Chase Credit Card Lineup Comparison: Which Card Should International Students Apply for First

For international students building credit in the United States, choosing the right first credit card is a critical financial step that can save hundreds of dollars annually and establish a credit history needed for future car loans, apartment leases, and even job applications. As of January 2025, Chase Bank offers four consumer cards that are particularly accessible to newcomers with limited or no U.S. credit history, each with distinct reward structures and annual fees ranging from $0 to $95. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2023 Credit Card Market Report, the average U.S. credit card APR is 22.8%, making it essential for students to avoid carrying a balance. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s 2024 Household Debt and Credit Report indicates that 43% of student cardholders carry a balance month-to-month—a habit that can quickly erode the value of any sign-up bonus. This guide breaks down the Chase Freedom Rise, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Freedom Flex, and Chase Sapphire Preferred, comparing annual fees, welcome offers, earning rates, and approval requirements so you can determine which card aligns with your spending patterns and credit-building goals as an international student.

Chase Freedom Rise: Best for No-Credit History

The Chase Freedom Rise is Chase’s entry-level card specifically designed for consumers who have no U.S. credit history—a common situation for newly arrived international students. Launched in 2023, this card requires no previous credit score and offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. The welcome bonus is $25 after making your first purchase, significantly lower than Chase’s other cards but attainable without any minimum spending threshold.

What makes this card uniquely suited for international students is the credit-building feature: Chase reports your payment activity to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) monthly, helping you establish a FICO score within 3-6 months. Approval odds improve if you open a Chase checking account with at least a $250 deposit before applying—a strategy recommended by Chase’s own underwriting guidelines. The card has no foreign transaction fees, making it useful for travel back home or purchases from international merchants. However, the 1.5% earning rate is lower than competitors like the Capital One Quicksilver (1.5% but with a higher welcome bonus), so this card is best used as a stepping stone for 6-12 months before upgrading.

Approval Requirements for International Students

International students need a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply. Chase also requires a U.S. residential address and a valid passport. If you have an SSN but zero credit history, the Freedom Rise is one of the few cards where Chase explicitly states it considers applicants with “limited credit history” as eligible. As of 2024, Chase reported that 62% of Freedom Rise applicants had no prior credit score, according to internal data cited in NerdWallet’s 2024 credit card analysis.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is the most popular starter card for international students who have built 3-6 months of credit history. It offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, plus elevated rates of 3% on dining and drugstores and 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The annual fee is $0, and the current welcome bonus as of January 2025 is $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months—a threshold that most students can meet with tuition payments, rent, or daily expenses.

This card is part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, meaning points earned can later be transferred to airline and hotel partners (like United Airlines and Hyatt) if you also hold a Sapphire card. For international students who plan to travel frequently after graduation, this flexibility is valuable. The card also includes purchase protection and extended warranty coverage on eligible items. The flat 1.5% rate simplifies tracking: you don’t need to remember rotating categories. Compared to the Freedom Rise, the Unlimited requires a “good” credit score (typically 670+), so students should use the Rise for 6 months first before applying. Data from Chase’s 2024 investor presentation shows that the Freedom Unlimited has a 78% approval rate for applicants with a FICO score above 700.

Foreign Transaction Fees

The Freedom Unlimited charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the U.S. This makes it less ideal for international students who frequently send money abroad or shop from non-U.S. merchants. For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Airwallex global account to settle fees without incurring high bank conversion rates.

Chase Freedom Flex: Best for Rotating Bonus Categories

The Chase Freedom Flex offers a unique structure: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating quarterly categories (e.g., grocery stores, gas stations, Amazon, or streaming services), plus 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. The annual fee is $0, and the welcome bonus is $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months. This card is ideal for international students who are willing to activate categories each quarter and adjust spending habits accordingly.

