# What Are the Best Credit Cards for Students in Germany? (2026) > The credit cards a student in Germany can apply for with no payslip, why the category is so thin, and why the card most students actually carry is a Debitkarte. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/finance/credit-cards/best-for-students **The verdict for students** Get the **Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold** at **no annual fee**. The German student credit-card market is thin. Exactly one card here is sold as a student product, the **Commerzbank Young Visa** on the StartKonto, and it needs a Commerzbank account. What most students actually carry is a **Debitkarte** on a [free Girokonto](/finance/open-bank-account) plus a **girocard**, which is not credit at all. The cards ranked above are the fee-free credit cards whose own terms state **no income floor**. **What approval actually turns on** Every one of them still turns on a [**SCHUFA** check](/finance/credit-card-requirements), and a student file usually holds very little. The paperwork is the ordinary paperwork: an **Anmeldung**, a **Steuer-Identifikationsnummer**, and identification by **VideoIdent**, **eID** or **PostIdent**. Expect a **small starting limit**, raised as repayments build a history. One habit from day one: the Advanzia card collects only the minimum payment by direct debit, so transfer the full balance yourself or the [20.9% effective rate](/finance/credit-card-interest-rates) starts running. **Five criteria, weighted for this reader and published above, fixed before the fees were collected. Every fee comes from the issuer's own price list, dated in the catalogue. Of the 48 cards, 7 are obtainable by students.** Sources: the issuers' own German price lists, accessed 18 August 2026. Some links earn a commission at the same rate for every issuer, so no weighting favours a payer. ## Which credit card is the best for students? Sort byOur rankingEffective APRCost abroadEligibilitySorted by **effective apr**, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below. Sorted by **cost abroad**, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below. Sorted by **eligibility**, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below. #2 by effective apr20.9%#1 by cost abroadNo FX fee#1 by eligibilityNo German IBAN needed★ Student pick ### Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold 5.0No annual fee in any year and 0% on foreign-currency spending, with no income floor in the terms [Get the Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold](https://www.gebuhrenfrei.com)Annual feeBestFreeEffective APR20.9%Cost abroadNo FX feeGerman IBAN?German IBAN Whether the product needs a bank account with a German (DE) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some German employers and billers still refuse them. Not requiredMore detailsNetwork?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. MastercardFees as of August 2026, verify on the issuer's price list. Key information Annual feeNo annual feeAbroadNo fee on non-euro spendingCashFree cash withdrawalsBest for students who want the safest yes. Advanzia BankAdvanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold · Free · 20.9% APRFree#2 by cost abroadNo FX fee#2 by eligibilityNo German IBAN neededAlso great ### TF Bank Mastercard Gold 5.0No annual fee in any year and 0% on foreign-currency spending, with no income floor in the terms [Get the TF Bank card](https://tfbank.de/kreditkarte)Annual feeBestFreeEffective APR22.9%Cost abroadNo FX feeGerman IBAN?German IBAN Whether the product needs a bank account with a German (DE) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some German employers and billers still refuse them. Not requiredMore detailsNetwork?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. MastercardFees as of August 2026, verify on the issuer's price list. Key information Annual feeNo annual feeAbroadNo fee on non-euro spendingCashFree cash withdrawalsBest for students who need a different issuer. TF BankTF Bank Mastercard Gold · Free · 22.9% APRFree#3 by effective apr21.96%#3 by cost abroadNo FX fee#3 by eligibilityNo German IBAN neededBest value ### awa7 Visa 5.0No annual fee in any year and 0% on foreign-currency spending, with no income floor in the terms [Get the awa7 Visa](https://www.awa7.com)Cards(4) - Hanseatic Bank GenialCardFreeRepayment rate you set in the app | Effective APR | 16.05% | | Cost abroad | No FX fee | | Network | Visa | | German IBAN | Not required | No annual fee - German-only support [Open the Hanseatic Bank GenialCard ↗](https://www.hanseaticbank.de/genialcard)- ★Our pick here. awa7 VisaFreeThe same card under an eco brand | Effective APR | 21.96% | | Cost abroad | No FX fee | | Network | Visa | | German IBAN | Not required | No