How to choose a (first) credit card
Last updated: 3 Aug 2025
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Today, we'll discuss choosing the right credit card for those looking for their first credit card. However, many people struggle with how to apply for their first credit card. There are a wide variety of credit card products available, designed to suit different lifestyles, including cards focused on cashback, rewards points, and restaurant discounts.
We've therefore shared some great tips for getting started with your first credit card. We guarantee that by the end of this article, you'll be able to choose the right credit card for you, even without carrying cash.
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Why is it important to consider your first credit card?
Your first credit card is more important than you might think. It's the gateway to future loan applications. As you know, when financial institutions approve a loan, they check your past debt history through the credit bureau system. If you have no prior credit history, loan approval or applying for your first credit card can be challenging, even if you have excellent financial discipline and a consistent monthly savings.
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How to Prepare for Your First Credit Card
The process for applying for your first credit card is straightforward. First, check your qualifications to ensure your salary, age, and employment history meet the financial institution's requirements. Salary is particularly important. If you don't meet the legal minimum, your first credit card application will likely be rejected because financial institutions believe that approval is a high risk of non-performing loans.
Once you're certain you'll qualify, carefully study the required documentation. Each profession has different requirements for preparing documents, but those with a steady salary tend to have easier approvals for their first credit card.
___________________________________________
Qualifications for first credit card applicants
The requirements for a first credit card are as follows:
1. Age between 20 and 70 years
2. Salary of 15,000 baht or more
3. Work experience of 4-6 months or more (depending on the financial institution's conditions)
___________________________________________
Tips for Choosing the Right First Credit Card
Now that you've learned the basics of how to prepare for your first credit card and what documents are required, if you're confused about choosing the right first credit card, let's find out.
___________________________________________
1. Choose according to your lifestyle. This type of credit card focuses on meeting your lifestyle needs, offering cashback and reward points based on spending in relevant categories. If you spend outside of these categories, you won't receive any benefits. So, before choosing your first credit card, we recommend you explore your lifestyle first.
Travelers
Those who frequently travel internationally will likely come across the terms "mileage accumulation" and "lounge." These are the terms used in travel cards. Mileage accumulation refers to the conversion of miles traveled into credit card points. When you reach a certain number of points, you may receive special tickets or cabin upgrades, making your life even more luxurious.
Lounge: Airline lounges are a must-have for those who enjoy a meal in one of these lounges. The food is delicious, and the view and atmosphere are stunning. Perfect for Instagram snaps while you wait for your flight.
Foodies
Foodie cards are easy to identify. When you hear the words "restaurant," "shabu, and grilled food," you're almost guaranteed to find a foodie card. The benefits of these cards are quite compelling, such as "come 4, pay 2" or special menus when you swipe your card at a designated financial institution.
Shoppers
If you come across a credit card with the slogan "Buy and get 10x points," you're guaranteed to find it a card for shoppers. However, you must shop within the designated categories, or you'll miss out on the extra points.
Fuel Line
This credit card focuses on fueling at participating gas stations, offering special privileges such as discounts or cash back, subject to terms and conditions. You may also use your card points to purchase other products.
___________________________________________
2. Choose by Card Type
Applicants for first-time credit cards or those applying for a new credit card must understand the different types of cards. Each type offers different benefits, and they can be divided into two main groups:
Cash Back
Those who are frugal and aim to save money every month should definitely consider their first credit card that focuses on cash back. This type of credit card offers cash back based on spending. For example, you'll receive 10% cash back on participating purchases, or 2% cash back on purchases outside of the participating programs.
This may not seem like a lot, but consider this: if you use a credit card that offers 1% cash back on spending in one year, that means if you spend 100,000 baht throughout the year, you'll receive 1,000 baht in cash back. This 1,000 baht can be used to buy clothes or other favorite items.
Rewards
A clearly distinctive feature of credit cards that focus on rewards is their high rewards points, such as double points when purchasing participating products. These points can be redeemed for gifts. Or, you can use it as a discount.
Friends often compare the advantages of rewards and cash-back credit cards to find out which type of first credit card is best. The answer depends primarily on your lifestyle. This means that if you're not into shopping, traveling, or any particular activities, applying for a cash-back credit card for the first time is recommended. No matter what category you spend, you'll receive cash back, unless you swipe your card at a participating merchant, which offers extra cash back.
