When you apply for a credit card, the issuer will ask for your home address so they can send it to you. The problem is that some people don’t have an address as simple as “123 Main St.” If you live in a dorm, an apartment complex, or another type of residence where residents share a single mailbox, you might not be able to provide the zip code with your address. Fortunately, this doesn’t prevent you from getting the card and using it to build a strong credit history. When applying for a credit card, you generally won’t be able to get one if you don’t have a street address which brings up an important point: Even if your current residence doesn’t have an assigned zip code, it still almost certainly has an official address. When filling out your application, just leave the zip code fields blank and continue on with the rest of the form.
How To Bypass Zip Code On Credit Card
Apply Without the Zip Code
If you live in an area that doesn’t have a zip code or if you’re applying for a credit card from a different state, where the zip codes won’t match your address you can leave the zip code fields blank and proceed with your application as normal. If you’re trying to apply for a credit card with a major issuer such as American Express, Capital One, Discover, or Chase, you won’t need to worry about leaving the zip code fields blank. However, you should be prepared to provide an alternative form of verification such as a utility bill or a residential receipt (RDR) which we’ll cover in more detail later in this piece.
Get the Card, Then Add the Zip Code
If you’re taking a proactive approach to applying for a new credit card, you might want to consider applying without a zip code in the hopes of getting the card and then adding the info later. If you request a replacement credit card after receiving the original, the new card will likely have the correct address. We don’t recommend this approach for the reasons we outline later in this article, but it’s one way to get the card and the credit history at the same time.
Bypass the Zip Code with a P.O. Box
If your address is a PO Box, you can enter that as your address instead of a street address. Most major credit card issuers allow PO Boxes as valid addresses, so this is a good option if you don’t have a real address to use. However, keep in mind that PO Boxes have their drawbacks. For one thing, they’re not as secure as mailing an address. If someone gets ahold of your mailbox key, they might be able to see what you receive in the mail — like your credit card statements. They’re also less reliable than a real address when it comes to receiving important documents such as tax forms.
Bypass the Zip Code with a Co-Signer
If you’re under 21 years old and applying for your first credit card, you can bypass the zip code requirement by having a parent or legal guardian co-sign the card application with you. This is a common strategy used by young adults who have no credit history, as it is easy and convenient to set up. Once you have a good track record of making payments on time and using your credit responsibly, you can apply for your own card. At that point, you can either get a new card with the co-signer’s name removed, or you can try to get the issuer to transfer the account to your own name.
Bypass the Zip Code with an Individual Address Record
If you’ve tried all of the above options and are still unable to get a credit card with a valid address, you can create an Individual Address Record (IAR). When applying for a credit card with an IAR, you’ll have to provide a host of documents confirming your identity and residency, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, utility bill, or a recent property tax bill.
Bypass The Zip Code With A Residency Certification
Find a credit card issuer that allows you to bypass the zip code requirement
Banks can be strict about the zip code requirement, but if you’re persistent and offer them a good reason why you need to bypass it, they may be willing to help. For example, if you live in an apartment building or a dormitory that doesn’t have a street address, try contacting the bank directly and explaining your situation. You may find that they are willing to make an exception for you.
Apply for a credit card with an Individual Address Record
If your bank does not allow PO Boxes as addresses and does not accept IARs, then there is only one other option: apply for an individual address record (IAR). This involves providing additional documentation when applying for the card (such as driver’s licenses or state-issued ID cards), so be sure to have all of these documents at hand before starting your application process. Also, note that this method may take longer than using other methods because most banks will want to confirm your identity through several different methods.
Use a co-signer
If you’re applying for a credit card with a co-signer, the co-signer must have good credit and at least two years of history on their own credit card account to qualify.
Apply for a credit card with an Individual Address Record
If your bank does not allow PO Boxes as addresses and does not accept IARs, then there is only one other option: apply for an individual address record (IAR). This involves providing additional documentation when applying for the card (such as driver’s licenses or state-issued ID cards), so be sure to have all of these documents at hand before starting your application process. Also, note that this method may take longer than using other methods because most banks will want to confirm your identity through several different methods.
Conclusion
The zip code may seem like a small and insignificant detail, but it’s a requirement on all credit card applications. If you’re in a situation where you can’t provide your zip code or if you just don’t want to it’s important to know how to work around the problem. There are several ways to get around the zip code requirement, such as applying without the zip code, getting a PO box, co-signing, creating an Individual Address Record, or obtaining a Residency Certification. These methods may require additional documentation, but they’re simple ways to get around the zip code requirement and get a credit card.
