Guide 05 · Last verified August 17, 2026
Amex Global Transfer: Canada to the United States
This is a genuine relocation program for eligible Amex customers—not a shortcut for Canadians who remain entirely based in Canada.
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What matters first
Four points to understand before applying.
The existing card must be eligible
The Canadian account must be issued by American Express, with you as primary cardholder. Bank-issued Amex products and corporate cards are not eligible through this published process.
A real move is built into the requirements
The U.S. process asks for a U.S. home address, home phone, bank details, passport, employment and SSN or ITIN. These are substantive relocation facts.
One U.S. card initially
Amex says applicants may apply for one card in the United States at this stage, with additional applications possible after building local history.
Points and balance are different
Eligible Membership Rewards points may be transferred, but an existing card balance cannot be transferred to the new U.S. card. Keeping the old card can also preserve its annual fee.
Published eligibility
Check the existing Canadian relationship first.
American Express says the applicant must be the primary cardholder of an eligible Amex-issued card. The card generally needs to have been held for at least three months, remain open and be in good standing. If it was cancelled by the applicant, Amex’s published process limits how recently that cancellation may have occurred.
A corporate card or an Amex-branded card issued by another bank does not qualify for this transfer application process. Confirm the current eligibility with Amex before making relocation plans around the card.
What to prepare
The U.S. details are not optional decoration.
Amex lists the existing account number, U.S. home address, U.S. home phone, U.S. bank details, passport details, employment details and an SSN or ITIN. It may request additional identity and address documents during review.
Use only details that belong to your genuine U.S. move. A hotel, forwarding service or borrowed address does not turn a Canadian resident into a U.S. resident and may fail identity or address verification.
Choose the first card
Prioritize a stable first year over maximum rewards.
Amex says the transfer process permits one U.S. card initially. Compare annual fee, rewards fit, acceptance and the likelihood that you will keep the account while the U.S. file matures. A product you can maintain is usually more useful than a premium product you may close quickly.
Apply through the Global Card Transfer instructions rather than a generic public link. A mainstream public application may try to evaluate a thin or nonexistent U.S. file without considering the existing international relationship in the intended way.
Points, balance and old card
Transfer the relationship—not the debt.
Amex says a Membership Rewards balance may be transferable when the new U.S. card participates in that program. Contact the number on the existing card for the current points process before closing anything.
The Canadian card balance cannot be moved onto the new U.S. account through Global Card Transfer. If you retain the Canadian card, its own agreement and annual fee continue. Decide whether it still has a distinct purpose after the move.
A responsible action plan
Move in this order.
- 01
Confirm the Canadian card qualifies
Verify primary-cardholder status, issuer, account age and good standing with American Express.
- 02
Complete the genuine U.S. setup
Have the real home address, phone, bank, employment and SSN-or-ITIN details Amex requests.
- 03
Call the Global Card Transfer team
Use the official U.S. personal-card number and identify the process clearly.
- 04
Manage both accounts deliberately
Set U.S. autopay, decide whether the Canadian card remains useful and ask Amex how eligible points can move.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers—with the important limits included.
Can I use Global Card Transfer while still living only in Canada?
The U.S. process is framed for moving and asks for genuine U.S. home, phone, bank and tax-ID details. It is not the appropriate route without that setup.
Does any Canadian Amex qualify?
No. Amex says the account must be issued by American Express and you must be the primary cardholder; corporate and bank-issued Amex cards are excluded from this process.
Can I apply for several U.S. Amex cards immediately?
Amex’s current Global Card Transfer page says one U.S. card may be applied for initially, with additional cards after local history is established.
Can I transfer my Canadian Amex balance?
No. Amex says an existing balance cannot be transferred to the new U.S. card through this process.
Research record
Official sources checked on August 17, 2026.
- 01Global Card Transfer to the United StatesAmerican ExpressView source ↗
- 02What an ITIN is and who needs oneInternal Revenue ServiceView source ↗
PASS.ca summarizes public issuer and government information. We do not guarantee approval, credit reporting, tax treatment, savings or rewards. Never use inaccurate identity, residency or tax information in an application.