American Express runs a program called Global Card Relationship, also known as Global Transfer. If you already hold an Amex card issued by American Express in a participating country, you can apply for a US Amex card. Amex looks at your relationship in your home country instead of your (empty) US credit file.
It is one of the few ways to get a real, unsecured US credit card on day one without US credit history. It is also one of the best ways to start a US credit file, because the new card reports to the US bureaus.
Participating countries
As of September 2026, Amex's official page lists these markets:
| Region | Countries / markets |
|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand |
| Europe | Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| Americas | Argentina, Canada, Mexico, United States |
The list changes. Always check the official page before you apply.
Eligibility requirements
Your existing card must meet all of these:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Issued by American Express itself, not by a partner bank |
| Tenure | Held for at least 3 months |
| Standing | Open and in good standing (no late payments) |
| Role | You are the primary cardholder, not a supplementary one |
| Type | Personal or business card. Corporate cards are not eligible |
| Cancelled card | If you cancelled it, it must be within the last 3 months |
For the US application Amex asks for:
- Your existing Amex account number
- A US home address and a US home phone number
- US bank account details
- Passport details, or a US SSN, or a US ITIN. An SSN is not strictly required.
- Employment details and income
You can apply for only one US card through this process at a time.
Which cards count as "issued by American Express"?
- Hong Kong: cards issued by American Express International, Inc. (for example the Amex Platinum, Gold and Blue Cash cards) generally qualify. Co-branded Amex cards issued by local banks do not.
- Taiwan: only cards issued directly by American Express Taiwan qualify. Amex-network cards issued by a Taiwanese bank do not.
- Japan, UK, Australia, Singapore and others: most Amex-branded cards are issued by Amex directly, but some co-brands are bank-issued.
If you are unsure, check the issuer name in your card agreement or on the back of the card.
The US address question
This program is designed for people moving to the US. It asks for a US home address and phone number.
- If you are relocating (job, study, family), use your real US residential address.
- If you do not live in the US, be honest. Using an address that isn't yours to meet a residential requirement can breach the card agreement and may be treated as a misrepresentation. Amex may close accounts where the information cannot be verified.
- Virtual mailbox (CMRA) addresses are often flagged as non-residential.
Step by step
- Confirm eligibility. Check that your home card is Amex-issued, at least 3 months old, and in good standing, and that your country is on the list.
- Prepare US details. Get your US address, US phone number and US bank account (a real US checking account; see the banking section). Prepare your passport, and your SSN/ITIN if you have one.
- Choose the US card. Go to the Global Card Relationship page and select your current country. Amex shows the US card options available through the program. They typically include the main personal cards (for example Platinum, Gold, Green, Blue Cash and Delta co-brands) and some business cards. Availability varies.
- Apply online through the link on that page, logging in or entering your home-country account number. Some markets apply by phone. Argentina asks you to email documents to Amex instead.
- Verification. Amex may ask for your passport, proof of address or visa. Answer any calls or emails quickly.
- Receive the card at your US address. Activate it and set up autopay from your US bank account.
- Check your US credit reports after 1–2 statement cycles to confirm the account appears.
After approval
- Your US credit file starts now. The US card reports to the bureaus. After about 6 months you will usually have a FICO score.
- Your US card age starts at zero. Amex may show a "Member Since" year carried from your home account, but that does not change your credit age at the bureaus.
- Keep the home-country card open at least until the US card is established. Amex looks at the relationship.
- Watch the fees. Premium US cards carry large annual fees (as of September 2026, the US Platinum Card is $895/year). Pick a card you will actually use.
- Welcome offers. Amex generally allows one welcome bonus per card product per lifetime, and may show an eligibility pop-up. Global Transfer applicants usually get normal public offers.
Tips and pitfalls
- Pay in USD from a US account. Paying from abroad is covered in using US cards from abroad.
- Foreign transaction fees: Amex Platinum, Gold and Green have none. Blue Cash cards charge 2.7%. If you will spend abroad, choose accordingly.
- Charge vs credit card: Gold and Platinum are Pay Over Time charge-style cards with no preset spending limit. They still report to bureaus, but reporting of limits differs, so utilization is counted differently. A card with a fixed credit limit (e.g. Blue Cash Everyday) builds utilization history more predictably.
- Second US Amex: once you have 6–12 months of US history, apply for more cards through the normal US process.
- Nova Credit is gone for Amex. The Nova Credit Credit Passport route, a separate program, ended in 2025.
FAQ
I live in mainland China and hold a China-issued Amex. Can I transfer? Not as of September 2026. Mainland China is not on the participating list.
I hold a Hong Kong Amex but live in mainland China. The program is about the card-issuing country, but the US application still requires a US home address. See the address section above.
Do I need an SSN? No. Passport details are accepted in place of an SSN or ITIN. Once you get an SSN, update it with Amex.
Is there a hard pull? Assume yes. Community reports say Amex may still check a US bureau (with SSN/ITIN applicants), while decisions rest mainly on your home-country relationship. Either way, a thin or empty US file is expected and is not a reason for decline.
Can I transfer my points? No. Membership Rewards points are country-specific and do not move between countries.
