How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Mozambique

Many founders in Mozambique face the invisible-credit problem when expanding globally. Because your financial track record is tied to local institutions—supervised by the Banco de Moçambique and recorded through the Central Credit Register (Central de Registo do Credit)—US financial institutions cannot see your local credit history, leaving you with an empty credit file when you incorporate in 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

To build individual US credit without a Social Security Number (SSN), you need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 to apply for your ITIN.
2. Certified Documentation: Gather a certified copy of your Mozambican passport or equivalent identification documents authenticated by issuing authorities.
3. US Business Formation: Form your US LLC or C-Corp, which provides operational context for your tax and banking needs.
4. Submission to the IRS: Mail your W-7 application package, tax return or reporting documentation, and identity proofs to the IRS ITIN Operation.
5. Receive ITIN & Open Bank Accounts: Once issued, use your ITIN to open US business and personal bank accounts that report to major credit bureaus.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit allows newcomers to share their home country credit bureau data with US financial institutions. Currently, Nova Credit does not maintain a direct integration with Mozambique's Central Credit Register (Central de Registo do Banco de Moçambique). Founders from Mozambique should check Nova Credit's current country list for updates or rely on secured credit building methods.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building business credit bypasses the need for an SSN or personal credit history entirely. By obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN), establishing a dedicated business address and phone number, and registering with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) to secure a D-U-N-S Number, your Mozambican-founded US entity can begin transacting with vendors who report payment history to commercial credit bureaus, establishing a robust Paydex score.

Recommended sequence

1. Form your US entity and obtain an EIN.
2. Open a US business bank account suitable for international founders.
3. Apply for an ITIN using IRS Form W-7 if personal credit building is required.
4. Establish trade lines with vendors that report to commercial credit bureaus to build D&B business credit.
5. Apply for secured business credit cards or explore Amex Global Transfer eligibility.

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.