「2025.11 Update」AMEX now requires SSN/ITIN when adding an authorized user card. It’s not clear whether this verification can be bypassed by phone or chat. In the past, we could add authorized user cards for “family members” without an SSN, then use the AMEX offers on those cards; now we can only find family members who have SSNs. At the moment, Chase, Citi, and BofA still let you add authorized user cards online without an SSN.

Friendly reminder: Adding authorized user cards feels great in the moment, but beware of AMEX financial review; spread the cards out and do it in batches.

What Is an Authorized User Card?

Definition

Credit cards distinguish between the primary card and authorized user cards. The primary cardholder is the main holder of the credit card account (Primary Holder), while the authorized user is the account’s authorized user (authorized user). Since it is an authorized user, only the primary cardholder can add one, and adding an authorized user card means that all spending on that card is the primary cardholder’s responsibility.

Features

The credit limit on the authorized user card is the same as the primary card’s, the name printed on the card is the authorized user’s name, and the billing address can also be changed to a new address. The card number and expiration date may be the same as the primary card’s (Chase, Citi), or they may be different (AMEX). Not just anyone can be added as an authorized user; there is generally a minimum age requirement. Also, I don’t really recommend adding authorized user cards for nonexistent people.

Note that, for most credit cards, adding an authorized user card is free. Some premium cards charge about $75 in extra annual fees for adding one, mainly because the authorized user card also comes with premium perks such as airport lounge access.

How to Add One

You can add an authorized user card at any time. Generally, you can do it in one of the following ways:

  • Fill it out directly at the last step of the credit card application
  • Add it yourself through online banking
  • Call or use online chat with customer service to add it

Adding an authorized user card usually only requires the authorized user’s name and address. For AMEX, adding one yourself online requires entering an SSN.

Ways to Use Authorized User Cards

Increase AMEX Offers Access

AMEX has a feature where the card number on the authorized user card is different from the primary card’s, and that also means AMEX-issued authorized user cards can each have their own separate AMEX Offers feed. One AMEX card can have up to 99 authorized user cards, so in theory you can max out offers like crazy. For example, there used to be Amazon $75 back on $25 and Walmart $15 back on $5 offers; combined with the dozen or so AMEX primary and authorized user cards I had on hand, one round of offers could earn more than $500. Below is the primary card of a Blue Cash Preferred credit card I’ve held for 3 years, averaging about $400 a year. The corresponding authorized user card on that primary card is around the same amount.

AMEX offers have a hidden feature: if the primary card has an offer, the authorized user card usually has it too. If you’ve held an AMEX primary card for a long time, it’s likely to have some great offers that newer cards don’t have, and adding authorized user cards to those cards is often the best move. For an intro to AMEX offers, see:

When I apply, I usually add one authorized user card for my spouse, and when they apply, they add me. If each person can have up to 5 AMEX credit cards, then just the primary and authorized user cards together already make 10 cards. Add in AMEX charge cards, which have no card-count limit, plus their authorized user cards, and it takes a long time every time an AMEX offer comes around. Of course, the rewards are also very generous. That said, I don’t recommend adding more than 4 authorized user cards to a single AMEX card, especially if you’re just making up names. If you want to add authorized user cards for your parents in China and don’t have an SSN, you can do it through online chat without entering an SSN.

Get Extra Sign-Up Bonuses

Chase also likes people to add authorized user cards, and the main promotion is to offer extra bonuses for adding an authorized user when applying for a new Chase card. For example:

Chase Freedom: add an authorized user card and get $25 / 2,500 UR

These offers only apply to adding the first authorized user card, and you need to make one purchase within three months (either on the primary card or the authorized user card).

Get Extra Spending Bonuses

Banks also like to encourage people to add authorized user cards and then spend on them. AMEX has the following authorized user card promotions:

  • Platinum: add one authorized user card (Platinum or Gold), spend $500 within three months, and get an extra 5,000 points, up to four times for a total of 20,000. Must be added all at once, and must be added by October 20. (promotion link)
  • Premier Gold Rewards (PRG): add one authorized user card, spend $500 within three months, and get an extra 5,000 points, up to four times for a total of 20,000. Must be added all at once, and must be added by October 20. (promotion link)
  • Hilton Surpass: add one authorized user card, spend $1,000 within three months, and get an extra 10,000 points, up to four times for a total of 40,000. Can be added multiple times, and must be added by September 30. (promotion link)
  • Hilton no annual fee: add one authorized user card, spend $500 within three months, and get an extra 5,000 points, up to four times for a total of 20,000. Can be added multiple times, and must be added by September 30. (promotion link)
  • Every Day Card: add one authorized user card, spend $150 within three months, and get an extra 1,500 points, up to four times for a total of 6,000. (No link yet)
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG): Add one authorized user card and spend $1,000 within three months to get an extra 2,500 points, up to four times for a total of 10,000. You can add them in separate transactions, and they must be added by September 30. (offer link)
  • Blue Cash Everyday: Add one authorized user card and spend $500 within three months to get an extra $25, up to four times for a total of $100. (offer link)
  • Delta Gold: Add one authorized user card and spend $500 within three months to get an extra 2,500 points, up to four times for a total of 10,000. Must be added all at once, and it must be added by October 20. (offer link)
  • Delta Platinum: Add one authorized user card and spend $1,000 within three months to get an extra 5,000 points, up to four times for a total of 20,000. (No link available)
  5,000 MR bonus for an authorized user

