Yes, you can get a US credit card with a passport only and no SSN or ITIN, but options are narrow. The reliable paths are American Express Global Card Relationship for existing Amex cardholders abroad, and Zolve for non-US residents with a passport and visa.
The passport-only options that still work
| Path | Who it fits | SSN or ITIN needed? | Reports to all 3 US bureaus? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Global Card Relationship, formerly Global Transfer | Existing Amex cardholder in an eligible country | No, passport only | No, reports to American Express only |
| Zolve | Non-US resident with passport and visa | No | Yes |
| Nova Credit with Chase | UK or Canada history only, Chase cards | ITIN or SSN usually required for the US application; Nova supplies the foreign history | Yes, through Chase |
| ITIN path, Form W-7 | Anyone who can obtain an ITIN | Yes, ITIN, 7 to 11 weeks processing | Yes, for the cards listed below |
| Authorized user | Family or partner with a US card | No, issuer decides | Varies by issuer |
Source: issuer and program information as compiled for this article, November 2026. Program rules change, so check the current terms before applying.
American Express Global Card Relationship
American Express Global Transfer is now called Global Card Relationship. It is the best-known passport-only path, but it is limited to people who already hold an American Express card in an eligible country. Eligible countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, among others. If you hold a card in one of those countries, you can apply for a US American Express card using your passport only, with no SSN, no ITIN and no US credit file.
The catch is significant. That US card reports to American Express only, not to Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. It will not build a US credit score on its own. You also cannot add an ITIN to that card later to make it report. To build a real US score, you will need to get an ITIN and apply for a second card with it. The Global Card Relationship card can be a useful first card for spending and for building a relationship with Amex, but do not mistake it for a credit-building card in the bureau sense. If you are already an Amex cardholder abroad, use this path for convenience, but plan the ITIN step in parallel. Do not wait a year on a non-reporting card and then discover you have no score when you need to rent a home or apply for another card.
Zolve and Nova Credit: what still works
Zolve states "No SSN needed" for non-US residents applying with a passport and visa. Unlike the Amex Global Card Relationship path, Zolve reports to all three US bureaus. That makes it one of the few passport-only cards that can actually help build a US credit history from the start. Zolve is designed for people moving to the United States who do not yet have an SSN or ITIN. You apply online with your passport and visa, and if approved, you can start using the card and building a record with the bureaus. Check the current terms, fees and credit limit before you apply, because newcomer cards can have lower limits than mainstream cards. Use the card for small, regular purchases and pay in full each month.
Nova Credit is a service that translates a foreign credit history into a form a US issuer can use. It used to work with American Express, but the American Express × Nova Credit path ended in 2025. Do not rely on older articles that still present it as current. Nova Credit now works with Chase only, for the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex cards, and only for applicants with credit history in the United Kingdom or Canada. If you have UK or Canadian history and you are applying for a Chase card, Nova Credit can help the issuer see that history. It does not remove the need for an SSN or ITIN on the US application itself, and it does not help if your history is in another country.
The ITIN path: the most reliable way to build US credit
If you can obtain an ITIN, do it. An ITIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service on Form W-7, and processing takes 7 to 11 weeks. That wait is frustrating, but it unlocks the widest range of cards that report to all three bureaus, and it gives you a number the bureaus can use to track your credit.
With an ITIN, the following cards are options to consider, subject to current issuer terms: Capital One Platinum Secured, with a minimum deposit of $49, which reports to all three bureaus and can upgrade to an unsecured card; Capital One Quicksilver Secured, with a $200 deposit, which also reports to all three bureaus; Chase Freedom Rise, which can be applied for in a branch with an ITIN; and Bank of America secured cards, with a $200 deposit, applied for in a branch or by phone. Discover it Secured, with a $49 deposit, is a note on sources: some sources say it accepts an ITIN, while others say Discover requires an SSN. Do not assume Discover will accept an ITIN — check Discover's current terms before you apply.
A secured card requires a refundable deposit that becomes your credit limit. That deposit is not a fee. You get it back when you close the card in good standing or when the issuer upgrades you to an unsecured card. Secured cards are the standard first step for many newcomers, and they report to the bureaus in the same way as unsecured cards. Bureaus can track credit using an ITIN or other identifiers, so an ITIN-based card can build a file that later supports an unsecured card, a phone plan, or a rental application. The key is to use the card lightly and pay on time.
A worked example: two newcomers, two different outcomes
Ana arrives from Mexico with an existing Amex card issued in Mexico and a passport, but no SSN and no ITIN. She uses Global Card Relationship to get a US Amex card with her passport only. She uses it for groceries and transport and pays in full each month. After six months, she has a good record with American Express, but she has no FICO score, because the card does not report to Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. When she applies for an apartment, the landlord cannot find a US credit file. She then applies for an ITIN, waits 7 to 11 weeks, and applies for a Capital One Platinum Secured card with the ITIN. That second card starts building her bureau file. Her total time to a first bureau score is about nine months from arrival.
Ben arrives from India with a passport and student visa, but no Amex card abroad and no ITIN. He applies for Zolve, is approved, and because Zolve reports to all three bureaus, he has enough history for a FICO score after about six months.
The difference is not about which person is more creditworthy. It is about reporting. A card that reports to all three bureaus builds a score. A card that reports only to the issuer does not, even if you use it perfectly. That is why the reporting column in the table above matters more than the approval odds. Start with the passport-only card you can get now, apply for an ITIN on Form W-7 as soon as you can, and then apply for a secured card that reports to all three bureaus. Track the timeline with a first credit timeline tool and the tools hub. If you are an F-1 student, read our guide to the best first credit card for F-1 students with no SSN next, and see a no-annual-fee card for freelance writers on Upwork if you earn freelance income.
FAQ
Can I really get a US credit card with only a passport?
Yes, in limited cases. American Express Global Card Relationship works for existing Amex cardholders abroad, and Zolve works for non-US residents with a passport and visa. Both use a passport only, with no SSN or ITIN.
Will a passport-only Amex card build my US credit score?
No, not with the bureaus. A Global Card Relationship card reports to American Express only, not to Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. You will need an ITIN and a second card that reports to the bureaus to build a FICO score.
Does Zolve report to the credit bureaus?
Yes. Zolve reports to all three US bureaus, which is why it is a stronger credit-building option than a non-reporting passport-only card.
Can I use Nova Credit to get an Amex card?
No, not anymore. The American Express × Nova Credit path ended in 2025. Nova Credit now works with Chase only, for Freedom Unlimited and Flex, and only for UK and Canada history.
How long does it take to get an ITIN?
Form W-7 processing takes 7 to 11 weeks. Apply as early as you can, because the ITIN unlocks secured cards that report to all three bureaus.
Does Discover it Secured accept an ITIN?
Sources conflict. Some sources say Discover it Secured accepts an ITIN, others say Discover requires an SSN. Do not list it as ITIN-accepted without checking. Check Discover's current terms before you apply.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not financial advice. Card programs, eligibility rules and reporting practices change, and approval depends on the issuer. Check the current terms on the issuer's website before applying, and consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser or immigration adviser about your own situation.
Last verified: November 2026
