There are numerous benefits to including a licensed person to a bank card account. For one, it will probably assist the first cardholder hit sure spending necessities and earn rewards a lot quicker. In flip, licensed customers can profit from the first cardholder’s credit score rating and size of credit score historical past in lots of situations, thus bettering their very own credit score scores.
Sure bank cards additionally lengthen some advantages to further cardholders, equivalent to lounge entry and assertion credit for World Entry or TSA PreCheck functions.
Listed here are some causes you may need to contemplate including different cardholders to your accounts, the finest rewards playing cards for doing so and the perks given to those licensed customers.
What’s a licensed person?
A certified person is somebody who’s allowed to make use of your bank card. The individual is issued their very own bodily card, but it surely’s linked to your bank card account. Many playing cards enable licensed customers to reap the benefits of a number of the advantages supplied to the first cardholder.
On condition that licensed person charges are usually cheaper than annual charges for main (predominant) account holders, including relations or spouses as licensed customers in your account is a option to share a number of the benefits of a card with out shelling out one other annual price.
Including your youngster as a licensed person may assist them begin to construct their credit score historical past. However earlier than you add them, test your issuer’s minimal age necessities.
Associated: Ought to my accomplice get their very own card or be added as a licensed person?
Causes so as to add licensed customers
There are numerous compelling causes so as to add licensed customers to your bank card accounts. Listed here are probably the most vital choice factors:
Bonus level affords
Some playing cards supply bonus factors for including licensed customers. As an illustration, American Categorical has despatched out focused affords to cardmembers of assorted merchandise, together with the American Categorical Gold® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, permitting them to earn as many as 20,000 bonus factors for including licensed customers.
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Be aware that not everybody might be focused with these affords, and affords can range.
Hit spending thresholds
Any spending on a licensed person’s card will rely towards the first cardholder’s spending exercise and assist them hit the spending necessities for incomes a welcome bonus. In case you’re engaged on a giant welcome bonus, having another person assist you to meet the spending necessities is helpful.
Rack up rewards quicker
Equally, all of the rewards a licensed person earns by way of on a regular basis spending are credited to the first cardholder.
Plus, exercise on further playing cards may also go towards reaching any of the cardboard’s spending-based annual advantages, equivalent to elite standing. In fact, the first cardholder can also be liable for making certain these funds are paid off.
Assist others construct credit score
Though your purpose is perhaps extra factors and extra rewards for your self, among the finest causes so as to add licensed customers to your bank card account is to assist them construct their very own credit score and elevate their credit score rating.
This may be particularly helpful for somebody who might need unhealthy or broken credit score or for an adolescent who’s simply beginning their credit score journey and won’t be capable of qualify for a bank card on their very own.
When somebody is added as a licensed person, the account is added to that individual’s credit score report. So if the account is dealt with responsibly, all of the elements that may enhance your rating with your personal accounts — on-time funds, low quantities owed, and so on. — will ultimately start to boost the licensed person’s rating, too.
Extra account switch choices
Including a good friend or relative as a licensed person can permit you to share your factors and miles collectively. The method varies by issuer, so make sure you test your issuer’s specs earlier than relying on this as an choice.
Overview of the most effective playing cards for licensed customers
We’ll examine the next playing cards and spotlight why these are the most effective bank cards for including licensed customers:
| Card | Annual price | Licensed person price | Rewards charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Enterprise X | $395 | No further price for as much as 4 licensed customers (until you need complimentary lounge entry, then it is $125 per card beginning Feb. 1, 2026) |
|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | $195 per further cardholder |
|
| The Platinum Card from American Categorical | $695 (see charges and charges) | $195 for every further licensed person; companion Platinum playing cards will be added at no cost |
|
| The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical | $695 (see charges and charges) | $350 per further cardmember |
|
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card | $650 (see charges and charges) | $175 per further cardmember
|
|
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card | $650 (see charges and charges) | $175 per further cardmember |
|
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard | $595 | As much as 3 further cardholders for $175, then $175 for every further licensed person |
|
Capital One Enterprise X
The Capital One Enterprise X shook up the premium rewards bank card market when it launched with a really aggressive $395 annual price. Regardless of its reasonably priced price for a top-tier card, it nonetheless affords nice perks for frequent vacationers.
