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Best Credit Cards in Germany 2026 (Also for Foreigners)

The same free cards that top every "best credit card in Germany" list also work with zero Schufa history. Your foreign bank card charging 3% on every purchase? We ranked the top cards for everyone in Germany, debit and credit, and marked which ones work without German citizenship or credit history.

Key Takeaways

  • Several German cards charge no annual fee. Revolut and N26 both state 0 EUR per month for their entry plans (provider figures, August 2026).
  • Debit and prepaid cards carry no credit line, so no creditworthiness check is required. A real credit card with a spending limit always needs one.
  • Watch cash withdrawals, not just the annual fee. The Hanseatic GenialCard is free abroad but costs 3.95 EUR at German ATMs, and the easybank Visa stays free only from 50 EUR per withdrawal.
  • The BaFin puts it plainly: banks assess default risk before granting credit. No issuer in Germany may skip that step.
  • If you pay your balance in full each month, instalment interest never applies. The rate itself is in the issuer's price list.

Last updated: · CheckAlle.de Editorial Team

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Compare Credit Cards for Foreigners

Find the right card for your situation. Filter by Schufa requirement, annual fee, and card type.

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Your 3 options as a foreigner

Not every card works the same way. What you can get depends on your Schufa status and how long you have been in Germany. Need a step-by-step application walkthrough? Jump to how to apply below.

Fintech Debit Cards

No Schufa Required

  • N26, Wise, Revolut, Trade Republic
  • Virtual card within minutes
  • English apps, Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Works for online payments, subscriptions
Best for Newcomers

Credit Cards

Flexible Schufa Approval

  • easybank Visa, GenialCard, TF Bank
  • Real credit line (spend now, pay later)
  • Cash withdrawal rules differ per provider, check the price list
  • Needed for hotel/car rental deposits
Best After 6-12 Months

Prepaid Cards

Last Resort Only

  • Issuing fee on top of the annual fee
  • Annual fees and ATM charges on top
  • Does not build your Schufa record
  • Free debit cards do the same thing for 0
Not Recommended

If you truly need one, see our prepaid credit card comparison for Germany for a fee-by-fee breakdown.

Tip: If your main priority is paying zero annual fees long-term, see our free credit cards in Germany comparison — a dedicated guide to permanently fee-free cards from both banks and fintechs, including virtual and instant options. For the broader market including premium travel cards, see the full comparison below.

Top Debit Cards Without Schufa

Recommended for Newcomers

These work like credit cards for everyday payments but charge your account right away. No credit check, no waiting period.

N26 Standard

Best for Newcomers

Mastercard Debit

Annual Fee0
SchufaNot Required
English AppYes
Virtual CardInstant
Free ATMSee price list

German IBAN, instant virtual card, Apple Pay and Google Pay ready

Wise

Best Multi-Currency

Visa Debit

Annual Fee0
SchufaNot Required
Currencies50+ supported
IBANBelgian (EUR)
Free ATMSee price list

Best exchange rates, send money home cheaply

easybank Visa (ex-Barclays)

Best All-Rounder

Visa Credit Card

Annual Fee0 EUR
SchufaRequired (flexible)
Cash withdrawalsFree worldwide from 50 EUR
Interest-FreeUp to 59 days
Foreign Fees0 %
Effective APR21.21 %

Long interest-free period and a real credit line. Cash stays free from 50 EUR per withdrawal.

easybank price list

Hanseatic GenialCard

Best Starter Credit

Visa Credit Card

Annual Fee0
SchufaRequired (flexible)
Cash withdrawalsFree abroad · 3.95 EUR in Germany
PaymentFlexible partial
Effective APR19.92 %

Good for building credit history, flexible repayment. Cash abroad is free; German ATMs cost 3.95 EUR per withdrawal.

Hanseatic Bank price list

Trade Republic

Best Cashback

Visa Debit

Annual Fee0
SchufaNot Required
Cash withdrawalsSee price list
CashbackSaveback into your savings plan
Credit lineNone (debit)

Cashback goes into your savings plan, and the card pays out of your existing balance.

Trade Republic conditions

Side-by-side comparison

All 7 cards for foreigners in Germany at a glance. Every card has zero annual fee. Not sure whether you need a debit or credit card? Our debit vs credit card guide explains the difference.

