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The short answer
Some US card issuers let you apply with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number, but each sets its own rule and there is no official list; the application form shows it, usually as a field labelled "SSN or ITIN". The IRS says an ITIN is a tax number only, so it does not prove identity or work status, and you should tell the issuer and the credit bureaus if you later get an SSN.
What an ITIN is, and is not
The IRS describes the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number as a nine-digit number for people who need a US tax number but are not eligible for a Social Security number. Its page (reviewed October 2025) is clear about the limits: an ITIN does not authorise work, does not give eligibility for Social Security benefits, and is not identification outside the federal tax system.
For a Nigerian in the US that usually means a spouse or dependant on a visa without work permission, a student with only scholarship income, or someone with US income who lives part of the year at home. If you are allowed to work, you should have an SSN instead; see who needs an ITIN.
Which issuers accept an ITIN
There is no regulator's list of issuers that accept ITINs, and policies change. We tried to confirm current policies on issuers' own pages for October 2026 and could not verify a list we would be willing to print, so this guide shows you how to find out for yourself rather than naming cards.
- Read the application form, not the advert. Start the application and look at the tax number field. If it says "Social Security number" only, the issuer will not take an ITIN online. If it says "SSN or ITIN", it will.
- Check the issuer's help pages. Search the issuer's site for "ITIN". If a page says applications require an SSN, take it at its word.
- Ask your own bank or credit union. Institutions that already hold your checking account sometimes accept an ITIN for a secured card in a branch even when the online form does not.
- Look at credit unions and community lenders. The CFPB notes that credit-builder loans are typically offered by credit unions, and many of the same institutions offer secured cards.
Which card to start with
Without US credit history the realistic first card is a secured card: you pay a cash deposit, and the deposit sets the limit. The CFPB's checklist gives a typical deposit range of about $50 to $300. What matters more than the brand:
- The issuer reports to all three nationwide credit bureaus. Ask directly; if it does not report, it will not build history.
- The annual fee and any monthly fee are low enough that you will keep the card open.
- There is a route to "graduate" to an unsecured card and get your deposit back.
Our guide to secured cards for new immigrants goes through the terms to compare.
How ITIN credit builds history
A credit file is built from what lenders report: your payments, balances and accounts. If an issuer reports an ITIN account, the bureaus can create a file in your name with your address and date of birth. Payment history and amounts owed are the two largest parts of a FICO Score, at 35% and 30% respectively, according to myFICO, so the same habits matter whatever number you applied with.
When you later get an SSN
Many ITIN holders later become SSN-eligible, for example through a green card or a work permit. For tax, check the IRS ITIN page for how to bring your records under the new number. For credit:
- Give the new SSN to each card issuer and lender and ask them to update the account.
- Check your free reports at annualcreditreport.com after a couple of statements to see whether the history appears under one file.
- If accounts are missing or split across two files, dispute with the bureau in writing.
We could not find a bureau page setting out exactly how ITIN and SSN files are merged, so check the result yourself rather than assuming it happens.
If you cannot get a card yet
- Become an authorised user on a relative's card. The CFPB notes not every issuer reports authorised users, so confirm first; see becoming an authorised user.
- Ask whether a rent-reporting service your landlord uses will report your rent.
- Keep paying everything on time; it will count once you do have a reporting account.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is not a US card issuer and does not report to US bureaus. If part of your money still sits in Nigeria, a Pryme account holds NGN and USD with local details for each, and Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve a conversion.
Questions people ask
Can I get a credit card with an ITIN instead of an SSN?
Sometimes. Some issuers accept an ITIN; check whether the application form asks for "SSN or ITIN". There is no official list.
Does an ITIN build credit history?
If the issuer reports the account to the credit bureaus, yes. Your payment history and balances count in the same way.
What happens to my ITIN credit when I get an SSN?
Give the SSN to each issuer and check your reports. If the history does not appear under one file, dispute it with the bureau.
Which card is easiest to get with an ITIN?
Usually a secured card from a credit union or a bank where you already have an account. Confirm it reports to all three bureaus.
Sources
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (reviewed 28 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. December 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFPB: Building credit, checklist for consumers with no credit history · accessed Oct 2026
- myFICO: What's in my FICO Scores · accessed Oct 2026
- CFPB: Building Blocks, cosigning loans and sharing credit (Summer 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.