How Long Do You Have to Activate a New Credit Card?

There's no single legal deadline to activate a new credit card. Each issuer sets its own window, and Discover says you usually have 45 to 60 days. If you don't activate it, you can't use the card, but the account generally stays open, so an annual fee can still be charged, and the issuer may eventually close it. Activating soon after the card arrives avoids these problems.

How long do I have to activate my credit card?

It depends on the issuer. Discover says you usually have 45 to 60 days to activate a new credit card, and American Express says most issuers give around 45 to 60 days, though the window varies. Chase doesn't publish a fixed deadline. For your exact window, check the letter that came with the card or call the number on the back.

What happens if I don't activate my credit card?

You can't use it, but the account doesn't simply disappear. Here's what can happen:

• You can't make purchases. An unactivated card won't work at checkout.
• The account is still open. Chase says an unactivated account can still be charged fees, such as an annual fee.
• You could miss a welcome bonus. Chase notes that welcome bonuses often require a minimum spend, typically within three months, which is hard to meet with an inactive card.
• The account may be closed. Chase says a lender might close an account that stays inactive for several months or years.
• A lost card is a risk. Chase notes that if an unactivated card is lost or stolen, someone else could potentially activate and use it.

Does not activating a credit card hurt my credit score?

Not directly, but it can have indirect effects. Chase explains that:

• The new account lowers the average age of your accounts, whether or not you activate the card.
• An annual fee that goes unpaid could be reported as a late payment.
• If the issuer closes the account for inactivity, that can affect the length of your credit history.
• While the account is open, its credit limit counts toward your total available credit, which can help your credit utilization.

American Express adds that a closed account reduces your available credit. Our guide to understanding your credit score explains how these factors fit together, and building credit with a credit card covers good habits once the card is active.

What about a replacement card?

Replacement cards work on a different clock. Capital One says it usually mails a new card around four weeks before the old one expires, and the old card typically works through the last day of the month on its expiration date. After that, transactions will likely be declined, so you'll need to activate the replacement to keep using the account. Capital One also recommends updating recurring charges, online accounts and digital wallets with the new card before the next automatic payment.

I missed the activation window. What now?

Call your issuer. American Express says that if you miss the deadline, you can contact the issuer about activating the card, or ask for a replacement card if the account has already been closed.

1. Find the customer service number on the back of the card or on the issuer's official website.
2. Ask whether the card can still be activated.
3. If it can't, ask whether the account is still open and whether any fees have been charged.
4. Request a replacement card if you want to keep the account.
5. If you don't want the card, ask about closing the account and whether an annual fee that was charged can be refunded.

Should I activate a card I don't plan to use much?

If you want to keep the account, yes. Leaving a card unactivated doesn't stop the account from existing, so it doesn't avoid fees or protect your credit. Activating it lets you make an occasional purchase, and Chase suggests making one or two purchases a year to help keep an account from being closed for inactivity. Paying those purchases off in full each month avoids interest.

If the card has an annual fee you don't want to pay, activation isn't the real question. Call the issuer, ask about your options, and decide whether to keep or close the account before the fee is charged. Keep in mind that closing an account reduces your available credit, as American Express notes.

What if I got a card I didn't apply for?

Don't activate it. An unexpected card can be a sign that someone applied in your name.

• United States: the CFPB says it's against the law for a credit card company to issue you a card without your permission. Call the number on the back, say you didn't apply, and ask the issuer to cancel it. Then check your credit reports, dispute the account if it appears, and consider a fraud alert or security freeze. You can also file a complaint with the CFPB.
• Canada: the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) says federally regulated financial institutions must get your express consent before providing a credit card, and that using a product doesn't count as consent. If you received a card you didn't agree to, complain to your bank; you can also contact the FCAC.

Be careful with any call that follows an unexpected card, too. See our guide to card activation call and text scams.

How do I activate my card now?

Most cards can be activated through the issuer's app or website, or by calling the number on the sticker or the back of the card. Our card activation hub has step-by-step guides for major US and Canadian banks, including Discover and American Express. If the sticker is gone, see how to activate a card without the sticker.