Will My Canadian Credit History Transfer to the U.S.? - Experian (2024)

FAQs

Will My Canadian Credit History Transfer to the U.S.? - Experian? ›

You typically can't transfer your credit score from another country to the United States. A universal credit system doesn't exist, and due to the disparities in scoring systems, an international score may not seamlessly translate to the American credit system.

But credit history doesn't transfer from country to country, and what constitutes a good credit score varies from country to country as well. For example, Canadian credit scores range from 300-900 while US credit scores range from 300-850.

Your U.S. credit score won't follow you

Leaving your credit score back in the States may sound appealing if you're hoping to escape your debts by moving abroad. It's not that simple. Often, when you apply for a visa in another country, your debt will be examined.

That's why Experian is pleased to present the Canadian real-time business information report, which gives you comprehensive credit risk rating information, payment information (days beyond terms), trade credit information and other important details for more than 3.7 million companies.

Your credit report and credit score don't follow you when you move to another country. But it is important to know that some debts you owe will remain active. Lenders may find it harder to pursue legal action against you when you are in a different country.

Despite working very similarly to the US credit scoring system, you still cannot transfer your Canadian credit score to the US.

While it's technically possible to have a credit score of 900 in Canada, a 900 is relatively rare and most Canadians will have credit scores that fall within the Fair range.

Our international business credit report allows you to quickly locate and obtain real-time international information on millions of companies all through our easy to use Website. Experian distributes this information at additional costs required by the data source providers we work with globally.

Unfortunately, you cannot transfer your US credit history to Canada when you move. The way credit reporting is handled is one of the many minute differences between Canada and the US, so when you arrive in Canada, you must begin building your credit from scratch.

No. There's no such thing as an international credit score check. But you might sometimes find that lenders will consider reviewing a copy of the credit report from your home country if you give them one.

Does Experian work outside the US? ›

We provide timely global information on a wide range of businesses in more than 225 countries dependencies and territories. This information is supported through Experian- owned assets and industry-leading partnerships that serve as a consistent source of high-quality international data.

Your Equifax Canada credit report is made available to you on myEquifax through our affiliate, Equifax Consumer Services LLC ("ECS"). ECS is a company in the U.S. that securely collects and stores your credit report from Equifax Canada to make it available to you on myEquifax.

Even if you don't think you'll need your U.S. credit reports or scores for a while, it's still a good idea to take steps to protect them from fraud. Check your credit report and credit score for free with Experian at any time while you're abroad to ensure you're on the right track for your return.

Bottom Line. When moving to the U.S., your credit information and report will stay in Canada and won't follow you. That means you'll need to build your credit from scratch in the U.S. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to build credit in the U.S.

Many Canadians believe that unpaid debt disappears at some point if you ignore it long enough, but the reality is that debt doesn't stop existing unless you repay it. If you have unpaid debt, you will continue to owe money for the rest of your life.

Simply because you've left the country doesn't make the contract between you and your credit card issuer void. Your debts don't disappear and you still have an obligation to repay them. However, if your move abroad is genuine, just make sure to be communicative with your credit card issuer and/or debt collectors.

Typically, a credit score is only applicable within its respective country. If you decide to move to another country, you'll likely need to build a new credit score. Your credit score in the U.S., for example, probably won't affect your score when establishing credit in Germany.

Canadian credit cards are available to non-residents and newcomers alike. Even without a credit history in the country, you can sign up for a variety of different cards, including store cards, prepaid cards, and secured credit cards.

Payment history, debt-to-credit ratio, length of credit history, new credit, and the amount of credit you have all play a role in your credit report and credit score.

In Canada, credit scores range from 300 to 900, 900 being a perfect score and 300 the lowest. According to data from a 2022 survey, the average credit score in Canada is 672, and 694 in British Columbia.