How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Tunisia

Tunisian founders navigating the global startup ecosystem frequently face the "invisible-credit" problem. When attempting to secure US SaaS subscriptions, server infrastructure (AWS/GCP credits), business credit cards, or early-stage venture financing, traditional US financial institutions find zero credit history in domestic credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Domestically, credit history is tracked through the Public Credit Registry (Centrale des Risques) managed by the Central Bank of Tunisia (Banque Centrale de Tunisie - BCT), but this financial footprint does not cross US borders.

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 interact formally with the US financial system without a Social Security Number (SSN), founders must acquire an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).
2. Federal Tax Declaration: Attach a federal income tax return or qualify for an allowable exception (such as treaty-backed reporting for a US LLC).
3. Certified Identity Documents: Provide original or certified copies of identity documents, such as a valid Tunisian passport, verified by an authorized IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or an official Tunisian embassy/consulate office.
4. Submission to the IRS: Mail the complete application package to the IRS ITIN Operation division in Austin, Texas.
5. Issuance: Receive the official ITIN letter from the IRS, which serves as the primary tax identification anchor for opening US bank accounts and applying for secured credit products.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit reporting agency that bridges international credit bureaus with US financial institutions, allowing immigrants and foreign founders to share their home country credit history with US lenders like American Express.

As of current cross-border data agreements, Nova Credit's network covers select countries (including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the UK, and several others). Because Tunisia is not currently part of Nova Credit's direct bureau partnership network, Tunisian founders cannot automatically port their local Centrale des Risques credit report into US underwriting systems. Founders must rely on alternative foundational credit-building methods.

Business Credit: the Faster Lane

Building business credit provides a faster, cleaner lane that separates personal liability from corporate financial health.

1. Establish a US Entity: Form a Delaware C-Corp or US LLC with an active EIN (Employer Identification Number).
2. Open a US Business Bank Account: Partner with digital-first cross-border banking platforms (such as Mercury, Brex, or Relay Financial) that support non-resident founders.
3. Obtain a D-U-N-S Number: Register with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) to generate a unique corporate profile.
4. Establish Trade Lines: Purchase standard operational supplies (such as office software or AWS credits) from vendors that report payment activity to commercial credit bureaus.
5. Monitor the D&B Paydex Score: Maintain strict on-time payment habits to build a strong Paydex score (ranging from 0 to 100), which allows the corporation to qualify for commercial credit cards and vendor financing without personal guarantees.

Recommended Sequence

1. Incorporate and Secure EIN: Form your US corporate entity and obtain your Employer Identification Number from the IRS.
2. Open US Business Banking: Set up a US business bank account through specialized cross-border fintech platforms.
3. Acquire an ITIN: Submit Form W-7 through a certified acceptance agent to secure your personal IRS tax identifier.
4. Apply for a Secured US Credit Card: Use your ITIN and business banking history to open a secured consumer or business credit card (such as Capital One or Wells Fargo secured cards) with a cash deposit.
5. Register for D&B Paydex: Obtain your D-U-N-S number, establish business trade lines, and transition to unsecured corporate credit cards as your credit score matures.

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.