Bunq credit card application online approval and access explained

Curious how you can apply online and start spending the same day — without the usual wait or paperwork?

Join over 17 million users on the bunq platform and see why many switch for speed and clarity. Instant Payments move money in seconds across SEPA, and Card Payment Refunds offer an extra layer of protection when purchases go wrong.

Your deposits are protected by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000, so you can feel secure from day one. The app guides you through ordering a card in a few taps, and 24/7 multilingual support helps anytime you need it.

This short guide is packed useful insights to help you understand approval, access, fees, and travel perks like ZeroFX. Read on to learn how the flow works, what to expect after approval, and which plan fits your needs best.

Open your bunq account online and get a card in minutes

Open an online account in just a few taps and get a usable virtual payment method right away. From the Home tab follow Add > Add Card, choose your style, and complete the simple in‑app flow to order a physical card later.

Verify your identity quickly so you can use the virtual option while you wait for plastic. This setup turns a new mobile bank account into a working bank account minutes after signup.

Instant Payments work from day one to send or receive money instantly. The app also offers spaces (sub-accounts) to set budgets and link the right payment option for better control.

Try premium features with a free trialopen account offer when available — some users get a 30-day free trialopen to explore extras. If you want to start 30-day free access, the app guides you through trialopen account minutes of setup.

Support is available 24/7 in your language during signup, and you can add your new payment method to mobile wallets immediately. Track delivery in-app and activate the plastic when it arrives. For businesses, the same flow issues employee cards as your team grows.

How instant approval works for online applications

Apply online and see near‑instant approval so you can make your first purchase without delay.

After a quick identity check, the app provisions a virtual card in near real time. You’ll get a confirmation when it’s active and ready for online shops or to add to your phone wallet.

Instant Payments let you send and receive money instantly, so topping up or getting reimbursed never slows you down. The app shows clear notifications for each step, so you always know when payments send and receive money.

Real‑time anti‑fraud and identity checks run quietly in the background. They keep your account secure without adding friction to approval.

If anything needs clarification, 24/7 in‑app chat offers instant help in your language. Use instant payment features to split bills or pay suppliers on the spot and help bank smarter from day one.

Link the virtual payment method to a specific sub‑account to control where funds are drawn. This makes smarter, more organized payments and helps you make smarter spending choices as you start.

Eligibility and what to prepare before you apply

Getting ready is simple: confirm your ID, proof of address, and device compatibility first.

Have a valid ID and be ready to verify your identity in-app to meet regulatory checks quickly and securely.

If you apply for a business option, make sure your company is registered and you have a business account open first.

The platform issues prepaid credit and the payment method works only with funds you load. This means you spend what you add and avoid revolving debt — truly without burden debt.

Your eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the deposit guarantee scheme. This dutch deposit guarantee gives clear peace of mind for savers.

Prepare proof of address and confirm residency to avoid delays. For teams, decide who needs employee access and set monthly limits in advance.

Set up sub-accounts for travel, bills, or subscriptions so you can link cards more easily once approved. Review plan fees before you finish the application to pick the best value.

Rely on built-in security and deposit protections to keep your money protected dutch and your data safe.

Plans at a glance: bunq Core, Pro, and Elite

See at a glance which plan matches your spending habits and team size.

Core keeps things simple and includes 1 physical card with every personal or business plan. Pro and Elite step up flexibility by including 3 physical cards, which helps families, frequent travelers, or small teams stay organized.

Ordering extra physical cards costs €9.99 each. If you use more active cards than your plan allows, a €3.45/month fee applies per extra active card. These fees matter when you run a team or issue multiple employee cards.

Metal material is available to bunq pro users and pro bunq elite subscribers for a one‑time €99.99. Pro and Elite also unlock premium features like advanced spending controls, extra virtual cards, and travel perks.

For businesses, Pro Business and Elite Business include employee card allowances and better expense management tools. Use a full plan comparisonview to weigh virtual cards, integrations, and international perks before you upgrade.

Run a plan comparisonview complete and check comparisonview complete pricing to estimate total monthly cost with extras. That helps you decide quickly and confidently which tier fits your needs.

Choose your card type: credit, debit, metal, virtual, employee

Pick the payment style that fits how you spend. Use the prepaid Credit Card for broad acceptance with credit card merchants worldwide while avoiding interest or revolving debt.

Pick a Debit Card when you want direct access to accounts for daily purchases and ATM withdrawals. It helps keep budgets simple and spending clear.

For a premium feel, choose the Metal Credit Card. It is made of 100 stainless steel, has a one‑time €99.99 fee, and works like a regular credit option for global acceptance.

Create virtual credit cards for safer online shopping. They are easy to make and manage in‑app, great for disposable details and separating recurring subscriptions.

Issue Employee Cards (physical or virtual) to your team. Set monthly limits, track receipts, and keep spending visible across projects.

