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Adding an Authorized User to a Credit Card in Canada 2025

Updated: March 2026 | Reviewed by the Bremo editorial team

Adding an authorized user (also called a supplementary cardholder) to your credit card in Canada gives another person their own card on your account. It's commonly used between spouses, parents and children, or employers and employees. Understanding the rules around liability, credit reporting, and fees helps you use this feature wisely.

How Authorized Users Work in Canada

An authorized user receives their own physical card linked to the primary cardholder's account. They can make purchases up to the account's credit limit, but:

• The primary cardholder is 100% legally responsible for all charges made by the authorized user
• The authorized user has no legal obligation to repay the debt
• The primary cardholder can remove the authorized user at any time
• Some issuers allow primary cardholders to set individual spending limits for supplementary cards

Authorized User Fees by Bank

Fees vary by specific card product. Premium cards often include 1 free supplementary card; additional cards carry a fee.

Does Being an Authorized User Build Credit in Canada?

This is one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of authorized user status in Canada. The answer: it depends on the issuer and how they report to credit bureaus.

If the Issuer Reports to the Bureau

Some Canadian issuers report the credit card account to both the primary cardholder's and the authorized user's credit files. In this case, the authorized user benefits from the account's positive history — payment history, account age, and available credit all appear on their report.

If the Issuer Does Not Report

Some Canadian issuers only report to the primary cardholder's file. The authorized user gets spending power but no credit reporting benefit. Always check with your specific issuer.

Practical Guidance

To reliably build credit in Canada, the authorized user approach is less certain than simply opening your own credit product (student card, secured card, or credit-building tool like KOHO). If you're using authorized user status specifically to build credit, confirm with the issuer that they report to the authorized user's bureau file.

How to Add an Authorized User

1. Log in to online banking or call your card issuer
2. Navigate to card management → "Add supplementary cardholder" or similar
3. Provide the authorized user's information: full legal name, date of birth, and sometimes SIN (required for credit reporting)
4. Set a spending limit if your issuer supports per-card limits
5. Confirm the annual fee for the supplementary card (if applicable)
6. The new card is mailed to the primary cardholder's address (typically 5–10 business days)

Removing an Authorized User

You can remove an authorized user at any time through online banking or by calling your issuer. Once removed:

• Their card is cancelled immediately
• They can no longer make purchases
• Any charges they made before removal remain your responsibility
• If the issuer was reporting the account to their bureau file, removing them stops future reporting (but past history remains on their file)

Authorized User vs. Joint Account Holder

Bottom Line

Adding an authorized user is straightforward and can be useful for earning more rewards on a shared account or helping a family member with spending access. The credit-building benefit for the authorized user is real but not guaranteed — it depends on whether your issuer reports to their bureau file. For certain credit building, a dedicated product is more reliable. Always add authorized users you trust, and use per-card spending limits if available.