U.S. Business Credit Card for Foreign-Owned Companies

Posted by Dora Stefanescu | | Banking

Close-up of a gold credit card

The short answer

  • Credit card issuers set their own criteria. There is no rule that guarantees or forbids approval for a foreign-owned company.
  • The SBA notes that loan eligibility for a new business is typically based on the owner's personal credit, and that new businesses do not yet have a financial history.
  • A U.S. company with an EIN and a U.S. business bank account is the usual starting point. Issuers may also ask for a personal guarantee.
  • A founder who has never lived in the United States has no U.S. personal credit history. Secured cards are a common first step.
  • Keep business and personal spending separate, and pay on time: it feeds your records and your business credit.
Table of contents
  1. Why it is hard
  2. What usually helps
  3. Secured versus unsecured
  4. Use the card in a way that builds credit
  5. Card, payment tools and records
  6. What MyUSAService offers
  7. Frequently asked questions

A U.S. business credit card is a useful tool: it separates company spending from personal spending, gives you a monthly record and can help you build the company’s credit. For a founder based abroad, it is also one of the harder products to obtain.

This guide explains why, and what tends to help. No provider is named: criteria change, and each issuer decides for itself.

Why it is hard

  • No U.S. credit history. U.S. issuers rely heavily on credit reports. A founder who has never lived in the United States has none. Credit reporting companies such as Experian, Equifax and TransUnion keep U.S. consumer credit files.
  • A new company has no history either. The SBA notes that loan eligibility for a new business is typically based on its owner’s personal credit, because a new business has not yet built a financial record.
  • Identity and address checks. Issuers verify the company and its owners, as banks do. See our guide to opening a U.S. business bank account.
  • Personal guarantees. Issuers may ask the owner to guarantee the card personally, which some founders prefer not to accept. Read the terms before you sign. [Probabile]

What usually helps

  1. A U.S. company with an EIN, formed and in good standing.
  2. A U.S. business bank account with regular activity. Issuers often look at the account that will pay the card.
  3. Consistent company details in every document and application.
  4. A real business record: invoices, a website, a bank history.
  5. A card designed for your situation. Some issuers accept applicants without a U.S. credit history, and secured cards, where you leave a deposit, are a common first step. Compare the terms, fees and the way the issuer reports to credit reporting companies.

Secured versus unsecured

  • Secured card: you leave a deposit that usually sets the limit. It is easier to obtain and works as a first step.
  • Unsecured card: the issuer lends without a deposit. It usually requires a stronger record.

Ask whether the issuer reports your payments to credit reporting companies. A card that does not report does not build credit.

Use the card in a way that builds credit

  • Use it for real company expenses.
  • Pay the full balance on time.
  • Keep the balance well below the limit.
  • Do not open several cards at once: each application can leave a mark on your record.

Read more in our guide to building U.S. business credit.

Card, payment tools and records

A card is one of the payment tools of the company: see our overview of U.S. payment systems. Every card produces a monthly statement that belongs in your books: our bookkeeping guide shows how to keep them consistent.

What MyUSAService offers

MyUSAService forms U.S. companies for owners abroad, obtains the EIN and includes support to open your business bank account, with a screen-sharing session on Zoom. We do not issue cards and we cannot guarantee approval: each issuer decides. Prices as of September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign-owned company get a U.S. business credit card?

Sometimes. Issuers set their own criteria. A U.S. company with an EIN, a U.S. business bank account and a record of activity helps.

Do I need a U.S. credit history?

Many issuers look at the owner’s credit. Secured cards, and issuers that accept applicants without U.S. history, are common first steps.

Will I have to guarantee the card personally?

Some issuers ask for it. Read the terms before applying.

Does a business card build my personal credit?

It depends on the issuer and on whether it reports to personal credit files. Ask before applying.

What is the difference between a secured and an unsecured card?

A secured card requires a deposit, usually setting the limit. An unsecured card does not.

Looking for a U.S. business credit card?

Talk for 30 minutes, free of charge, with a MyUSAService consultant.

  • No obligation
  • Consultation in English
  • 30 minutes
  • We review which options are realistic for you

Sources

  1. SBA, Establish business credit
  2. CFPB, Credit reports and scores

First published May 27, 2025. This article is general information, not tax advice for your situation. U.S. business bank account | Book a free call

Dora Stefanescu

Dora Stefanescu

Part of the MyUSAService team since 2024, Dora is Manager & Lead Bookkeeper for Europe and the United States. She supports clients every day with their requests and coordinates with the operations team.

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