Rely on card payment refunds as an extra layer of purchase protection when something goes wrong. Combine types for the best mix—metal for daily carry, virtual for online, and employee cards for teams.

bunq elite users unlock premium materials and extras, and everyone can learn moresee full details in the Add Card flow inside the app. Enjoy smooth acceptance with credit card merchants thanks to Mastercard reach.

Virtual credit cards: security and convenience online

Create virtual payment details on the fly to keep online shopping safe and simple.

You can generate virtual credit cards instantly inside the app and assign each one to a specific sub-account. This separates subscriptions, ads, and stores so bills stay tidy and tracking stays clear.

Link virtual cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay for smooth mobile checkout both online and in-store. If details are exposed, delete and recreate a virtual card in seconds and avoid waiting for new plastic.

Use one virtual card per merchant to block a single vendor without disrupting other services. Rename cards and tag transactions to get useful insights tips on recurring payments and budgeting.

Follow in‑app insights tips help to set low online limits and enable notifications. These tips help bank smarter by reducing fraud risk while keeping checkout frictionless.

Keep your main physical card offline for travel or emergencies and let virtual cards handle everyday online purchases for better privacy and control.

Apple Pay and Google Pay compatibility

Your phone or watch can replace your wallet for contactless payments instantly.

Add your cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay straight from the app and start tapping in seconds. Virtual payment details work immediately in your wallet, so you don’t need to wait for plastic to arrive.

Follow a few simple in‑app steps to connect and verify. Wallet notifications show transactions in real time, helping you track spending and spot anything odd right away.

Make life easy by setting your most-used payment method as the default in the wallet. Biometric authentication speeds approvals and helps you bank smarter make everyday payments more secure.

Use per-card limits and sub-accounts to separate business and personal spending. If you need help adding pay google pay or troubleshooting, in‑app guidance and 24/7 support are there to assist.

Keep the physical card safe at home and let your mobile wallet handle daily purchases. Tap and go at checkout—no PIN or swipes needed for a faster experience.

Spend controls and employee expense management

Keep team spending under control with flexible limits and instant actions from the app. Set monthly limits per card and change them anytime to avoid surprises.

Pro Business includes 3 physical cards and 3 employee cards. Elite Business includes 3 physical cards and 10 employee cards. Extra physical cards cost €9.99 one‑off plus €3.49/month per employee as you scale.

Block or unblock employee cards instantly if a device is lost or a project ends. Capture receipts on the spot and upload photos that sync to the right account for fast reconciliation.

Align each card with a sub-account for travel, ads, or office budgets and monitor spending in real time. Give managers visibility into merchant categories and budget burn to help bank smarter across teams.

Use approval workflows and push notifications to keep expenses tidy without slowing operations. Choose physical or virtual options based on travel needs and online risks to smarter make life for staff.

Packed useful insights appear in-app to guide policy choices. Read related articlescheck blog for tips help bank and best practices tailored to growing teams and bunq pro bunq or pro bunq elite plans for clear pricing.

Fees, included cards, and one-time costs

Know exactly what you’ll pay: a quick fee breakdown helps you avoid surprise charges.

Core plans include 1 physical card. Pro and Elite include 3 physical cards each. If you need extras, ordering a physical card costs €9.99 one time.

If you activate more cards than your plan allows, expect a €3.45/month fee per extra active card. Metal options carry a one-time €99.99 charge for Pro and Elite users for premium material and feel.

Review comparisonview complete pricing to see how those one-time and monthly costs affect your total. A full plan comparisonview helps you decide if an upgrade covers your needs.

Use plantry free days when available to test premium features before committing. Explore moresee full plan details for team sizing, employee options, and to avoid surprises.

Card payment refunds add useful purchase protection. Assess your mix of physical, virtual, and employee cards and align fees with actual usage to stay cost-efficient.

Revisit moresee full plan info periodically as your needs change and your team grows.

Understanding limits and balances on prepaid credit

Prepaid balances put you fully in control: spend only what you load and never worry about a revolving line.

The prepaid model has no credit limit. Purchases draw from your loaded balance, so you can top up before spending and avoid surprises.

Because the payment method is recognized by credit card merchants, acceptance is strong for online shops and travel purchases worldwide.

Keep money protected something with virtual credit cards for higher-risk stores or one-off trials. Use virtual cards to isolate subscriptions and stop exposure quickly.

Use protected something planned workflows like refunds and chargebacks when purchases go wrong. These options help recover funds if a merchant fails to deliver.

A prepaid setup helps you avoid interest and overspending—supporting healthy habits without burden debt. Set per-transaction and monthly limits to lower risk.

Use separate sub-accounts for travel, bills, and subscriptions so balances match what you planned. That keeps money protected something and makes budgets simple.

Track real-time notifications to know when a merchant authorizes and settles a charge. Combining physical and virtual options gives convenience while keeping funds protected something planned.