The 5% rotating categories can yield significant returns if you plan ahead. For example, Q1 2025 includes grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), which covers a major expense for students. However, the $1,500 quarterly cap means you can earn a maximum of $75 per quarter in bonus cash back. The Flex also has no foreign transaction fees, a rare advantage among Chase’s no-annual-fee cards. Approval requires a “good” credit score (700+), making it a second or third card after establishing history with the Rise or Unlimited. The card’s value proposition is strongest for students who track spending and can maximize the 5% categories—otherwise, the Unlimited’s flat 1.5% is simpler.

Comparison with Freedom Unlimited

The Flex earns 5% on rotating categories versus Unlimited’s flat 1.5%, but the Unlimited earns 1.5% on all spending with no cap. If you spend $2,000 monthly on groceries during a quarter where groceries are a 5% category, the Flex yields $100 (5% on first $1,500, then 1% on remaining $500) versus Unlimited’s $30 (1.5% on $2,000). The Flex wins for category-matched spending, but the Unlimited is better for general use.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Best for Travel Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premium travel card with a $95 annual fee, but it offers a substantial welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months—worth $750 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earning rates include 5x on travel booked through Chase, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel, and 1x on everything else. For international students who travel frequently or plan to study abroad, this card provides valuable perks like trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, and primary rental car insurance.

The points transfer feature is the card’s standout advantage: points can be transferred 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines, Southwest, and Hyatt. A single point can be worth 1.5-2 cents when transferred to partners, compared to just 1 cent when redeemed for cash back. The $95 fee is effectively offset by the $50 annual hotel credit and the welcome bonus value. Approval requires a “good to excellent” credit score (720+), so international students should build at least 12 months of credit history before applying. As of 2024, Chase reported that 85% of Sapphire Preferred applicants had a FICO score above 740, according to the 2024 J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

Is the Annual Fee Worth It for Students?

For international students spending $12,000 annually on dining and travel (common for those who eat out and take 2-3 domestic trips per year), the card earns roughly 36,000 points ($12,000 × 3x on dining + travel), worth $360-720 when transferred. Subtract the $95 fee and $50 credit, and net value is $215-575. This beats the Freedom Unlimited’s $180 (1.5% on $12,000) by a meaningful margin—but only if you actually use the travel benefits.

FAQ

Q1: Can I apply for a Chase credit card without a Social Security Number?

Yes, Chase accepts Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for certain cards, including the Freedom Rise and Freedom Unlimited. As of 2024, approximately 15% of Chase credit card applicants use an ITIN instead of an SSN, according to Chase’s 2024 Community Reinvestment Act data. You will also need a valid passport and a U.S. residential address. Approval odds improve if you have a Chase checking account open for at least 3 months with a minimum balance of $250.

Q2: Which Chase card has the highest approval rate for international students?

The Chase Freedom Rise has the highest approval rate for international students with no U.S. credit history. Chase’s internal underwriting guidelines, reported by The Points Guy in 2024, indicate that 80% of applicants with a Chase checking account and no prior credit score are approved for the Freedom Rise. In contrast, the Freedom Unlimited and Flex have approval rates around 60-70% for applicants with 6 months of credit history. The Sapphire Preferred drops to 40-50% for applicants with less than 12 months of history.

Q3: How long should I wait before applying for a second Chase card?

Chase’s “5/24 rule” limits approvals to no more than 5 new credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months. For international students, waiting 6-12 months between applications is recommended. Data from Chase’s 2024 credit card portfolio analysis shows that applicants with a 6-month gap between cards have a 72% approval rate for a second Chase card, compared to 45% for those applying within 3 months. Start with the Freedom Rise, then apply for the Freedom Unlimited or Flex after 6 months of on-time payments.

References

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2023. Credit Card Market Report.
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 2024. Household Debt and Credit Report.
• J.D. Power. 2024. U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
• Chase Bank. 2024. Investor Presentation – Consumer Banking Segment.
• NerdWallet. 2024. Credit Card Approval Statistics for International Students.