Credit Cards

How to Apply for the Indigo® Mastercard®

By Gabriel Gonçalves, Personal Finance Editor · Updated May 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Apply for the Indigo Credit Card online in a few minutes — pre-qualification is mandatory and is a SOFT credit check that does not affect your credit score. You'll see your exact annual fee tier, APR, and credit limit BEFORE committing to the hard pull. Designed for less than perfect credit (FICO 300-580) with $700+ guaranteed credit limit and no security deposit.

Indigo Credit Card eligibility

The Indigo Mastercard is open to U.S. residents with less than perfect credit — typically FICO scores in the 300 to 580 range. Indigo Mastercard evaluates your full credit profile (recent late payments, collections, derogatory items, debt-to-income ratio) in addition to the FICO score, so an applicant with a low FICO but clean recent history may be more likely to qualify than one with a slightly higher FICO and active derogatory accounts.

The defining feature of Indigo Mastercard's application is mandatory pre-qualification: Indigo Mastercard runs a soft credit check (no impact on your credit score) and returns your specific terms — annual fee tier ($0, $59, $75 first year/$99 after, or $175 first year/$49 after with monthly fee), APR (35.9% standard), and credit limit. You only commit to a hard credit inquiry AFTER reviewing the offer and deciding to proceed. If the offered annual fee is too high (e.g. $175 tier), you can walk away with zero credit impact and compare alternatives.

How to apply for the Indigo Credit Card step by step

Indigo Mastercard's application is a 2-step process designed to protect your credit score until you commit. Here is what to expect from start to finish:

  1. Visit the official Indigo Credit Card pre-qualification. Tap the apply button below to be redirected to the official Indigo Mastercard page. Hirezaa does not collect personal data — Indigo Mastercard does.
  2. Run the mandatory pre-qualification (soft credit check). Indigo Mastercard runs a soft credit check that does NOT affect your credit score, and shows you your exact annual fee tier, APR, and credit limit. You see the offer before committing.
  3. Review the offered terms carefully. Compare your Indigo Mastercard annual fee tier ($0/$59/$75-99/$175) against alternatives like Mission Lane Visa. If you're offered the $175 tier with monthly fees, the math may not work — Mission Lane Visa ($0-$59 annual, no monthly) is usually a better alternative if you can qualify there.
  4. Submit and get a decision. If you accept pre-qualification, complete the full application. Indigo Mastercard runs a hard credit inquiry and issues a final decision in minutes.

What you need before applying

Before starting the Indigo Credit Card pre-qualification, gather these items to speed up the process:

  • Social Security Number (SSN). Indigo Mastercard requires SSN.
  • U.S. mailing address. Your residential address — not a PO box.
  • Source of income. Pay stubs, tax return, or bank statements. Indigo Mastercard evaluates your ability to make minimum payments.
  • Plan for credit-building. Identify a small monthly recurring expense (utility, subscription, phone bill) to route through the card and build on-time payment history. Keep utilization under 30% of the $700 credit limit.
  • Government-issued ID. Driver license, state ID, or passport for identity verification.

Who is the Indigo Credit Card for

The Indigo Credit Card is for an applicant in the FICO 300-580 range who has been declined for unsecured cards designed for higher tiers (like the Mission Lane Visa at FICO 580+) and doesn't want to lock up cash in a secured card deposit. It's a specific tool for a specific tier: the pre-qualification flow lets you check your offer without risk, and if the terms work for you (especially the $0 or $59 fee tier), the $700 guaranteed credit limit + monthly bureau reporting + unsecured structure is one of the few accessible credit-building paths.

The Indigo Credit Card is NOT for someone with FICO 580+ — at that tier, the Mission Lane Visa has the same unsecured structure with lower maximum fees ($0-$59 annual, no monthly fee). It's also not for someone who can afford a $200-$500 secured card deposit, where products like the Discover it Secured Credit Card combine secured access with 1-5% cash back rewards. Use Indigo Mastercard's pre-qualification to confirm your tier and compare carefully.

Frequently asked questions

The Indigo Mastercard is designed for less than perfect credit — typically FICO scores in the 300 to 580 range. Indigo Mastercard requires pre-qualification (soft credit check) before processing applications, so you can see your odds without affecting your credit score.

Bottom line on applying for the Indigo Credit Card

If you have less than perfect credit and have been declined for the Mission Lane Visa or don't have $200-$500 for a secured card deposit, the Indigo Mastercard is one of the few unsecured options available at the FICO 300-580 tier. The mandatory pre-qualification flow is the safety net — you see your exact annual fee tier, APR, and credit limit BEFORE committing to a hard credit pull. If the offered $0 or $59 annual fee tier comes back, accept and start building credit history. If the offered tier is $175 first year + monthly fee, walk away and compare alternatives. Either way, your credit score is unaffected by the soft-pull pre-qualification.

Sources: Indigo Mastercard official page · WalletHub: Indigo Credit Card review · NerdWallet: 5 things to know about Indigo Mastercard

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