If you already have the cards above and want to get these offers, you need to log in through the specific links,

In addition to AMEX, Citi also sends some targeted offer emails inviting people to add authorized users and earn rewards by spending.

Building credit history and targeted offers

If you just arrived in the U.S. or have a very thin credit file, being added as an authorized user is also a quick way to build your credit history. In general, it is better to use a Citi credit card as the authorized-user card. Once you are added as an authorized user, you inherit the primary card's open date and history. Of course, I think the impact of an authorized user in credit-scoring models is definitely limited. After all, the responsibility for repayment does not lie with the authorized user.

In addition, after you are added as an authorized user, you will gradually start receiving credit card offers from various banks in your inbox, especially from Capital One and Credit One. Remember that these offers are usually terrible, so do not apply. Of course, there are also good offers. For example, after I added an AMEX authorized user for LD (LD did not have any AMEX primary card at the time), LD received quite a few targeted AMEX email offers, and some good AMEX offers also showed up in the pre-qualification page. If you have been waiting for AMEX targeted offers, you may want to try this method.

Getting extra airline credits and premium benefits

Some credit cards have airline credit benefits, and in general the authorized-user card shares that credit with the primary card, but there are exceptions. The City National Bank Crystal Visa Signature credit card gives the primary cardholder $250 in annual airline credits, and each authorized user card also has its own separate $250, which makes this an amazing benefit.

Some premium credit cards charge an additional annual fee to add authorized users, but authorized-user cardholders receive the same benefits as the primary cardholder, such as Priority Pass or other airport lounge access benefits. You can add them as needed.

What impact does an authorized user card have?

The authorized user's credit report

Although the authorized user is not responsible for payment, an authorized user card can still have some impact on the authorized user. The impact is mainly reflected on the credit report. The bank will link the authorized user card to your credit report based on the authorized user's address and name, or SSN. Below is a record of my AMEX credit card on LD's credit report as an authorized user

As you can see, the entries for the authorized user and the primary card are the same on the credit report, including the open date, type, credit limit, highest credit limit, and so on. The only difference is that it is labeled Authorized User, so the bank can easily distinguish it. Even so, an authorized user card can still have some impact:

  • Effect of delinquency: In theory, if there is delinquency, your credit score should not change. However, in practice, there is a chance that the scoring model does not distinguish between primary cards and authorized user cards. So if the primary cardholder runs into payment problems, you should call the three major credit bureaus and ask them to remove this authorized-user account from your credit report.
  • Effect of balances: If the primary cardholder leaves a large balance before the statement closes, that balance will also appear on the authorized user's credit report and can lower the credit score. Also, if you close the authorized user card while there is still a balance on the primary card, even after the primary card is paid off later, that balance will remain on your credit report.
  • Credit score improvement: If you have a short credit history, adding an authorized user card can improve your credit score to some extent. At the moment, Citi cards can make the authorized user's open date the same as the primary card's, so this is the best card to add in this way. AMEX can no longer backdate the open date.

Risk to the primary cardholder

In general, banks of course want people to add more authorized users, since it could increase spending quite a bit. However, too many authorized users may also have negative effects. AMEX is especially cautious about this. If you add a lot of authorized users to one primary card, AMEX may raise its risk assessment of you and may even trigger a financial review. That said, a financial review depends on many factors and will not be triggered by just a few authorized user cards.

Impact of authorized users on credit card applications

First, I should state that an authorized user will not affect the authorized user's eligibility for the sign-up bonus on the same credit card. At present, the main impact of authorized users on applications is Chase's 5/24 rule. Because Chase's application system cannot automatically exclude authorized users when evaluating applications. Therefore, if your new credit cards within the last two years, including both primary and authorized user cards, exceed 5 cards, the system will automatically review and then reject you. If you call to request a reconsideration, explain this point, and the credit analyst will manually review your file, exclude those authorized user cards, and then determine whether you exceed the two-year 5-card limit.