Can I apply for a credit card after discharge?
William Jenkins
Updated on February 13, 2026
You can apply for a credit card after your bankruptcy has been completed, or discharged, but you’ll likely only be approved for a couple types of cards. These include secured cards that require a refundable deposit and subprime cards designed for people with bad credit.
How soon can I apply for a credit card after Chapter 7?
about 3 months
How Long After Bankruptcy Can I Get a Credit Card?
| Type of Bankruptcy | When You Can Apply for Credit Card |
|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | After about 3 months |
| Chapter 13 | After 3-5 Years |
Can you use a credit card after filing Chapter 7?
If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, can you keep a credit card so you can use it afterward? While it generally is not a good idea to keep a credit card in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, in most cases you can do it.
Can I apply for credit before discharge?
Your Bankruptcy Has to Be Discharged Before You Can Apply You cannot apply for any new lines of credit—including a credit card—while your bankruptcy proceedings are in progress without court approval. After that, you can apply for a credit card.
What happens to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case after a discharge?
A Chapter 7 case will remain open after the discharge if the Chapter 7 trustee appointed to the matter needs additional time to sell assets or if the case involves litigation. In many Chapter 7 cases, the debtor keeps all property because the debtor’s assets are exempt.
Can a credit card debt be discharged in bankruptcy?
Credit card debts are unsecured debts and generally dischargeable in a bankruptcy case. But, that doesn’t mean you can max out your cards as you’re getting ready to file your case. Debts incurred with the intent to discharge them in bankruptcy are not erased.
Can you discharge debts in a chapter 13 bankruptcy?
A slightly broader discharge of debts is available to a debtor in a chapter 13 case than in a chapter 7 case.
When to stop using credit cards before filing Chapter 7 in?
Let’s Summarize… It’s time to stop using your credit cards once you know that you’re going to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy and at least 90 days before filing, if possible. You can’t max out credit cards before bankruptcy just because you’re about to file.
