Updated: October 2026
Most Malaysian banks let you apply for a credit card fully online. The minimum age and income rules from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) are the same at every bank. You pick a card that suits you, check that you meet the income requirement, and gather a few documents (normally your IC and payslips). Then you fill in an online form and wait for the bank to get back to you.
Who Can Apply
A principal credit card is the main card in your name. To get one, you need to be at least 21 years old and earn at least RM24,000 a year. That's RM2,000 a month.
If your annual income is RM36,000 or less (RM3,000 monthly), BNM adds two extra limits. You can hold credit cards from two banks at most. Each bank can set your credit limit (the maximum you're allowed to spend on the card) at no more than twice your monthly income. So if you earn RM2,500 a month, your credit limit per bank is capped at RM5,000. Retirees are exempt from the income requirement and from both limits.
Once your income goes above RM36,000 a year, these limits no longer apply. There's no limit on how many banks you can hold cards with.
Some cards have higher income requirements. The Maybank 2 Gold Cards, for example, need RM2,500 a month and a Maybank account, and the Maybank 2 Platinum Cards need RM5,000 a month.
Eligibility Summary
| Requirement | Detail |
| Minimum age | 21 years old |
| Minimum annual income | RM24,000 (RM2,000/month) |
| Exceptions | Retirees and applicants who can't prove their income (fixed deposit card) |
| Maximum banks if income ≤ RM36,000/year | 2 banks |
| Credit limit cap if income ≤ RM36,000/year | 2x monthly income per bank |
| Limits stop applying above | RM36,000/year |
Documents The Bank Asks For
Your IC. Banks need a copy of the front and back of your IC (your MyKad).
If you're not Malaysian. Banks take your passport instead. Hong Leong Bank, for example, asks for a passport valid for at least six months. It also asks for proof of employment, either a work permit valid for at least six months or a letter from your employer dated within the last three months. Some cards set a higher income for you. Maybank asks for RM60,000 a year on its Maybank 2 Gold Cards, against RM30,000 for Malaysians.
Proof of income. Banks may ask for your last three months of payslips or an EPF statement, and some also ask for bank statements that show your salary. For example, Hong Leong Bank asks Malaysians for either an EPF statement showing six months of contributions or your last three months of payslips. If you don't work for a large multinational, Hong Leong Bank also asks for one more document, such as three months of bank statements showing your salary. Alliance Bank takes an EPF statement with 13 months of contributions for its Visa Virtual Credit Card.
If you just started a new job, you may not have three months of payslips yet. Hong Leong Bank lists a letter of employment among the documents for employed applicants. Alliance Bank takes only your latest payslip for the Alliance card if you work for a multinational, a listed company, or a government-linked company.
If you're self-employed, banks ask for your business registration documents plus proof of income. That's six months of bank statements, your latest Form B (the income tax return that self-employed people file), or both. Maybank's application form asks for both. Hong Leong Bank accepts either, and so does the Alliance card.
If you're paid in cash and have no payslips, ask the bank about a fixed deposit card (which banks also call a secured credit card). You place a fixed deposit with the bank equal to your credit limit, and you don't need to prove your income. The deposit stays with the bank for as long as you hold the card. Not every bank offers this, but those that do must tell you about the deposit requirement. Hong Leong Bank offers a fixed deposit card.
Checklist Before You Apply
- Check that your income meets the card's own threshold
- Review your CCRIS report for any errors or unresolved late payments
- Choose a card based on how you spend, not just the sign-up bonus
How To Apply Online
Choosing A Card
Start with the eligibility tool, which lists the cards you're most likely to be accepted for. Then use the credit card comparison tool to browse by card type or bank, and compare each card's minimum income and annual fee. Pick the card that matches how you spend. If you mostly pay for petrol and groceries, a cashback card pays you more than a travel card. If you fly a few times a year, choose a travel card with free airport lounge access. If you'd rather avoid conventional interest altogether, consider Islamic credit cards. They charge profit instead of interest on unpaid balances. BNM's eligibility rules apply to Islamic cards as well.
Filling In The Application
Click "Apply Now" on the card you want. You'll be taken to either the bank's own application page or a RinggitPlus form that continues on WhatsApp. If you apply through RinggitPlus, you'll get an email with instructions to finish your application with the bank. If it isn't in your inbox, check your promotions or spam folder.