CardTypeAnnual FeeSchufaCash withdrawalsEffective APREnglishTerms
N26 Standard
Debit Mastercard
0
No
See price listNo credit linePrice list
Wise
Debit
0
No
See price listNo credit linePrice list
Revolut Standard
Debit
0
No
See price listNo credit linePrice list
Trade Republic
Debit
0
No
See price listNo credit linePrice list
easybank Visa (ex-Barclays)
Credit
0
Yes (flexible)
Free worldwide from 50 EUR21.21 %GermanPrice list
Hanseatic GenialCard
Credit
0
Yes (flexible)
Free abroad · 3.95 EUR in Germany19.92 %GermanPrice list
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
Credit
0
Yes (flexible)
Free worldwide25.09 %GermanPrice list

Every card here has a 0 EUR annual fee. A debit card takes the money from your account straight away. A credit card bills you once a month. The four debit cards have no credit line, so no interest rate applies to them. We checked each figure against the issuer's own price list on 23 August 2026. Conditions change, so open the price list before you apply.

Interest applies only if you pay in instalments. Settle the balance in full each month and no instalment interest is charged. If you do use instalments, these are the rates the issuers publish: easybank Visa 19.39 % borrowing rate / 21.21 % effective annual rate(easybank), Hanseatic GenialCard 18.30 % / 19.92 %(Hanseatic Bank), TF Bank Mastercard Gold 22.60 % / 25.09 %(TF Bank). Each issuer publishes its own binding example and full terms on the page we link to. Read it before you apply.

Not just for foreigners: the full comparison

Looking for the best credit card in Germany overall, not just a no-Schufa starter card? These three add travel insurance, cashback, or a longer track record, and all charge 0 annual fee.

Advanzia Mastercard Gold

Best for travelers

  • 0 EUR annual fee
  • Travel insurance package included
  • Cash withdrawals: interest can start on the day you withdraw. Check the price list first.

Advanzia price list

Hanseatic GenialCard

Best for online shoppers

  • 0 EUR annual fee, 0 % foreign transaction fee
  • Free cash withdrawals abroad, 3.95 EUR per withdrawal inside Germany
  • Good starter credit line for building Schufa
  • Instalments cost 18.30 % borrowing rate, 19.92 % effective annual rate

Hanseatic Bank price list

easybank Visa (ex-Barclays)

Best all-rounder

  • 0 EUR annual fee, 0 % foreign transaction fee
  • Free cash withdrawals worldwide from 50 EUR per withdrawal
  • BAWAG Group bought Barclays Consumer Bank Europe in February 2025 and launched the easybank brand in Germany in February 2026
  • Cards are being reissued in stages, and instalments cost 19.39 % borrowing rate, 21.21 % effective annual rate

easybank price list

Carry a balance instead of paying in full? Interest applies. The issuer states the effective annual rate in its price list, so check that before you switch on instalments. See our full fee breakdown for exact rates per card.

EU citizens vs. non-EU citizens

Your nationality affects what documents you need, but most fintechs treat both groups similarly.

EU citizens

  • Passport or national ID
  • German registered address (Anmeldung)
  • No residence permit needed
  • Can open N26, Wise, Revolut, Trade Republic on day one

Non-EU citizens

  • Passport plus valid residence permit or Blue Card
  • German registered address (Anmeldung)
  • Some banks ask for proof of income
  • Fintechs are less strict than traditional banks

Before Anmeldung: Wise and Revolut let you open an account with just an EU address. You will not get a German IBAN yet, but you can start using the card right away and switch later.

Which card fits your situation?

Just Arrived

0 - 3 Months in Germany

Get: N26 Standard + Wise

  • Open account online in minutes
  • No Schufa needed at all
  • German IBAN for rent and bills
  • Start building Schufa history

Want something even faster? Our virtual credit card guide shows how to get a digital card in under 15 minutes, ready for Apple Pay right away.

Settling In

3 - 12 Months in Germany

Add: Trade Republic

  • Pays out of your existing balance, no credit line
  • Saveback pays your cashback into a savings plan
  • Interest on your cash balance
  • Still no Schufa needed

Established

12+ Months in Germany

Apply: easybank Visa or GenialCard

  • Schufa score now established
  • Real credit line for deposits
  • Cash withdrawal rules differ per provider, check the price list
  • Hotel and car rental deposits accepted

Pro tip: Start with a free debit card on day one. Pay all your bills on time for 6-12 months. Then apply for a real credit card when your Schufa is established. This two-step approach gives you the best chance of approval.

Practical tips for getting started

Getting Your First Card

  1. 1Register your address first: Complete your Anmeldung (city registration). Most card providers need a German address before you can apply.
  2. 2Have your passport ready: VideoIdent requires a valid passport or EU ID. The video call takes about 10 minutes and is available in English.
  3. 3Use your virtual card immediately: Add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay. You can start shopping while the physical card is in the mail.
  4. 4Open two accounts: N26 for daily German banking (IBAN for rent/bills) and Wise for international transfers back home.

