Credit cards for newcomers to the US: ITIN, no SSN, no credit history
Most big US issuers will take an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security number (SSN), but we found none that says you can apply with only a passport. Your credit history from another country doesn't carry over, so most newcomers start with a secured or student card and build a US record from there.
Last checked:
Big US issuers compared
| Issuer | Apply with an ITIN | Passport only (no SSN or ITIN) | Uses credit history from abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | Yes | No | Not stated |
| Capital One | Yes | No | Not stated |
| Discover | Yes | No | Not stated |
| Bank of America | Yes | No | Not stated |
| Citi | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| American Express | Not stated (yes for existing Amex cardholders moving to the US) | Not stated | Yes (existing Amex cardholders only) |
"Not stated" means we could not find the issuer saying so on its own site. Tap an issuer for the details and sources.
Guides
Why you start from zero
US lenders look at your report from the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Credit history from another country is not reported to them, so you have no US file until a US lender reports an account for you. Paying with a debit card, cash or a prepaid card does not build a credit history; on-time payments on a credit card or loan that the lender reports do.
How a secured card works
You put down a cash deposit, usually equal to your credit limit, and spend up to that amount. The issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus like any credit card, so paying on time builds your record. The deposit comes back when you close the account with nothing owed, or when the issuer moves you to a regular card. The CFPB warns that fees and interest rates on some secured cards can be high, so read the card's terms first.
Check your report for free
Once a lender reports an account, you can see your report from each of the three bureaus for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Watch out for look-alike sites that call a report free but then ask you to buy something.
Sources
- CFPB: What are some ways to start or rebuild a good credit history?
- CFPB: How to rebuild your credit
- CFPB: How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
- FTC: You now have permanent access to free weekly credit reports
Last checked: . General information from the issuers' and agencies' own pages, not financial advice. We are not a bank and don't get paid by any issuer for these pages. We never ask for your SSN, ITIN, passport or card number.