What’s additionally groundbreaking about this card is the flexibility so as to add as much as 4 licensed customers for no price. Licensed customers even have implausible advantages, although new lounge entry insurance policies are on the way in which for added cardholders from February 2026.
Licensed person advantages
Starting Feb. 1, 2026, licensed customers on the Enterprise X will now not obtain complimentary entry to Capital One lounges and Precedence Move lounges. As an alternative, further cardholders might want to pay $125 per card to retain lounge entry.
Hertz’s partnership with Capital One permits the licensed person to obtain complimentary Hertz President’s Circle elite standing.* Final however not least, your licensed person will obtain necessary journey and buy protections when paying with their card.
*Upon enrollment, accessible by way of the Capital One web site or cell app, eligible cardholders will stay at that standing stage by way of the length of the supply. Please word, enrolling by way of the conventional Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment course of (e.g. at Hertz.com) is not going to robotically detect a cardholder as being eligible for this system and cardholders is not going to be robotically upgraded to the relevant standing tier. Extra phrases apply.
Cardholder charges
The Enterprise X has an annual price of $395. There is no such thing as a price so as to add as much as 4 licensed customers on the account, until you need to add lounge entry in your further cardmember from February 2026 — then, it is $125 per card.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Capital One Enterprise X.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Though Chase Sapphire Reserve main cardholders can count on loads of perks, licensed customers can solely depend on a number of in their very own proper.
Licensed person advantages
Licensed customers obtain their very own Precedence Move Choose membership, which affords entry to over 1,700 airport lounges worldwide, in addition to entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges.
Other than lounge entry, the one accomplice profit that licensed customers will presently get pleasure from is at the least 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (should activate by Dec. 31, 2027). Licensed customers are additionally coated by Chase’s in depth journey protections.
Cardholder charges
The annual price for the first account is $795, and extra playing cards price $195 every per 12 months.
To study extra, see our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
American Categorical Platinum
One of many high all-around premium rewards playing cards accessible, the Amex Platinum affords complete perks for the first cardmember and a few nice advantages for licensed customers.
Licensed person advantages
Licensed customers are entitled to their very own World Entry ($120 each 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (as much as $85 each 4½ years) software price reimbursement and may register for lodge and rental automobile elite standing. In addition they obtain entry to the American Categorical World Lounge Assortment, together with Delta Sky Membership*, Centurion and Precedence Move lounges with the identical entry privileges as the first cardmember.
*When touring on same-day Delta flights; eligible Platinum cardmembers will obtain 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
Licensed customers even have entry to reserving by way of Nice Motels + Resorts, together with all the additional advantages that confers.
(Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply.)
Cardholder charges
You’ll be able to add licensed customers for $195 per card.
You may as well add Companion Platinum playing cards to your account for no price.
Companion playing cards earn 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked by way of Amex Journey or instantly with airways (on as much as $500,000 of those purchases per 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent) and on pay as you go lodges on Amex Journey and 1 level per greenback spent on all different spending.
Nevertheless, Companion cardmembers should not eligible for Precedence Move membership or entry to Centurion Lounges. Moreover, they don’t qualify for different perks equivalent to annual Uber Money and elite standing at sure lodges and rental automobile businesses.
To study extra, see our full evaluate of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
American Categorical Enterprise Platinum
Like the private Platinum card, the Amex Enterprise Platinum affords some excellent perks to main cardmembers and licensed customers.
Licensed person advantages
Like the private model, licensed customers are eligible for World Entry/TSA PreCheck assertion credit ($120 each 4 years for World Entry and as much as $85 each 4½ years for TSA PreCheck) and obtain entry to Centurion, Precedence Move and Delta Sky Membership lounges* — amongst different advantages.
