You can add your child to your credit card in two ways: as an authorized user or as a joint account holder, and the choice affects their credit history and your liability
Adding your child to your credit card account is possible with most issuers, but the mechanics and consequences differ depending on which method you choose. An authorized user is someone you permit to use the card, but you remain the sole account owner and are responsible for all charges. A joint account holder is a co-owner of the account with equal legal responsibility for the debt. Most parents add children as authorized users rather than joint holders, because it limits the child's legal liability while still building their credit history.
The age requirement varies by card issuer. Most major issuers — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover — allow authorized users as young as 13, though some set the minimum at 15 or 16. A few issuers have no stated minimum age. You should contact your card issuer directly to confirm their policy, because the rule is not standardized across the industry.
Key Takeaways
- Adding your child as an authorized user typically requires them to be at least 13 years old, though the exact age varies by card issuer and should be confirmed before you request the change.
- Authorized users can use the card but have no legal responsibility for the debt, while joint account holders share full responsibility and can make changes to the account.
- The card issuer will report the account to the credit bureaus under your child's name if they are an authorized user, which can help build their credit history starting immediately.
- You remain liable for all charges regardless of who makes them, so setting spending limits or monitoring the account regularly is important if your child has access to the card.
- You can remove your child as an authorized user at any time by contacting the issuer, and the account will stop appearing on their credit report after 30 to 60 days.
How authorized user status works on your account
When you add your child as an authorized user, the card issuer issues them a card with their name on it, or sometimes a card linked to your account number. The child can make purchases up to the credit limit you set, but you receive the bill and you are legally responsible for paying it. The card issuer will not pursue your child for payment if the account goes unpaid — they will pursue you.
Most issuers allow you to set a spending limit for the authorized user, either a daily cap or a monthly cap. This limit is optional, and some issuers do not offer it. If your issuer does not provide a spending limit feature, you will need to monitor the account yourself or use your card issuer's mobile app to receive alerts when charges are made. Some parents also choose to give their child a physical card while others keep the card and allow the child to make purchases online or over the phone using the account number.
The authorized user's name and the account activity will appear on their credit report. This means the account history — payment history, credit utilization, account age — will factor into their credit score. If you pay on time and keep the balance low, this helps their score. If you miss payments or carry a high balance, it harms their score. The child has no control over the account and cannot make changes like requesting a credit limit increase or changing the billing address.
How joint account status works and why most parents avoid it
A joint account holder has equal ownership and equal legal responsibility. Both you and your child can make changes to the account — request a higher credit limit, add or remove authorized users, change the billing address, or close the account. Both of you are liable for the full balance if the account goes unpaid. If your child is a minor, you are still the legal guardian and responsible for their actions, but once they reach the age of majority (18 in most states), they have independent legal liability.
Most card issuers do not allow minors to be joint account holders because minors cannot enter into binding contracts. Some issuers may allow it once the child reaches 18, but this is rare and usually requires the child to apply separately or to formally agree to the terms. In practice, very few parents choose joint account status for children because it creates unnecessary legal and financial risk without a corresponding benefit.
How adding your child affects their credit report and score
The account will appear on your child's credit report within one to two billing cycles after you add them as an authorized user. The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — will receive the account information from your card issuer and add it to your child's file. This happens automatically; you do not need to do anything beyond requesting the authorized user status.
The account will show the full history of the account, including the opening date, credit limit, current balance, and payment history. If the account has been open for several years and you have always paid on time, this can significantly boost your child's credit score even before they have any accounts of their own. This is why some parents add teenagers as authorized users on older accounts with good payment history — it gives the child a head start on building credit.
If you later remove your child as an authorized user, the account will stop appearing on their credit report after 30 to 60 days. The removal does not erase the account history that was already reported; it simply stops new activity from being added. The child's credit score may drop slightly after removal because they lose the benefit of that account's history, but the previous positive history remains on their report.
The process for adding your child to your card
Contact your card issuer directly to request adding an authorized user. You can do this by phone, online through your account portal, or by visiting a branch if your issuer is a bank. You will need to provide your child's full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Some issuers also ask for their address, though if your child lives with you, your address is usually sufficient.
