How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Brazil

Brazil founders face the invisible-credit problem. When arriving in the United States or launching operations from abroad, your robust local credit history maintained with bureaus like Serasa Experian and SPC Brasil does not automatically cross borders [1]. Consequently, US financial institutions view you as having a blank credit profile, making it challenging to secure unsecured business loans, corporate credit cards, or favorable financing terms without proper structuring.

Why US credit matters

A US credit file changes what a US company can do. Without one, financing means cash collateral or a personal guarantee, corporate cards come with a deposit, and commercial leases ask for six months up front.

With one, the same company borrows at a normal rate. That is the whole difference, and it is why the sequence below is worth the months it takes.

No part of this is guaranteed. Credit decisions belong to lenders, and nobody — including us — can promise you a score or a limit.

The Amex Global Transfer route

American Express runs a programme — Global Transfer, sometimes called the Global Card Relationship — that lets an existing Amex cardholder apply for a US card using their established relationship with Amex rather than starting from nothing.

Your credit history does not transfer. This is the most common misunderstanding about the programme. What transfers is the relationship — Amex's own record of how you have handled your account with them. Your local bureau file, your repayment record with other lenders and your local credit score do not cross the border. Amex US underwrites you as a new customer who happens to be a known quantity to Amex.

That is still a considerable advantage over building a US file from zero. It is not the same as arriving with a credit history.

Four conditions apply, and all four must be met:

1. The card you already hold must be issued by American Express itself, not by a local bank operating under an American Express licence.
2. You must be the primary cardholder, not an additional or supplementary cardholder.
3. You must have held the card for at least three months.
4. The account must be open and in good standing when you apply.

Corporate cards are excluded separately from all four.

Condition one eliminates more applicants than the other three combined. In many markets American Express operates through Global Network Services, where a local bank licenses the Amex brand and issues its own cards under it. Those cards carry the Amex logo, but the account relationship belongs to the bank — so there is nothing to transfer. A local partnership is not an alternative route to eligibility; it is the thing that removes it.

How to check your own card: read the cardholder agreement, not the card. The agreement names the legal entity that issued it. If that name is a local bank, the card will not qualify. If it is an American Express entity, it may. If you cannot find the agreement, call the number on the back and ask which legal entity issued the card.

We maintain a country-by-country reference for this, including which markets are confirmed and which are not: Amex Global Transfer country eligibility [blocked]

Check before you rely on this: American Express sets these terms and can change them. Confirm current conditions with American Express directly.

The ITIN Path

For founders who cannot use the Amex Global Transfer program or require a foundational US tax identifier, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the standard procedure.

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
2. Federal Tax Return or Exception: Attach a US federal income tax return or qualify under an applicable tax treaty exception (such as supporting documentation for a US LLC).
3. Certified Documentation: Submit certified copies of your Brazilian passport or national identity documents directly to the IRS or through a certified acceptance agent (CAA).
4. Issuance: Receive your assigned ITIN from the IRS, which typically takes 6 to 10 weeks.
5. Credit Card Application: Use your ITIN to apply for secured credit cards or specialized newcomer credit cards that do not strictly require an initial Social Security Number (SSN).

Nova Credit

Nova Credit bridges the gap between international and US credit bureaus by translating your domestic credit history into a US-equivalent credit score [1].

• Bureau Partnership: Nova Credit maintains a direct partnership with Serasa Experian in Brazil [1].
• Application: When applying for participating US financial products or tenant screening services, you can opt to share your Brazilian credit bureau data through Nova Credit's secure platform.
• Benefit: Lenders can instantly evaluate your creditworthiness using your historical repayment data from Brazil, significantly accelerating your ability to qualify for US financial products.

Business Credit: the Faster Lane

Building business credit allows your US entity to borrow independently of your personal credit history.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Register your US company with Dun & Bradstreet to obtain a unique DUNS Number.
• Paydex Score: Establish trade lines with vendors and suppliers that report payment behavior to commercial credit bureaus. Maintaining early or on-time payments builds a strong D&B Paydex Score (ranging from 0 to 100).
• Corporate Financing: Once your corporate credit profile is established, your company can qualify for vendor lines of credit, business fuel cards, and corporate credit cards that do not require a personal SSN or ITIN.

Recommended Sequence

1. Leverage Existing Relationships: Check eligibility for an American Express card in the US via Global Transfer using your current Brazilian Amex history.
2. Share International Data: Utilize Nova Credit when applying for partner financial products to import your Serasa Experian credit history [1].
3. Obtain an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 to secure your individual tax identifier for broader banking access.
4. Open a US Business Entity: Form your US LLC or C-Corp and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
5. Establish Business Credit: Register for a DUNS number and open vendor trade lines that report to Dun & Bradstreet to build corporate credit independence.

What Keystone Bridge does

We handle the US side for founders based outside the United States: entity formation, EIN, ITIN, US business banking access, and business credit.

The price of every stage is published on this site, so a first conversation is about whether we fit — not a pitch. If the answer is that you can do this yourself, we will tell you so.

References

[1] Nova Credit. Nova Credit will help immigrants from Latin America bring their credit. https://www.novacredit.com/corporate-blog/nova-credit-will-help-immigrants-from-latin-america-bring-their-credit

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified adviser for your specific situation.