annual fee - German-only support [Open the awa7 Visa ↗](https://www.awa7.com)- Show 2 more productsDeutschland-Kreditkarte ClassicFreeA Finanztip-listed GenialCard twin | Effective APR | 21.04% | | Cost abroad | No FX fee | | Network | Visa | | German IBAN | Not required | No annual fee - German-only support [Open the Deutschland-Kreditkarte Classic ↗](https://www.finanztip.de/kreditkarten/)- Hanseatic Bank GoldCardEUR 58.80/yrInsured, free in year one | Effective APR | 16.05% | | Cost abroad | No FX fee | | Network | Visa | | German IBAN | Not required | No fee on non-euro spending - Free in year one, then **EUR 58.80** [Open the Hanseatic Bank GoldCard ↗](https://www.hanseaticbank.de/kreditkarten/goldcard) Fees as of August 2026, verify on the issuer's price list. Annual fee FreeKey information Effective APR21.96%More detailsCost abroadNo FX feeGerman IBAN?German IBAN Whether the product needs a bank account with a German (DE) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some German employers and billers still refuse them. Not requiredNetwork?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaBest for students who need a different issuer. Hanseatic Bankawa7 Visa · Free · 21.96% APRFree#1 by effective apr12.2% ### Commerzbank Young Visa (StartKonto) 5.0No annual fee in any year and a 1.75% foreign-currency fee, with no income floor in the terms [Get the Commerzbank card](https://www.commerzbank.de/kreditkarten)Cards(4) - ★Our pick here. Commerzbank Young Visa (StartKonto)FreeFree real card for students | Effective APR | 12.2% | | Cost abroad | Above 1% | | Network | Visa | | German IBAN | Required | No annual fee - **1.75%** on non-euro spending [Open the Commerzbank Young Visa (StartKonto) ↗](https://www.commerzbank.de/kreditkarten)- Commerzbank ClassicKreditkarteEUR 39.90/yrBranch support and Cash Group ATMs | Effective APR | 12.2% | | Cost abroad | Above 1% | | Network | Visa or Mastercard | | German IBAN | Required | Annual fee **EUR 39.90** - **1.75%** on non-euro spending [Open the Commerzbank ClassicKreditkarte ↗](https://www.commerzbank.de/kreditkarten)- Show 2 more productsCommerzbank GoldKreditkarteEUR 99.90/yrPriority Pass, German bank card | Effective APR | 10.2% | | Cost abroad | Above 1% | | Network | Visa or Mastercard | | German IBAN | Required | Annual fee **EUR 99.90** - **1.75%** on non-euro spending [Open the Commerzbank GoldKreditkarte ↗](https://www.commerzbank.de/kreditkarten)- Commerzbank PremiumKreditkarte (Visa + Mastercard duo)EUR 154.80/yrVisa and Mastercard in one package | Effective APR | 10.2% | | Cost abroad | Above 1% | | Network | Visa + Mastercard (duo) | | German IBAN | Required | Annual fee **EUR 154.80** - **1.75%** on non-euro spending [Open the Commerzbank PremiumKreditkarte (Visa + Mastercard duo) ↗](https://www.commerzbank.de/kreditkarten) Fees as of August 2026, verify on the issuer's price list. Annual fee FreeKey information Effective APR12.2%More detailsCost abroadAbove 1%German IBAN?German IBAN Whether the product needs a bank account with a German (DE) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some German employers and billers still refuse them. RequiredNetwork?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaBest for students who need a different issuer. CommerzbankCommerzbank Young Visa (StartKonto) · Free · 12.2% APRFree ### Bank Norwegian Visa 2.0No annual fee in any year, but a SCHUFA check decides it and a student has no German credit file [Get the Bank Norwegian card](https://www.banknorwegian.de)Annual feeBestFreeEffective APR24.4%Cost abroadNo FX feeGerman IBAN?German IBAN Whether the product needs a bank account with a German (DE) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some German employers and billers still refuse them. Not requiredMore detailsNetwork?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaFees as of August 2026, verify on the issuer's price list. Key information Annual feeNo annual feeAbroadNo fee on non-euro spendingCashFree cash withdrawalsBest for students who need a different issuer. Bank NorwegianBank Norwegian Visa · Free · 24.4% APRFreeAlso a strong fit **This ranking differs from the general one.