*When touring on same-day Delta flights; eligible cardmembers will obtain 10 visits per eligible card per 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
Licensed customers additionally get entry to the Amex Enterprise Platinum’s suite of journey and buy protections.
(Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.)
Cardholder charges
Enterprise Platinum cardmembers can tack on further playing cards for $350 every, so it is not almost nearly as good a deal as with the private card. That mentioned, it is nonetheless price contemplating you probably have an worker who travels regularly.
To study extra, see our full evaluate of the Amex Enterprise Platinum.
Apply right here: Amex Enterprise Platinum
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card
The advantages supplied by the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise are very related, so let’s contemplate them collectively. Each of those playing cards carry annual charges of $650.
Licensed person advantages
Licensed customers of each playing cards get entry to Delta Sky Golf equipment* and Amex Centurion Lounges after they journey on flights marketed and operated by Delta and current a same-day Delta boarding go.
*Reserve cardmembers will obtain 15 Visits per 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership; to earn an infinite variety of Visits every year, the whole eligible purchases on the Card should equal $75,000 or extra per calendar 12 months.
Cardholder charges
Extra playing cards price $175 per 12 months every for each the Reserve and Reserve Enterprise. Since these playing cards supply the identical perks for his or her licensed customers, the selection comes all the way down to which card makes extra sense in your pockets long-term.
To study extra, see our full opinions of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise
Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
Citi’s top-tier American Airways cobranded card has an annual price of $595 per 12 months. For that hefty price, nonetheless, cardholders can count on a number of value-added advantages. Licensed customers will not have entry to all of those perks, however they’ll obtain lounge entry.
Licensed person advantages
One of the best function of this bank card is that further cardholders can entry choose American Airways Admirals Golf equipment and produce instant relations or as much as two visitors into the lounge with them at no cost. They will not have entry to accomplice lounges, nonetheless.
Moreover, spending by licensed customers counts towards incomes bonus Loyalty Factors every year — these are credited to the first cardholder’s account.
Cardholder charges
You’ll be able to add as much as three licensed customers for $175 yearly. Extra playing cards are $175 every.
To study extra, see our full evaluate of the Citi AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
Does including licensed customers have an effect on your credit score rating?
Including a licensed person will not have an effect on your credit score rating instantly. Nevertheless, bear in mind that you’re liable for that individual’s spending.
In case your licensed person overspends on their card, you may be accountable for the steadiness, related charges and curiosity prices — and any affect in your credit score rating associated to this spending.
As a result of cost historical past and credit score utilization each play vital roles within the calculation of your credit score rating, the conduct of your licensed customers can find yourself negatively affecting your rating.
Drawbacks to including licensed customers
Regardless of all the advantages, there are a number of drawbacks to including licensed customers to your bank card accounts.
First, the first cardholder is liable for paying off all purchases, so it is best to solely add somebody you belief and put in place any spending controls you deem obligatory. Many issuers will let main cardholders observe spending and set spending limits on further accounts.
Second, further playing cards generally come at a value. Earlier than you open any, make sure you realize whether or not you’ll have to pay annual charges for including customers to your account.
Third, many bank cards don’t confer the identical advantages upon licensed customers that the first cardholder enjoys. Some playing cards require a licensed person to accompany the first account holder to reap the benefits of advantages like most popular boarding.
If you realize the necessities and limitations of taking over further playing cards along with your account, it is best to be capable of maximize their worth and advantages.
Backside line
There are numerous causes so as to add a licensed person to your bank card account. It may assist somebody construct their credit score and enhance their rating, internet you further spending towards a welcome bonus and lengthen the usage of your factors to buddies or relations.
Sure high-end bank cards additionally bestow value-added advantages on licensed customers, equivalent to lounge entry, World Entry reimbursements and inflight buy reductions.
As at all times, when contemplating a bank card, contemplate your spending habits and wishes after which decide whether or not including licensed customers will present sufficient worth to justify any annual charges you may incur.
Associated: As a licensed person, can I open my very own account for a similar card?
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Delta Reserve Enterprise card, click on right here.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a number of the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and should range by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