Building Your Schufa Score

  1. 5Pay every bill on time: Rent, phone, internet, streaming - every on-time payment builds your Schufa score over time.
  2. 6Get a phone contract: A monthly mobile contract (not prepaid) reports to Schufa and shows regular payment behavior.
  3. 7Do not apply for too many things: Each credit inquiry hits your Schufa. Space applications at least 3 months apart.
  4. 8Check your free Schufa report: Request your free annual Schufa Datenkopie at meineschufa.de to track your progress.

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How to apply for a credit card in Germany

1

Pick a card that fits your situation

Just arrived? Start with N26, Trade Republic, or Revolut (debit, no Schufa). Been here a few months with regular income? Apply for TF Bank Mastercard Gold or Hanseatic GenialCard (real credit line).

2

Apply online (5-10 minutes)

Fill in the application form with your German address, passport details, and income info.

3

Verify your identity (Video-Ident)

Hold your passport up to your phone camera and answer a few questions. Under 10 minutes, works with most international passports.

4

Receive your card

Physical card arrives by mail in 3 to 7 business days. N26, Trade Republic, and Revolut give you a virtual card number right after approval so you can shop online immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions - Credit Cards for Foreigners

Everything you need to know about getting a credit card in Germany as a foreigner

Yes. Fintech debit cards like N26 Standard, Wise, Revolut, and Trade Republic do not require a Schufa check. They function like credit cards for online payments, subscriptions, and in-store purchases. True credit cards with a credit line (easybank Visa, ex-Barclays, or GenialCard) require a Schufa check but accept thin files after 6-12 months in Germany.

N26 Standard is the best choice for newcomers. It is free, requires no Schufa, has a full English app, provides a German IBAN, and issues a virtual card within minutes. You can use it immediately for online payments while waiting for the physical card.

A debit card charges your bank account immediately when you pay. A credit card gives you a spending limit and bills you monthly. Debit cards are easier to get without Schufa history. Credit cards offer purchase protection and are required for hotel or car rental deposits. Both work at most shops and online.

Most German credit and debit cards require a registered German address (Anmeldung). Wise accepts an EU address and issues a Euro account whose IBAN country is shown during signup. N26 requires a German or EU address. For traditional credit cards like easybank Visa (ex-Barclays), a German address and German bank account are mandatory.

Digital banks like N26 and Revolut can issue a virtual card within minutes after identity verification. Physical cards arrive in 5-10 business days. Traditional credit cards (easybank Visa, ex-Barclays, or GenialCard) take 1-3 weeks including identity verification and postal delivery.

Yes, foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work in Germany. However, your home bank may charge a foreign transaction fee on each purchase plus its own exchange rate margin. The exact percentage is in the price list of the bank that issued your card. Getting a German card saves money on daily transactions and is needed for German direct debits (Lastschrift) for rent, utilities, and subscriptions.

Schufa is the German credit scoring agency. It tracks your payment history and assigns a score. When you first arrive in Germany, you have no Schufa record. This makes it harder to get traditional credit cards. Building Schufa takes 6-12 months of paying bills on time. Debit cards from N26 or Wise help build your Schufa record.

Generally not recommended. Prepaid cards typically stack an issuing fee, an annual fee and a withdrawal fee on top of each other. A free debit card from N26, Wise or Revolut usually covers the same everyday uses. Only consider prepaid if you cannot open any bank account, which is rare.

Yes. Student visa holders can open accounts at N26, Wise, and Revolut without income requirements. For traditional credit cards, you typically need regular income. Some banks like DKB offer student accounts with Visa Debit cards. After graduating and starting work, you can apply for credit cards with a credit line.

Open a German bank account (N26 or traditional bank), pay all bills on time (rent, phone, internet), register a mobile phone contract, avoid multiple credit applications in a short period, and use your debit card regularly. After 6-12 months, you should have a sufficient Schufa record to apply for credit cards with a credit line.

For most people the easybank Visa (formerly Barclays) is the safest all-round pick: 0 EUR annual fee, 0 % foreign transaction fee, and free cash withdrawals worldwide once you take out at least 50 EUR. Instalments cost 19.39 % borrowing rate and 21.21 % effective annual rate. Travel a lot? The Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold includes a travel insurance package. New to Germany with no Schufa yet? N26 Standard or Wise work without a credit check.

Related Topics

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Partner Program Notice: CheckAlle.de participates in partner programs with credit card providers. We may receive compensation for successful referrals. This does not affect the products or rates you see. All comparison results are objective and based on actual card features and fees.