In both the UK and Ireland, obtaining a credit card is a similar process. You have to answer questions about yourself, your income, age, and general financial fitness on a form. In both countries you can apply online for credit cards and in some cases get a decision within a few minutes. As with many things in life, if you have good credit history, you’ll get an answer faster and you’ll get more favorable terms.

MBNA, one of the biggest credit card issuers in the world, has cards available in Ireland and in the UK. In Ireland, you have to be a Republic of Ireland resident, and you have to be over 18 years of age. Generally, if you aren’t applying for an “instant” credit card, it will take 7 to 10 days for you to find out if you have qualified.

In the UK, MBNA’s higher-end credit cards, such as the Platinum Card and the Platinum Rewards Card have more stringent requirements. To be accepted you have to be over age 23 and employed. You must also have no recent defaults on credit, and you must be a resident of the UK with an income of more than £20,000.

The processes of applying for a credit card in Ireland versus UK are very similar. Of course Ireland has the stamp duty of €30 for each credit account, and if you are switching from one card to another in Ireland, you’ll have to get a letter from the issuer of the account you’re closing so as not to incur the fee a second time in one year.

Ireland does seem to be stuck with more than its share of credit card surcharges, with Micheál Martin, Ireland’s foreign minister recently stating he would commit himself to abolishing ridiculous credit card surcharges, but then later reversing his stance by saying that EU laws limit what he could do on the matter.

Some of the surcharges seem to be imposed simply because large businesses can get away with it. Aer LIngus charges a €6 per person credit card handling fee and a €2 per person debit card handling fee on bookings outside the U.S. Ryanair charges up to €4 for using a credit card even if it is a Ryanair credit card. The only card that gets away without extra charges from Ryanair is the Visa Electron.

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