How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Costa Rica

Costa Rican founders expanding into global markets frequently face the invisible-credit problem when trying to secure US financial services, business credit cards, and software infrastructure. In Costa Rica, local credit history is tracked and managed by bureaus and financial regulators including Equifax Costa Rica and SUGEF (Superintendencia General de Entidades Financieras), but this domestic credit score does not transfer across borders to the United States.

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 Amex Global Transfer, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the foundational stepping stone for US financial integration.

1. Form W-7 Preparation: Complete IRS Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN.
2. Certified Documentation: Obtain a certified copy of your Costa Rican passport from a local notary or authorized issuing agency.
3. US Entity Association: Attach your US LLC formation documents or a federal tax reporting requirement letter to substantiate the application.
4. Submission: Submit the complete packet to the IRS ITIN Operation division by mail or through a certified Acceptance Agent.
5. Receipt: Receive your assigned nine-digit ITIN, enabling you to open US business bank accounts and apply for credit cards.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau that translates international credit history into a US-equivalent credit score. While Nova Credit covers major corridors such as Canada, the UK, India, Brazil, Mexico, and several other global jurisdictions, its direct bureau integration coverage for Costa Rica is limited. Costa Rican founders should check Nova Credit's current live country list or rely on alternative bootstrapping pathways like secured cards and business credit reporting.

Business credit: the faster lane

Establishing business credit allows you to build a corporate profile independent of your personal SSN or ITIN.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Obtain a free D-U-N-S number for your US LLC.
• Trade Lines: Open accounts with US vendors and suppliers that report payment activity to commercial credit bureaus (such as D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business).
• Paydex Score: Maintain strict on-time or early payments to establish a strong D&B Paydex score, enabling you to secure commercial credit lines and vendor financing.

Recommended sequence

1. Form your US LLC and obtain your EIN (Employer Identification Number).
2. Apply for an ITIN using IRS Form W-7 if you require a personal taxpayer identifier for banking.
3. Open a US business bank account using remote fintech platforms that support non-US resident founders.
4. Explore American Express Global Transfer if you hold an eligible existing Amex card.
5. Apply for secured US business credit cards and build commercial tradelines reported to Dun & Bradstreet.

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