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

Bank Norwegian Visa – The all-round fee-free travel credit card with no extra checking account. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: +15 € · Rating: 9.4/10
Consors Credit Card Gold Light – Free credit card with the Consorsbank account and fee-free withdrawals worldwide. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 9.4/10
TF Bank Mastercard Gold – Free travel credit card with included travel insurance and a long payment period. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 9.2/10
Easybank Kreditkarte – Flexible credit card with no account requirement — successor to the Barclays Visa. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.8/10
Deutschland-Kreditkarte Classic – Well-known free Visa credit card with no account requirement, recommended by Stiftung Warentest. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: +15 € · Rating: 8.7/10
Trade Republic Karte – Debit card for the Trade Republic account with 1% Saveback into your savings plan. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.6/10
C24 Smart Debitkarte – Free debit card with the C24 Smart account and fee-free payments worldwide. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
awa7 Visa – Sustainable free credit card — a tree is planted for every payment. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
BBVA Kreditkarte Classic – Fee-free credit card with free worldwide withdrawals and a German IBAN. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
DKB Visa Debitkarte – Popular debit card with the DKB account — free for active customers. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Hanseatic Bank GenialCard – Popular fee-free credit card with free worldwide withdrawals. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Santander BestCard – Free charge card with no foreign currency fee on payments. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Consors Visa Debit – Free debit card with the Consorsbank account and a German IBAN. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
GMX Mastercard Gold – Free gold credit card with travel insurance and free worldwide withdrawals. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10
Revolut Standard – Digital debit card with real-time exchange rates for travel and online payments. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
Klarna Card – Free Visa debit card with no foreign currency fee, ideal for online shopping. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
Norisbank Kreditkarte Standard – Credit card with the Norisbank account — free for active customers, fee-free worldwide. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
N26 Standard – Free mobile account with debit card and a German IBAN. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.4/10
American Express Blue Card – Free Amex with cashback and Membership Rewards — note the limited acceptance. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 6.8/10
Amazon Visa – Credit card for Amazon fans with boosted points for Prime members. Annual fee: 0 € · Bonus: — · Rating: 6.6/10

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.

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