If your spouse or a family member already has a US credit card in good standing, they can usually ask the issuer to add you as an authorized user. You get your own card on their account. Experian says that if you are new to credit, this could add years of payments to your credit history. It only helps if the account is managed well, and it depends on the issuer reporting it.
The CFPB's model card contract says that if the cardholder asks the issuer to issue a card on the account to another person, that person is an authorized user. The authorized user can make purchases. Experian says an authorized user is not responsible for paying the bill each month. The CFPB says an authorized user is generally not responsible for the debt, unlike a joint account holder.
Experian says that when the account appears on your credit reports, so does its payment history. On-time payments can help your scores. If the account has a high limit and a low balance, it can lower your overall utilization. An account older than your own accounts can raise the age of your credit history.
Experian says late payments, or a balance above about 30% of the limit, will tend to lower the primary cardholder's scores and potentially yours. Experian does not put negative information such as late payments on authorized users' reports, but other bureaus may. Utilization is reported either way. Before you are added, ask the primary cardholder whether they pay on time and how much of the limit they usually use.
Experian says many major issuers report authorized users to all three bureaus, but issuers can choose what to report and to which bureaus. Call the issuer before you are added and ask whether it reports authorized users to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. After you are added, check your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Experian says it may take several weeks or months for the account to appear. If you do not have an SSN yet, ask the issuer what ID it needs to add you and whether the account can be reported to a credit file in your name.
The CFPB says the primary cardholder can call customer service to remove an authorized user, and can ask for a new card number if that person still has the old one. Experian says an authorized user can also ask to be removed at any time, and the account then comes off their credit reports. Once you can get approved for a card on your own, such as a starter or secured card, keep that card open and paid on time.
Experian, Will being an authorized user help my credit: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/will-being-an-authorized-user-help-my-credit/; Experian, Are authorized-user accounts reported to all three bureaus: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/are-authorized-user-accounts-reported-to-all-three-bureaus/; CFPB, How do I remove an authorized user: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-remove-an-authorized-user-from-my-credit-card-account-en-86/; CFPB, Credit card contract definitions: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/credit-card-data/know-you-owe-credit-cards/credit-card-contract-definitions/; Pages checked October 16, 2026.
Experian says an authorized user is not responsible for paying the bill each month, and the CFPB says authorized users are generally not responsible for the debt. The primary cardholder is.
It can, if the issuer reports the account to the bureaus and the account is paid on time with a low balance. Experian says it could add years of payments to a new credit history.
Experian does not put late payments on authorized users' reports, but other bureaus may. You can ask to be removed.
Check your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Experian says it may take several weeks or months to appear.
⚠️ About this data: Where we have checked a card's annual fee, APR and foreign-transaction fee, the page shows the date and the source. Welcome offers, rewards and benefits change often, so the issuer's own site is the final word. Approval is decided by the issuer. Nothing here is financial advice.