However, if you enjoy eating, traveling, and traveling abroad regularly, applying for a rewards credit card for the first time is recommended. This offers high rewards points when spending in related categories, allowing you to redeem gifts and receive more valuable benefits.
0% Installment Plans
Most credit cards offer 0% installment plans for up to 10 months on participating products. However, those who have been using credit cards for a long time know that each card offers different installment plans. Some cards offer a limited number of products, while some credit cards from other financial institutions offer installment plans for almost every product.
Therefore, if you're applying for your first credit card and are interested in the 0% installment plan for 10 months, you should choose a card that offers a wide range of products to ensure you get the right product. And the one that best suits you.
___________________________________________
3. Choose by Card Network
The credit card payment network is one factor to consider when applying for your first credit card. Swiping your credit card in Thailand may not be a big deal, as almost all credit card networks are accepted in Thailand. However, when traveling abroad, the credit card network becomes even more important. If the payment terminal doesn't support that network, you won't be able to use your credit card.
Familiar credit card networks include Mastercard, JCB, and UnionPay, which are often displayed on the card itself. Each network has its own unique features, as follows:
Mastercard Credit Card
This credit card network from the United States supports use in over 200 countries worldwide. It's particularly popular in the European Union. Those planning to travel or study in these countries should consider getting a Mastercard as their first credit card, as they offer many privileges, such as travel insurance, online shopping protection, and global data roaming.
JCB Credit Card
This Japanese credit card network supports use in over 190 countries worldwide, but offers special benefits for tourists visiting Japan, as the JCB network supports almost everything in Japan, from restaurants to hot springs and shopping in department stores. It also offers various benefits, such as car rentals, bookings with partner merchants, or airport lounge access.
UnionPay Credit Card
UnionPay is a Chinese credit card network, a relatively new and growing network, with global transaction volume surpassing Mastercard. UnionPay supports payments in 181 countries worldwide and offers special benefits such as multiplexed cashback points for transactions in China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
___________________________________________
4. Choose a year-round promotion.
Financial institutions often offer initial credit card benefits to attract new members, such as 5x points or higher cashback for spending at a certain minimum amount. However, once the promotion period ends, users often complain about the lack of new promotions. This problem is solved if you choose to apply for the first credit card with a year-round promotion.
An example of a credit card that offers year-round promotions is the Krungsri Credit Card, which offers monthly discount codes at participating online merchants, allowing users to shop online at even lower prices.
___________________________________________
5. Don't forget to check the fees.
First-time credit card applicants often miss the annual fee, unknowingly being charged a fee. Each credit card has different fee requirements. For example, some cards waive annual fees, eliminating the need to worry about spending limits.
Other types of cards charge an annual fee. For example, if your annual spending exceeds 100,000 baht, the fee will be waived. If your spending falls below this limit, a 10,000 baht fee will be charged. Therefore, when using a credit card like this, it's important to carefully calculate your spending to ensure it meets the financial institution's stated limit. Otherwise, you'll be charged a fee.
___________________________________________
6. Don't forget to compare interest rates.
Although credit cards charge interest rates as high as 16% per annum, during promotional periods, financial institutions may offer interest rates lower than 16% per annum to attract first-time jobbers to apply for their first credit card.
So, if you're waiting for the right time to apply for your first credit card, we recommend applying during a promotional period. In addition to the temporary lower interest rate, you may also receive a small gift for your significant other.
___________________________________________
7. Don't forget to check your card's usage restrictions.
First-time credit card users may not realize that credit cards have usage restrictions. For example, if you're using a cash-back credit card with a 15% cashback offer at a participating merchant, the merchant may require you to spend over 1,000 baht to qualify for the cashback.
In addition to the merchant's terms and conditions, there are also limits on the amount of cashback you can receive each month. Many recent graduates believe that the more you spend, the more cash you'll get. This is not the case. This is because cash back credit cards have different cash back limits. For example, the maximum cash back limit is 1,000 baht per month.