Under personal details, a bank form asks for your full name as shown on your IC, IC number, address, and contact number. Under employment details, it asks for your employer's name, nature of business, and monthly income. Some forms also ask about your existing financial commitments, such as ongoing loans.
After you fill in the form, the bank asks for soft copies of your IC and income documents. Hong Leong Bank lets you upload them as part of the application or upload them later. Some banks let you apply in their mobile app. Alliance Bank's card is app-only. You scan your IC and upload your income documents in its app.
After You Submit
Maybank tells applicants to expect a status update by SMS or email within 10 working days, and lets you track your application online. Hong Leong Bank says it needs about seven working days once it has your documents, and lets you track your application online too. If you applied through RinggitPlus, check your status with the bank.
Before the bank decides, it must check your identity and the details you gave. The bank may also call you to confirm your application.
If approved, the bank sends you the card. Hong Leong Bank delivers within 10 business days of approval. You activate the card yourself and set your six-digit PIN. Unless you opt out in writing, the bank will send an alert the first time you use the card.
How The Bank Decides Whether To Approve You
When a bank receives your application, BNM requires it to check your Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) report. It must also consider whether you can afford the repayments.
How CCRIS Works
CCRIS is a database managed by BNM. It tracks your repayment history across all participating financial institutions. This includes your outstanding loans, credit card balances, and whether you've paid on time over the past 12 months.
A clean CCRIS record, meaning consistent on-time payments, tells the bank you can manage credit. Missed payments appear on the report as arrears, a formal term for overdue payments. BNM tells banks to avoid giving more credit to someone who already has trouble repaying existing credit. You can check your own CCRIS for free at eccris.bnm.gov.my.
If this is your first credit application and you have no credit history, you may struggle to qualify because the bank has nothing to assess. This isn't the same as a bad record. If you get an unexpected rejection with no obvious cause, this could be why. A fixed deposit card can help, because the bank holds your deposit in case you don't repay. A rejection from one bank doesn't mean other banks will say no, because each has its own lending policy.
What Other Credit Reports Show
Banks may check a report from a credit reporting agency, such as Credit Bureau Malaysia, CTOS, or Experian. These are private companies that keep credit records. Their reports can show court cases and bankruptcy records, which CCRIS doesn't, because the agencies collect them from the courts and the Insolvency Department.
If Your Application Gets Rejected
Common reasons for rejection include:
- Income below the card's own threshold, even if it meets BNM's minimum
- A high debt service ratio, which means too much of your monthly income is already going towards existing loan repayments (check yours with the DSR calculator, which asks for your pay before tax and EPF deductions)
- Late payment history on CCRIS
- Too many credit applications in a short period
- Incomplete or missing documents
If you're declined, ask the bank why. It may not give you a reason. Maybank's application form says it can turn you down without giving a reason. If the bank relied on a credit reporting agency's report, you have the right to be told which agency. For income-related rejections, look for a card with a lower minimum income. For CCRIS-related rejections, clear any outstanding payments and check your CCRIS report before applying again.
Adding A Family Member To Your Card
If you want to add a family member to your account (a spouse, parent, or child), you can apply for a supplementary card. It has its own card number but draws from the same credit limit as yours.
The supplementary cardholder doesn't need to meet any income requirements. Banks such as Hong Leong Bank require them to be at least 18 years old. As the principal cardholder, you remain responsible for all charges on both cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I close a card, can I apply with a different bank?
Yes, once the closure shows in your CCRIS report. BNM's credit card policy document says you can close a card at any time with no fee. If your annual income is RM36,000 or below, closing a card lets you apply to another bank. Banks report to CCRIS once a month, so check your CCRIS report to confirm the closure before applying with a new bank.
Does applying for a credit card affect my CCRIS record?
BNM's CCRIS FAQ says your CCRIS report shows pending and approved applications from the last 12 months. Rejected applications don't show. If you apply to several banks at once, all of the applications show as pending at the same time. The next bank can see them. Apply for one card at a time and wait for the bank's decision before applying for another.
What happens to my credit limit after a salary increment?
Your credit limit doesn't rise automatically. You need to request a limit increase from your bank, for example through its app or internet banking. The bank will ask for updated income documents to verify the increment before adjusting your limit.
Is there an annual fee, and can it be waived?
Many cards charge an annual fee, and many banks will waive it if you spend enough or make enough transactions in a year. Some cards are free for life with no conditions.
There's also a government service tax of RM25 per card per year, which applies even if the bank waives its own fee.
