Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Italy

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The best starter credit cards for new international students in Italy should have manageable fees, simple repayment rules and realistic eligibility requirements. New students must remember, however, that a true credit card is a borrowing product: the issuer pays the merchant first and collects the money from the cardholder later. Approval therefore depends on the applicant’s income, residence status and ability to repay.

Students who have just arrived in Italy and do not yet have regular income may find it easier to begin with a debit or prepaid card. These products use money already held in an account or loaded onto the card and do not provide the same credit facility.

Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Italy

1. UniCreditCard Flexia Giovani — Best Starter Card for Students Under 30

UniCreditCard Flexia Giovani is specifically designed as a first credit card for UniCredit customers under 30.

Its current advertised features include:

Annual card fee of €27.
Issuance fee of €10.
Credit limit of up to €5,000.
Full-balance repayment as the initial repayment method.
Optional revolving or instalment repayment.
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay support.

Why it suits new students

The age restriction and relatively modest fee make it more relevant to students than UniCredit’s premium cards. The card is initially issued with full repayment the following month, although customers can later choose instalment options that charge interest.

Main limitation

Applicants must already hold a UniCredit current account, and a limit of “up to €5,000” does not mean that every student will receive that amount. Approval and the actual credit limit depend on the bank’s assessment.

Best for: International students under 30 who already use UniCredit and receive regular salary, scholarship or family funding through the account.

2. Carta YOU Mastercard Gold — Best No-Annual-Fee Starter Option

Carta YOU is a Mastercard credit card issued by Advanzia Bank. It does not charge a fixed annual fee, foreign-use commission or issuer currency-conversion commission. Card delivery and card blocking are also advertised at no charge.

Main benefits

€0 annual fee.
No requirement to replace your existing bank account.
Mastercard acceptance.
No interest on purchases when the full statement is paid by the deadline.
No issuer fee for purchases abroad or currency conversion.

Costs to watch

Carta YOU is only attractive when used carefully. Current charges include:

Cash withdrawals: 4%, with a minimum of €3.
Transfers from the card: 4%, with a minimum of €3.
Late-payment reminder: €25.
Replacement card: €10.
Emergency replacement: €25.

Its published representative calculation shows an effective annual rate of approximately 24.15% when credit is repaid in instalments under the stated assumptions.

Best for: Students who can qualify for credit, want no annual fee and will always repay the full statement.

3. PAYBACK American Express — Best Starter Rewards Card

The PAYBACK American Express card provides PAYBACK points on eligible purchases and can have no regular annual fee. Applicants must already be registered with the PAYBACK programme.

Eligibility requirements

American Express currently requires applicants to:

Be at least 18.
Be resident in Italy or have an Italian correspondence address.
Hold a non-prepaid SEPA bank or postal account.
Have gross annual income of at least €11,000.
Provide identification and an Italian codice fiscale.

Why it suits some students

It can be useful for international students who have a part-time job, paid internship or funded research position and want to earn rewards without paying for a premium card.

Main limitation

American Express acceptance may be less extensive than Mastercard or Visa at some smaller merchants. The €11,000 income requirement also excludes many newly arrived full-time students.

Best for: Working students with verifiable annual income of at least €11,000.

4. ING Mastercard Gold — Best Starter Banking Package for Under-30s

ING Mastercard Gold is linked to Conto Corrente Arancio and can be used for purchases online and worldwide.

With Conto Corrente Arancio Più, the card’s monthly fee is €0. With the Light account, it costs €2 per month unless the holder spends at least €500 monthly or has Pagoflex active. The card also provides app-based spending controls, Apple Pay, Google Pay and access to Mastercard Travel Rewards.

Important activation conditions

Approval alone may not be enough to activate the card. ING’s current contract requires one of several financial conditions, including:

Salary or pension payments into the account.
At least €3,000 available with an average balance of €3,000 for the preceding 30 days.
Three consecutive monthly deposits of at least €1,000.
Another qualifying ING credit or savings relationship.

Costs to check

Cash withdrawals: 4%, minimum €3.
Non-euro transactions: 2%.
Repayment must come from the linked ING account.

Best for: Students under 30 with savings, regular deposits or salary payments who want a bank account and credit card from the same provider.

Quick Comparison

Best for students under 30

UniCreditCard Flexia Giovani, because it is specifically positioned as a first credit card for younger UniCredit customers.

Best with no annual fee

Carta YOU, provided the student pays the complete statement and avoids cash withdrawals.

Best for rewards

PAYBACK American Express, but only for applicants meeting the €11,000 income requirement.

Best for students with savings

ING Mastercard Gold, because savings or regular monthly deposits can satisfy certain activation conditions even without a traditional salary payment.

What New International Students Usually Need

Although requirements differ by provider, students should prepare:

A valid passport or accepted identity document.
Italian codice fiscale.
Valid residence documentation.
Proof of an Italian residential or correspondence address.
A current account or SEPA IBAN.
Payslips, scholarship documents or evidence of regular deposits.
University enrolment confirmation.
An Italian phone number and email address.

Meeting the published requirements does not guarantee acceptance because issuers still assess creditworthiness and may request additional documents.

Can You Get a Starter Card Without Income?

Getting a conventional credit card without income is difficult. A scholarship, recurring family transfers or savings may support an application, but the issuer decides whether these resources provide enough evidence of repayment ability.

A student without verifiable income should usually start with:

A debit card linked to an Italian current account.
A prepaid card with an IBAN.
Regular account deposits.
Timely payment of rent and direct debits.

A debit card spends funds already available in the account, while a prepaid card spends only the money loaded onto it. Neither provides the same borrowing facility as a credit card.

How to Improve Your Approval Chances

Open an Italian bank account before applying.
Receive salary or scholarship payments into that account.
Maintain regular deposits for several months.
Avoid failed direct debits and unauthorised overdrafts.
Apply through the bank you already use.
Request a modest initial limit.
Submit complete residence and income documents.
Avoid making several credit-card applications simultaneously.

Starter Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid

New students should avoid:

Using credit cards for ATM withdrawals.
Selecting revolving repayment without checking the interest rate.
Spending more only to earn rewards.
Assuming that a €0 annual fee means every service is free.
Requesting a premium card or high limit too early.
Applying before obtaining a codice fiscale or stable address.
Relying on credit for tuition, rent or essential living costs.

Final Verdict

The best starter option depends on the student’s financial situation.

UniCreditCard Flexia Giovani is a strong first card for under-30 UniCredit customers. Carta YOU offers the lowest fixed cost but becomes expensive when balances are carried or cash is withdrawn. PAYBACK American Express works for employed students earning at least €11,000, while ING Mastercard Gold may suit students with regular deposits or sufficient savings.

New international students with no income should not rush into revolving debt. A debit or prepaid card is often the safer first step until they have built a stable Italian banking record.

Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Italy

Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Italy