Joint credit cards
Primary cardholder
You’re the primary cardholder if you apply for a credit card and your name is on the agreement. You must be the legal age of majority in your province or territory to be a primary cardholder.
As a primary cardholder, you:
- may add and remove additional cardholders and authorized users to your card at any time
- are responsible for paying your credit card balance
Any purchases made by an additional cardholder or authorized user will appear on your monthly statement. If you’re the primary cardholder, you’re responsible for paying for these purchases.
Additional cardholder and authorized user
You may be an additional cardholder or authorized user on a credit card. In that case, you get a credit card that links to the primary cardholder’s account. This card allows you to make purchases and use the account like the primary cardholder. Some credit card issuers will allow an authorized user to be under the age of majority. Contact them to see if they can add you as an additional cardholder or authorized user.
If you’re an additional cardholder, keep in mind:
- the credit card account belongs to the primary cardholder
- you’re not responsible for paying back any money owing on the credit card account
- any purchases you make using the card won't help you build your credit history
Co-borrowers or co-applicants
Some credit card issuers will allow you and another person to apply for a credit card together. Co-applicants are co-borrowers in credit card agreements. Co-borrowers have access to the credit card account and are equally responsible for the balance.
You may be dealing with a federally regulated financial institution such as a bank. In that case, as a co-borrower you must receive certain disclosure information about the account.
Learn more about your rights as a joint borrower.
Guarantors
Someone who wouldn’t qualify for a credit card may be able to get one with a guarantor.
A guarantor doesn’t have access to the credit card account but is responsible for the balance.
Guarantors are often the parent or guardian of a minor.