** The general page picks **Hanseatic Bank GenialCard**. The reason is the weighting, not new information: **Eligibility** moves from **15%** to **40%** and **Cost abroad** moves from **25%** to **10%**. ## Compare two providers Already down to two? Each comparison declares a winner on every criterion that decides the purchase. [Revolut vs N26](/finance/revolut-vs-n26)[C24 Bank vs RevolutC24 Bank issues a German DE IBAN and caps out-of-allowance withdrawals at a flat EUR 2, while Revolut issues a Lithuanian LT IBAN but opens in 0 days without a German tax ID and runs fully in English.](/finance/compare/c24-bank-vs-revolut)[N26 vs C24 BankN26 opens in 0 days without a German tax ID and runs the app, contracts and chat in English, where C24 Bank asks for a tax ID and is German-first.](/finance/compare/n26-vs-c24-bank)[DKB vs INGDKB clears its free-account bar at EUR 700 monthly incoming where ING asks for EUR 1,000, and charges EUR 4.50 instead of EUR 4.90 if you miss it.](/finance/compare/dkb-vs-ing)[comdirect vs DKBcomdirect is free for the first 6 months and then waives its fee on any one of four conditions, where DKB waives only on EUR 700 monthly incoming or being under 28.](/finance/compare/comdirect-vs-dkb)[Sparkasse vs N26N26 wins on price, language and speed: EUR 0 a month, English throughout and open in 0 days with no Anmeldung, against a Sparkasse's EUR 2.95 to EUR 12.95, German only and 1 day after registration.](/finance/compare/sparkasse-vs-n26)[Volksbank vs SparkasseThese two branch networks are close.](/finance/compare/volksbank-vs-sparkasse)[Revolut vs WiseRevolut records EUR 100,000 of deposit protection where the Wise account records none, and allows free withdrawals up to EUR 200 or 5 a month against Wise's 2.](/finance/compare/revolut-vs-wise)[GenialCard vs Advanzia Gebührenfrei GoldBoth cards cost EUR 0 a year with 0% foreign transaction fees, so the split is elsewhere.](/finance/compare/genialcard-vs-advanzia-gebuehrenfrei-gold)[TF Bank Mastercard Gold vs GenialCardBoth are EUR 0 a year with 0% foreign transaction fees.](/finance/compare/tf-bank-mastercard-gold-vs-genialcard)How we ranked this for students5 criteria, weights publishedA reader on a student budget is not the average reader, so this page does not use the average weights. **Eligibility** carries **40%** here against **15%** on the general ranking, and **Cost abroad** carries **10%** here against **25%** on the general ranking. The weights were fixed on **17 August 2026**, before the prices were collected. ### Criteria weighting Fixed 17 August 2026, before pricing was collectedEligibility*IBAN, address and income checks that rule cards out*****15%40%Annual fee*What holding the card costs every year*****30%30%Cost abroad*FX margin and ATM fees outside the euro area*****25%10%English support*App, contract and helpline language*****10%15%Rewards*Cashback or miles, net of their conditions*****20%5%** General ranking** This pageWeights total 100% on both. A blocker caps any score at 1.0. ## What is ruled out, and why A blocker is not a drawback. It is something that makes the card unobtainable for this reader, however good its terms are otherwise. Blocked for this reader easybank Visa (formerly Barclays Visa)Requires proof of German income, which a student without a payslip cannot showeasybank Platinum Double (ex-Barclays Platinum Double)Requires proof of German income, which a student without a payslip cannot showAmerican Express Platinum CardRequires proof of German income, which a student without a payslip cannot showAmerican Express Gold CardRequires proof of German income, which a student without a payslip cannot show ## What counts as student proof here German issuers do not run a student credit-card programme the way the Anglo market does. The single product in this catalogue badged for students is the **Commerzbank Young Visa**, issued on the StartKonto, which Commerzbank runs free from age 7 to 27 and which needs a Commerzbank account. Everything else ranked here is an ordinary fee-free credit card that happens to state no income floor in its terms. So the paperwork is the ordinary paperwork: an **Anmeldung**, a **Steuer-Identifikationsnummer**, and identification by **VideoIdent**, **eID** or **PostIdent**. An Immatrikulationsbescheinigung opens a student Girokonto; it does not open a credit line. The decision on a credit line is a **SCHUFA** decision, and a student file usually holds very little. Expect a small starting limit. The fee-free cards begin low on purpose and raise the limit as repayments build a history, which is worth knowing before you rely on one for a hire-car deposit. ## Every card we compared [View all 48 cardsThe full market overview: every card from every issuer with its annual fee, APR and cost abroad, filterable and re-rankable.→](/finance/credit-cards-price-research) ## How we compared these Five criteria, weighted for this reader and published above, fixed before the fees were collected. Every fee comes from the issuer's own price list, dated in the catalogue. Of the 48 cards, 7 are obtainable by students. Sources: the issuers' own German price lists, accessed 18 August 2026. Some links earn a commission at the same rate for every issuer, so no weighting favours a payer. --- Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/finance/credit-cards/best-for-students Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.