake. If Discover has already reviewed your request, you can't change it, but you can request again with correct information. Wait at least a few weeks between requests to avoid multiple hard inquiries.