The issuer will verify the information and process the request, which typically takes one to three business days. You will receive confirmation that the authorized user has been added, and a card will be mailed to your child's name at the address on file. The card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days. Some issuers allow you to choose whether to issue a physical card or to allow the authorized user to use the account number for online or phone purchases without a physical card.
Once the card arrives, your child can begin using it immediately. The account will appear on their credit report within one to two billing cycles. You can monitor all activity through your online account or mobile app, and you can set spending limits if your issuer offers that feature.
Your liability for charges your child makes
You are responsible for all charges made by your child, whether they are authorized or accidental. If your child makes a purchase and you dispute it, the card issuer will not remove the charge simply because a minor made it. You would need to prove fraud — that your child used the card without your permission — which is difficult if you gave them the card or access to the account number.
If your child makes unauthorized charges after you have removed them as an authorized user, you are not liable for those charges under federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act). However, you would need to report the unauthorized use to the card issuer within 60 days of the statement date to dispute the charges. If your child still has access to the card number or physical card after removal, contact the issuer immediately to cancel the card and request a new one.
To minimize risk, monitor the account regularly, set a spending limit if available, and have a clear conversation with your child about what purchases are and are not allowed. Some parents also choose to add their child to a card with a lower credit limit specifically for this purpose, rather than adding them to their primary card.
Removing your child as an authorized user
You can remove your child as an authorized user at any time by contacting your card issuer. The process is simple: call the issuer, provide your account number, and request removal. The issuer will deactivate the card immediately, though the account will continue to appear on your child's credit report for 30 to 60 days before it is removed entirely.
If your child still has the physical card after removal, they will not be able to use it because the issuer will have deactivated it. If you want to ensure the card is not used, you can also request that the issuer cancel the card rather than simply deactivating it. If your child has memorized the account number and continues to make charges, contact the issuer again and request a new card number for your account.
Removing your child does not affect your account or your credit score. It only affects your child's credit report, where the account will eventually stop appearing. If the account had a positive history, your child may see a small drop in their credit score after removal because they lose the benefit of that account's history.
Alternatives to adding your child to your card
If you want to give your child a way to make purchases without adding them to your credit card, you have other options. A debit card linked to a checking account gives your child access to their own money without creating credit history or putting you at risk for debt. A prepaid card allows you to load a specific amount of money that your child can spend, and when the balance is gone, they cannot make further purchases. Neither of these builds credit history, but both teach spending habits without risk.
Some banks and fintech companies offer teen checking accounts with debit cards and parental controls, which allow you to set spending limits and receive alerts when your child makes purchases. These accounts are designed specifically for teenagers and often include financial education tools. If your goal is to build your child's credit history rather than simply give them a way to spend money, adding them as an authorized user on your credit card is the most direct approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will adding my child as an authorized user hurt my credit score?
No. Adding an authorized user does not affect your credit score. The account is already on your credit report, so adding another person to it does not change your credit utilization, payment history, or any other factor that determines your score. Your score may improve or decline based on how you use the account going forward, but the act of adding the authorized user itself has no impact.
Can my child use the card if they are under 13?
Most card issuers require authorized users to be at least 13 years old, but some allow younger children and others require 15 or 16. Contact your card issuer to ask about their specific policy. If your issuer does not allow your child's age, you can revisit the request once they reach the minimum age, or you can explore alternatives like a prepaid card or teen checking account.
What happens to the account on my child's credit report if I close my credit card?
If you close the credit card account, the account will stop appearing on your child's credit report after 30 to 60 days, just as if you had removed them as an authorized user. The previous history will remain on their report, but no new activity will be added. Closing the card may cause a small drop in their credit score because they lose the benefit of that account's history.
Can my child remove themselves as an authorized user?
No. Only the primary account holder (you) can remove an authorized user. Your child cannot call the issuer and request removal on their own, even if they are an adult. If your child wants to be removed, they must ask you to contact the issuer and make the request.
Does my child need to sign anything to be added as an authorized user?
No. As the account holder, you authorize the addition. Your child does not need to sign any documents or agree to anything. The card issuer will send the card to your child's name, but the account remains your responsibility. If your child is an adult and you want to make them a joint account holder instead, they would need to sign an agreement, but most issuers do not allow this for minors.