Steps

Take the time to sift through the offers you receive in the mail as well as those returned by a search engine. Though sometimes annoying to receive, offers that come in the mail are often tailored to your particular credit needs and unique credit history.

Click on the "Terms and Conditions" button and read them before agreeing. It's easy to skip over reading the fine print when applying online because all you have to do is check the box and move on. However, reading the terms and conditions before applying for a credit card can save you from paying unexpected rate increases or fees or experiencing other unpleasant surprises in the future.

 Compare the different cards. One of the benefits of being able to apply for a credit card online is that you can easily perform a visual comparison of the cards' features. Simply open a variety of offers in separate tabs or windows on your web browser, or take advantage of websites that provide a comparison chart, as many financial institutions do.

Gather your personal information and be prepared to enter it in one sitting. In addition to the typical name and address details, you'll also need to be prepared to provide your Social Security number, employer information, income and perhaps even information about your current expenses. Have a breakdown of your bills ready, just in case.

Investigate the security of the site before submitting any personal information. Any website via which you are submitting sensitive information should be protected by a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) with no less than a 128-bit encryption. This will be indicated somewhere on the page with a padlock icon. This means that your application is protected with a code that only the receiving computer is able to unlock.  

Complete the form to apply for the credit card you have chosen, and make sure to verify that all the information is correct before submitting it. Some companies will let you know almost instantly whether you have been approved, while others will send you notification in the mail.