ZeroFX for smarter spending abroad

Save on foreign transactions with ZeroFX: the app uses Mastercard’s exchange rate plus a 0.5% currency fluctuation at confirmation. That small markup often beats Dynamic Currency Conversion fees at shops and ATMs.

Always choose to pay in the local currency when abroad. Picking the local option activates ZeroFX and prevents hidden markup from vendors.

Free users get ZeroFX up to a €1000 monthly threshold. Above that limit, an extra 1% conversion fee applies, so plan large withdrawals or purchases accordingly.

View your monthly ZeroFX savings directly in the app. The summary shows how much you saved versus standard conversion offers—handy for frequent travellers.

Plan trips with bunq pro bunq or pro bunq elite to bundle ZeroFX with more cards and travel-friendly features. Check what’s available bunq pro and learn moresee full details in-app for travel limits and card settings.

Bank smarter make choices by linking a dedicated travel sub-account and keeping a virtual card for foreign subscriptions. Make life easy: set travel notifications and pick ATMs that prompt for local currency to ensure ZeroFX applies to withdrawals too.

Safety first: your money protected by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme

Your savings sit behind a clear legal safety net that kicks in if a bank fails. Eligible deposits are covered up to €100,000 under the dutch deposit guarantee.

This deposit guarantee scheme follows Dutch and EU rules, so coverage is straightforward and reliable. The 100,000 money protected limit applies per eligible depositor, which helps planning and peace of mind.

If a purchase goes sideways, card payment refunds and dispute processes add extra protection. You can also reach 24/7 support in your language to start a claim or get security help fast.

Think of this as platforminsured 100,000 money protection: modern mobile convenience combined with solid regulatory backing. bunq platforminsured 100,000 gives clear limits and resilience for everyday balances.

Use virtual payment details for risky online stores and separate sub-accounts for travel and bills. Combining money protected dutch with smart habits gives easy, layered security.

Instant Payments: send and receive money instantly

Need to split a bill or pay a supplier now? Instant Payments make it happen in moments. Move funds between accounts or to friends and suppliers in seconds.

Request payments and receive money instantly without waiting days for transfers to clear. This lets you settle invoices faster and enjoy better cash flow for your day‑to‑day operations.

Use paymentssend receive money to split group expenses on the spot. For businesses, payouts to contractors arrive right away, which speeds workflows and improves trust.

Combine real‑time transfers with dedicated sub‑accounts to keep projects and budgets organized. You will also get notifications for sent and incoming transfers so you always know what’s happening.

Join the community — usersjoin million users rely on instant moves. Millions usersjoin million benefit from fewer delays and more control over money movement. Pair Instant Payments with spending limits to keep rapid transfers secure and intentional.

24/7 support: instant help in your language

Get help any time — live chat agents are ready around the clock in your language. Open the app and start a conversation without waiting on hold. Responses are fast and clear.

Expect quick resolutions for card orders, wallet setup, disputes, and travel questions. Guided flows walk you through replacing a card, updating details, or adding employee cards step by step. The app also offers packed useful insights to set limits and sub‑accounts correctly.

Browse articlescheck blog posts and FAQs for common fixes you can do yourself in minutes. If a payment fails, support can help retry the payment, verify merchant details, or adjust limits on the spot.

Business users get help with employee setups, receipt uploads, and integrations. You’ll also receive proactive security tips before trips or large purchases to reduce risks.

Stay confident with multilingual coverage that meets you where you are. Learn more with related articlescheck blog to level up everyday banking efficiency.

Trusted by millions: join over 17 million users bunq platform

Tap into a platform used by millions who want speed, safety, and control. Join over 17 million users on the platform and enjoy instant setup, clear tools, and fast notifications.

Eligible deposits are protected by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000, so your savings sit behind a strong safety net. Instant Payments move money in seconds and keep daily life smooth.

Read why million users bunq praise quick setup, intuitive controls, and built-in protections. Many switch for travel-friendly perks and wide merchant acceptance that just works abroad.

Businesses value employee spend controls and real-time expense tracking. Start simple and upgrade seamlessly to bunq pro bunq or pro bunq elite as your needs grow.

users bunq platforminsured benefit from instant transfers, mobile wallet support, and 24/7 multilingual help when issues arise. bunq elite users unlock extra allowances and premium materials without extra complexity.

See how features stack up for freelancers, startups, and frequent travelers before you decide. Try the app to feel the speed, then pick the plan that fits your day-to-day needs.

Get started today: start 30-day free trialopen account

Kick off your account with a start 30-day free trialopen account and try premium perks at your pace. Use the 30-day free trialopen to explore virtual credit cards and sub-accounts while your physical one ships.

Tap Home > Add > Add Card to pick your first card and finish setup in minutes. Add the new method to apple pay google for instant tap-to-pay convenience.

Compare options in a plan comparisonview complete and review moresee full plan details before you upgrade. plantry free days are available to test perks like the 100 stainless steel metal option on available bunq pro, bunq pro bunq, or pro bunq elite plans.