Rewards credit cards also have similar limitations. For example, they only offer points on travel purchases, but not insurance purchases. They also have a maximum point limit per month.
___________________________________________
Thank you for the great information from Krungsri.
We've therefore shared some great tips for getting started with your first credit card. We guarantee that by the end of this article, you'll be able to choose the right credit card for you, even without carrying cash.
___________________________________________
Why is it important to consider your first credit card?
Your first credit card is more important than you might think. It's the gateway to future loan applications. As you know, when financial institutions approve a loan, they check your past debt history through the credit bureau system. If you have no prior credit history, loan approval or applying for your first credit card can be challenging, even if you have excellent financial discipline and a consistent monthly savings.
___________________________________________
How to Prepare for Your First Credit Card
The process for applying for your first credit card is straightforward. First, check your qualifications to ensure your salary, age, and employment history meet the financial institution's requirements. Salary is particularly important. If you don't meet the legal minimum, your first credit card application will likely be rejected because financial institutions believe that approval is a high risk of non-performing loans.
Once you're certain you'll qualify, carefully study the required documentation. Each profession has different requirements for preparing documents, but those with a steady salary tend to have easier approvals for their first credit card.
___________________________________________
Qualifications for first credit card applicants
The requirements for a first credit card are as follows:
1. Age between 20 and 70 years
2. Salary of 15,000 baht or more
3. Work experience of 4-6 months or more (depending on the financial institution's conditions)
___________________________________________
Tips for Choosing the Right First Credit Card
Now that you've learned the basics of how to prepare for your first credit card and what documents are required, if you're confused about choosing the right first credit card, let's find out.
___________________________________________
1. Choose according to your lifestyle. This type of credit card focuses on meeting your lifestyle needs, offering cashback and reward points based on spending in relevant categories. If you spend outside of these categories, you won't receive any benefits. So, before choosing your first credit card, we recommend you explore your lifestyle first.
Travelers
Those who frequently travel internationally will likely come across the terms "mileage accumulation" and "lounge." These are the terms used in travel cards. Mileage accumulation refers to the conversion of miles traveled into credit card points. When you reach a certain number of points, you may receive special tickets or cabin upgrades, making your life even more luxurious.
Lounge: Airline lounges are a must-have for those who enjoy a meal in one of these lounges. The food is delicious, and the view and atmosphere are stunning. Perfect for Instagram snaps while you wait for your flight.
Foodies
Foodie cards are easy to identify. When you hear the words "restaurant," "shabu, and grilled food," you're almost guaranteed to find a foodie card. The benefits of these cards are quite compelling, such as "come 4, pay 2" or special menus when you swipe your card at a designated financial institution.
Shoppers
If you come across a credit card with the slogan "Buy and get 10x points," you're guaranteed to find it a card for shoppers. However, you must shop within the designated categories, or you'll miss out on the extra points.
Fuel Line
This credit card focuses on fueling at participating gas stations, offering special privileges such as discounts or cash back, subject to terms and conditions. You may also use your card points to purchase other products.
___________________________________________
2. Choose by Card Type
Applicants for first-time credit cards or those applying for a new credit card must understand the different types of cards. Each type offers different benefits, and they can be divided into two main groups:
Cash Back
Those who are frugal and aim to save money every month should definitely consider their first credit card that focuses on cash back. This type of credit card offers cash back based on spending. For example, you'll receive 10% cash back on participating purchases, or 2% cash back on purchases outside of the participating programs.
This may not seem like a lot, but consider this: if you use a credit card that offers 1% cash back on spending in one year, that means if you spend 100,000 baht throughout the year, you'll receive 1,000 baht in cash back. This 1,000 baht can be used to buy clothes or other favorite items.
Rewards
A clearly distinctive feature of credit cards that focus on rewards is their high rewards points, such as double points when purchasing participating products. These points can be redeemed for gifts. Or, you can use it as a discount.
Friends often compare the advantages of rewards and cash-back credit cards to find out which type of first credit card is best. The answer depends primarily on your lifestyle. This means that if you're not into shopping, traveling, or any particular activities, applying for a cash-back credit card for the first time is recommended. No matter what category you spend, you'll receive cash back, unless you swipe your card at a participating merchant, which offers extra cash back.
