Can students get a credit card?

Yes. Debit and prepaid cards are mostly available without a credit check. True credit cards with a credit line require a regular income – here balance or debit versions are often the simpler choice.

Which card makes sense for a semester abroad?

A card with no foreign currency fee and free cash withdrawals abroad. That avoids unnecessary fees when paying locally.

Student Credit Cards 2026

For students, one thing matters most: no ongoing costs. A good student card has no annual fee and waives foreign currency fees – perfect for a semester abroad, travel and online shopping. Debit and prepaid versions also avoid credit hurdles.

Who is it for?

For students, trainees and young people looking for a free, everyday card without fixed costs.

What to look out for

No annual fee
No foreign currency fee for a semester abroad
Low credit hurdles where possible (debit/prepaid)
Mobile payment and a good app

Recommendations compared

Trade Republic Card – Debit card for the Trade Republic account with 1% Saveback into your savings plan. Score: 9.5/10 (Excellent) · Top rated · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.6/10
Consors Credit Card Gold Light – Free credit card with the Consorsbank account and fee-free withdrawals worldwide. Score: 9.2/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 9.4/10
C24 Smart Debit Card – Free debit card with the C24 Smart account and fee-free payments worldwide. Score: 9.2/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
DKB Visa Debit Card – Popular debit card with the DKB account — free for active customers. Score: 9.1/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Consors Visa Debit – Free debit card with the Consorsbank account and a German IBAN. Score: 9.1/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Klarna Card – Free Visa debit card with no foreign currency fee, ideal for online shopping. Score: 9.0/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
BBVA Credit Card Classic – Fee-free credit card with free worldwide withdrawals and a German IBAN. Score: 8.9/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
Deutschland-Kreditkarte Classic – Well-known free Visa credit card with no account requirement, recommended by Stiftung Warentest. Score: 8.9/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.7/10
Hanseatic Bank GenialCard – Popular fee-free credit card with free worldwide withdrawals. Score: 8.9/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Easybank Credit Card – Flexible credit card with no account requirement — successor to the Barclays Visa. Score: 8.8/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.8/10
Bank Norwegian Visa – The all-round fee-free travel credit card with no extra checking account. Score: 8.6/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: +15 € · Rating: 9.4/10
TF Bank Mastercard Gold – Free travel credit card with included travel insurance and a long payment period. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 9.2/10
Revolut Standard – Digital debit card with real-time exchange rates for travel and online payments. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
N26 Standard – Free mobile account with debit card and a German IBAN. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.4/10
Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold – Permanently free genuine credit card with travel insurance — ideal when repaid in full each month. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.3/10
GMX Mastercard Gold – Free gold credit card with travel insurance and free worldwide withdrawals. Score: 8.4/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
awa7 Visa – Sustainable free credit card — a tree is planted for every payment. Score: 7.7/10 (Good) · Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10

All information without guarantee (continuously updated). Conditions may change – the provider's details are always decisive. No affiliate links.

Frequently asked questions

Can students get a credit card?: Yes. Debit and prepaid cards are mostly available without a credit check. True credit cards with a credit line require a regular income – here balance or debit versions are often the simpler choice.
Which card makes sense for a semester abroad?: A card with no foreign currency fee and free cash withdrawals abroad. That avoids unnecessary fees when paying locally.

Which card suits you best?

Use your personal usage profile to calculate the real annual cost of every card.

Go to the calculator