"Does adding an authorized user affect the primary cardholder's credit score?"

"Adding an authorized user does not directly affect the primary cardholder's credit score. However, the authorized user's spending increases the primary cardholder's balance, which can raise utilisation — potentially lowering the score if the balance goes unreported before the statement date."

"Does being an authorized user build credit in Canada?"

"Yes, in most cases. When an issuer reports the account to Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada, the account history appears on both the primary cardholder's and the authorized user's credit report. On-time payments, low utilisation, and long history all help the authorized user's score — even if they never use the card."

"Which Canadian credit cards offer free supplementary cards?"

"Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, MBNA Smart Cash, and many Tangerine, Simplii, and PC Financial cards offer free additional cardholders. TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, and Scotiabank premium cards typically charge $50–$75 per supplementary card annually. American Express cards charge $0 (basic) to $199 (business) per additional card."

"Is the authorized user responsible for the debt?"

"No. In Canada, only the primary cardholder (the account holder) is legally responsible for the balance. The authorized user can spend on the card but has no obligation to repay the issuer. However, any arrangement between the primary cardholder and authorized user to share costs is a private agreement — not enforced by the bank."

"Can an authorized user be removed from a credit card?"

"Yes. The primary cardholder can remove an authorized user at any time by calling the issuer. The supplementary card is then cancelled. It's advisable to cut up or destroy the physical card and update the authorized user about the cancellation."

Authorized Users on a Credit Card in Canada — How It Works (2026)

An authorized user (also called a supplementary cardholder or additional cardholder) is someone you add to your credit card account who gets their own physical card, linked to your account. They can make purchases, but the primary cardholder is responsible for all payments.

In Canada, adding an authorized user is one of the most common ways to help a spouse, partner, or family member build credit.

What Authorized Users Can and Cannot Do

Authorized User Can	Authorized User Cannot
Make purchases with the card	Access account information (statements, balance, credit limit)
Use the card online and in-store	Change the credit limit
Earn points/rewards on the account	Request a balance transfer
Benefit from credit history reporting	Dispute charges (only the primary can)
Enjoy card benefits (insurance, lounge passes where included)	Cancel or close the account

Supplementary Card Fees: What Canadian Cards Charge

Annual fees for additional cardholders vary significantly across issuers:

Card	Primary Annual Fee	Supplementary Card Fee
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite	$139	$75
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite	$139	$50
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite	$150	Free (first card)
Scotiabank Gold American Express	$120	$29
American Express Cobalt	$156	Free (basic), $50 (premium)
American Express Platinum	$799	Free (basic), $199 (Platinum)
RBC Avion Visa Infinite	$120	$50
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite	$120	Free (first card)
BMO CashBack World Elite	$120	$50
Tangerine Money-Back	$0	Free
PC Financial World Elite	$0	Free
Rogers Red World Elite	$0	Free

Best no-fee options for additional cardholders: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite (free first supplementary card with no annual fee on the card itself for the additional user), BMO eclipse Visa Infinite, and no-fee cards like Tangerine.

How Adding an Authorized User Affects Credit Scores

For the Authorized User

When the issuer reports the account to the credit bureaus, the account typically appears on the authorized user’s credit report as well. This means:

Positive payment history from the primary cardholder’s on-time payments helps the authorized user’s score
Low utilisation on the account benefits the authorized user
Account age contributes to the authorized user’s average credit history length

This is why adding a family member as an authorized user on an established card is an effective strategy for helping someone new to Canada or someone rebuilding their credit.

Important: Not all issuers report supplementary cardholder accounts to the credit bureaus in the same way. Some report the account to the authorized user’s report; others don’t. Ask your issuer directly, or check the authorized user’s credit report after 1–2 billing cycles.

For the Primary Cardholder

Adding an authorized user has no direct impact on the primary cardholder’s credit score. Indirectly:

If the authorized user spends freely, the balance (and utilisation ratio) may increase before the statement closes
High utilisation — even if paid in full — can temporarily lower the score

Tip: Keep total spending below 30% of the credit limit each billing cycle, even if you pay in full each month.

How to Add an Authorized User

Call your issuer or log into your online banking
Provide the authorized user’s full name, date of birth, and social insurance number (SIN) — required for credit bureau reporting
The issuer will mail a card in the authorized user’s name to your address (usually 5–10 business days)
The authorized user activates the card when it arrives

Most major Canadian issuers (TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, Amex) allow online additions through their banking portals. Some may require a phone call.

Authorized User Strategies for Couples and Families

Add a spouse or partner as an authorized user on a premium card like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or Scotiabank Passport. All household spending earns points in one account — accelerating toward redemptions faster than two separate lower-spend accounts.

Cost consideration: The $50–$75 supplementary card fee is usually worth it if the authorized user spends significantly. On a $139 TD Aeroplan card with a $75 supplementary card fee, total cost is $214/year — but all household spending earns 1.5x Aeroplan on Air Canada, 1x elsewhere.

Strategy 2: Help a Family Member Build Credit

Add a young adult or newcomer to Canada as an authorized user on your long-established card. They benefit from your positive history without needing to qualify for their own card yet. This works best with a no-fee card (no extra cost) and a limited spending arrangement.

Strategy 3: No-Fee Dual Household Cards

For households wanting all spending on one account at zero incremental cost: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite (free first supplementary), BMO eclipse Visa Infinite (free first supplementary), or any no-fee card (Tangerine, PC Financial, Rogers Red) offer free additional cardholders.

Removing an Authorized User

You can remove an authorized user at any time:

Call the issuer’s customer service line
Request the supplementary card be cancelled
The authorized user’s access is revoked immediately or within a few business days
The account may continue to appear on the authorized user’s credit report as a closed supplementary account — but positive history from the period they were an authorized user remains

Supplementary cardholder fees and credit bureau reporting practices vary by issuer and are subject to change. Verify current fees and policies with your card issuer before adding an authorized user. See our Advertiser Disclosure.