However, if you enjoy eating, traveling, and traveling abroad regularly, applying for a rewards credit card for the first time is recommended. This offers high rewards points when spending in related categories, allowing you to redeem gifts and receive more valuable benefits.
0% Installment Plans
Most credit cards offer 0% installment plans for up to 10 months on participating products. However, those who have been using credit cards for a long time know that each card offers different installment plans. Some cards offer a limited number of products, while some credit cards from other financial institutions offer installment plans for almost every product.
Therefore, if you're applying for your first credit card and are interested in the 0% installment plan for 10 months, you should choose a card that offers a wide range of products to ensure you get the right product. And the one that best suits you.
___________________________________________
3. Choose by Card Network
The credit card payment network is one factor to consider when applying for your first credit card. Swiping your credit card in Thailand may not be a big deal, as almost all credit card networks are accepted in Thailand. However, when traveling abroad, the credit card network becomes even more important. If the payment terminal doesn't support that network, you won't be able to use your credit card.
Familiar credit card networks include Mastercard, JCB, and UnionPay, which are often displayed on the card itself. Each network has its own unique features, as follows:
Mastercard Credit Card
This credit card network from the United States supports use in over 200 countries worldwide. It's particularly popular in the European Union. Those planning to travel or study in these countries should consider getting a Mastercard as their first credit card, as they offer many privileges, such as travel insurance, online shopping protection, and global data roaming.
JCB Credit Card
This Japanese credit card network supports use in over 190 countries worldwide, but offers special benefits for tourists visiting Japan, as the JCB network supports almost everything in Japan, from restaurants to hot springs and shopping in department stores. It also offers various benefits, such as car rentals, bookings with partner merchants, or airport lounge access.
UnionPay Credit Card
UnionPay is a Chinese credit card network, a relatively new and growing network, with global transaction volume surpassing Mastercard. UnionPay supports payments in 181 countries worldwide and offers special benefits such as multiplexed cashback points for transactions in China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
___________________________________________
4. Choose a year-round promotion.
Financial institutions often offer initial credit card benefits to attract new members, such as 5x points or higher cashback for spending at a certain minimum amount. However, once the promotion period ends, users often complain about the lack of new promotions. This problem is solved if you choose to apply for the first credit card with a year-round promotion.
An example of a credit card that offers year-round promotions is the Krungsri Credit Card, which offers monthly discount codes at participating online merchants, allowing users to shop online at even lower prices.
___________________________________________
5. Don't forget to check the fees.
First-time credit card applicants often miss the annual fee, unknowingly being charged a fee. Each credit card has different fee requirements. For example, some cards waive annual fees, eliminating the need to worry about spending limits.
Other types of cards charge an annual fee. For example, if your annual spending exceeds 100,000 baht, the fee will be waived. If your spending falls below this limit, a 10,000 baht fee will be charged. Therefore, when using a credit card like this, it's important to carefully calculate your spending to ensure it meets the financial institution's stated limit. Otherwise, you'll be charged a fee.
___________________________________________
6. Don't forget to compare interest rates.
Although credit cards charge interest rates as high as 16% per annum, during promotional periods, financial institutions may offer interest rates lower than 16% per annum to attract first-time jobbers to apply for their first credit card.
So, if you're waiting for the right time to apply for your first credit card, we recommend applying during a promotional period. In addition to the temporary lower interest rate, you may also receive a small gift for your significant other.
___________________________________________
7. Don't forget to check your card's usage restrictions.
First-time credit card users may not realize that credit cards have usage restrictions. For example, if you're using a cash-back credit card with a 15% cashback offer at a participating merchant, the merchant may require you to spend over 1,000 baht to qualify for the cashback.
In addition to the merchant's terms and conditions, there are also limits on the amount of cashback you can receive each month. Many recent graduates believe that the more you spend, the more cash you'll get. This is not the case. This is because cash back credit cards have different cash back limits. For example, the maximum cash back limit is 1,000 baht per month.
Rewards credit cards also have similar limitations. For example, they only offer points on travel purchases, but not insurance purchases. They also have a maximum point limit per month.
___________________________________________
Thank you for the great information from Krungsri.
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