An independent magazine for building a life in Germany.
Comparison
Getting a real credit card in Germany is tricky. Here are the best options that work for expats, even without a German credit history.
By Mahiuddin Al Kamal · 5 options
Credit cards in Germany are not like credit cards in the US or UK. Most Germans use their EC-Karte (Girocard) for everyday payments, and true credit cards with a revolving credit line are surprisingly rare. But as an expat, you probably want one for online shopping, international travel, and building a financial safety net.
The challenge: German banks look at your SCHUFA score (credit history) before issuing a card, and new expats have no SCHUFA history at all. The cards below are specifically chosen because they work for people without an established German credit history.
We prioritized three factors: accessibility for expats (can you get approved without years of German credit history?), fees (annual fee, foreign transaction fees), and included benefits (travel insurance, cash-back). The Advanzia Mastercard Gold takes our top spot because it combines zero annual fees with free travel insurance and no foreign transaction charges, all without requiring a SCHUFA check.
Important: "Credit card" in Germany often means a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo (like what N26 provides). A true credit card gives you a credit line and a monthly billing cycle. The cards in this comparison are all true credit cards.
01 / At a glance
Pick an option name to jump to its full write-up below.
| Option | Rating | Best for | Annual fee | Foreign FX fee | Schufa needed | Rewards | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick Advanzia Mastercard Gold | 4.2 | No-fee travel card | €0 | None | Low bar | No | Visit Advanzia Mastercard Gold website, opens in a new tab |
| TF Bank Mastercard Gold | 4.1 | Easy approval | €0 | None | Low bar | Cashback | Visit TF Bank Mastercard Gold website, opens in a new tab |
| Barclays Visa | 4.0 | Flexible repayment | €0 | None | Medium | Some | Visit Barclays Visa website, opens in a new tab |
| American Express (DE) Rewards cards | 4.0 | Rewards & travel perks | €0-€144 | Varies | Medium | Strong | Visit American Express (DE) website, opens in a new tab |
| N26 Credit Card Digital cards | 3.9 | N26 users | €0 (Standard) | Free (paid tiers) | Low | No | Visit N26 Credit Card website, opens in a new tab |
Scroll the table sideways to see every spec.
02 / In detail
Free gold credit card with no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance included.
Pros
Cons
Free gold Mastercard with travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees. No German credit history needed.
Pros
Cons
Free Visa credit card with up to 2 months interest-free on purchases. Good for building German credit history.
Pros
Cons
Rewards cards
Strong rewards and travel perks, widely issued to expats with income proof. Not accepted everywhere in Germany.
Pros
Cons
Digital cards
Add-on card for N26 account holders. Fully English, instant in-app, good for expats already banking with N26.
Pros
Cons
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Related
Credit CardsA 2,000 EUR trip on a standard German card quietly costs about 35 EUR in currency markup before you even hit an ATM. Two free Mastercards close that gap entirely, even without a long Schufa file.
Credit CardsA freelancer applying for the same 'free' gold Mastercard as a salaried employee can end up paying 30 to 90 EUR a year once FX and withdrawal fees are added in. Here's the real math.
Credit CardsRewe and Edeka take Visa and Mastercard, but plenty of bakeries under a 10 EUR minimum still refuse anything but girocard or cash. The Bundesbank's August 2026 payment data explains why your gold card sits unused most weeks.
