Best Credit Cards for International Students With No Income in the Netherlands
Finding the best credit cards for international students with no income in the Netherlands can be difficult because most Dutch banks require regular employment income before approving a traditional credit card.
Students without a salary generally cannot qualify by showing university enrollment, savings or DUO student finance alone. However, they may still use a pre-funded Mastercard that merchants recognise as a credit card, obtain an additional card from a trusted principal cardholder, or choose an international debit-card alternative.
This guide explains the most realistic options available in 2026.
Can You Get a Dutch Credit Card With No Income?
Getting a traditional Dutch credit card without income is unlikely.
Major banks publish minimum-income requirements such as:
- ABN AMRO Student Credit Card: At least €500 of net monthly employment income.
- Rabobank student credit card: At least €500 of monthly income deposited into the linked account.
- Standard ING credit card: At least €1,000 deposited into the ING payment account each month.
ABN AMRO states that applicants earning less than €500 per month are not eligible for its Student Credit Card. Rabobank also requires at least €500 of monthly income for customers using its Rabo Free package.
Banks may also examine:
- Your Dutch residential address.
- Your identity and residence documents.
- Your account activity.
- Existing debts.
- Negative BKR registrations.
- Your ability to cover monthly expenses.
The Netherlands does not use the same numerical consumer credit-score system commonly associated with the United States. However, banks still assess creditworthiness and may review BKR information before granting credit.
Best Card Options for International Students With No Income
1. bunq Credit Card – Best Overall No-Income Option
The bunq Credit Card is the closest practical alternative to a traditional credit card for students without income.
Merchants see the card as a Mastercard Credit Card, which means it can be useful for:
- Hotel reservations.
- Car-rental deposits.
- Online purchases.
- International travel bookings.
- Services that do not accept ordinary debit cards.
However, bunq does not provide a borrowed credit limit. Transactions are deducted from money already held in your linked bunq account. You therefore receive credit-card-style merchant acceptance without interest charges or the risk of carrying borrowed debt.
University students aged 25 or younger in the Netherlands may qualify for bunq Pro without its standard monthly charge after providing valid proof of enrollment. bunq says eligible students can receive physical or digital credit cards without a credit check.
Best for: Students who need a card for travel, hotels and online payments but have no employment income.
Main drawback: It is not a genuine loan or revolving credit facility.
2. ABN AMRO Additional Credit Card – Best Family-Supported Option
An international student may be able to use an additional ABN AMRO credit card when a parent, partner or other trusted person already holds a qualifying principal card in the Netherlands.
ABN AMRO allows the principal cardholder to request an additional card for another person aged 18 or older. Both cards share the same credit limit, and the principal cardholder can view the additional card’s transactions.
This arrangement may avoid the need for the student to qualify independently based on personal income. However:
- The principal cardholder remains responsible for the account.
- Both cards use the same spending limit.
- The student’s spending affects the primary cardholder.
- Clear spending and repayment rules are essential.
Best for: Students supported by a trusted person who already has a Dutch credit card.
Main drawback: It is not an independent account, and misuse can create financial problems for both people.
3. Wise Debit Card – Best for International Spending
The Wise card is a debit card rather than a credit card, but it may be a useful alternative for international students receiving money from abroad or spending in several currencies.
For Netherlands residents, Wise currently lists:
- No subscription charge for the personal card account.
- A €7 charge for ordering the physical card.
- A free virtual card.
- Access to more than 40 currencies.
- Currency conversion using the mid-market exchange rate with separate conversion fees.
- Fee-free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly allowance, followed by percentage-based charges.
Because you spend only the money held in your Wise account, employment income and a Dutch credit assessment are not required in the same way as for traditional credit.
Best for: Students receiving family support in another currency or travelling frequently.
Main drawback: Some hotels and rental companies may specifically require a credit card rather than a debit card.
4. Revolut Debit Card – Best App-Based Alternative
Revolut provides Visa or Mastercard debit cards to customers in the Netherlands. It does not currently offer credit cards, loans or overdrafts to Netherlands residents.
Revolut can still be useful for:
- Online payments.
- Virtual cards.
- Mobile payments.
- Managing several currencies.
- Setting spending limits.
- Receiving instant transaction notifications.
Best for: Students who want an app-based card for controlled everyday spending.
Main drawback: It cannot replace a credit card where a merchant insists on a credit facility.
Why Student Finance Usually Does Not Solve the Income Requirement
Students should not assume that scholarships, allowances or student loans will automatically count as qualifying income.
ING explicitly states that DUO payments do not count as income for its student credit card assessment. ABN AMRO requires employment or part-time-job income for its published €500 student threshold.
Regular family transfers may help you manage your bank account, but they do not necessarily satisfy a lender’s employment-income requirement.
Can Savings Replace Income?
Some premium or standard cards may allow wealthy applicants to qualify using substantial taxable assets. For example, ABN AMRO lists an alternative requirement of at least €27,500 in freely taxable Box 3 capital over the previous two years for its standard card. This is unlikely to help a newly arrived international student because the requirement relates to Dutch taxable financial history.
For most students, ordinary savings will not provide a simple route around income rules.
How to Get a Credit Card Later
Students who want a traditional card should first build a stable financial profile:
- Open a Dutch payment account.
- Register your address and obtain a BSN.
- Start a legal part-time job.
- Have your wages deposited into the account each month.
- Keep at least three months of payslips and bank statements.
- Avoid overdrafts, unpaid bills and negative BKR records.
- Apply through the bank receiving your income.
- Request a small initial limit.
Once your net employment income reaches approximately €500 per month, the ABN AMRO or Rabobank student options may become more realistic, subject to residence and credit requirements.
Final Verdict
The bunq Credit Card is the best overall option for international students with no income in the Netherlands because merchants recognise it as a Mastercard Credit Card even though spending comes directly from your own balance.
An additional ABN AMRO card may work for students supported by a trusted Dutch cardholder. Wise and Revolut are useful debit-card alternatives for international payments, but they do not provide borrowed credit.
Students should avoid submitting multiple traditional credit card applications while they have no qualifying income. Use a pre-funded or debit option first, then apply for a low-limit student card after establishing regular employment income.
Official Sources
- bunq: Credit Card features and no-credit-line structure
- bunq: Banking benefits for eligible university students
- ABN AMRO: Student Credit Card income requirements
- Rabobank: Student credit card eligibility
- ABN AMRO: Additional credit card rules
- Wise: Debit-card fees for Netherlands residents
- Revolut: Card availability in the Netherlands
