What an authorized user on the Chase Sapphire Reserve can and cannot do
An authorized user is someone you add to your Chase Sapphire Reserve account who receives their own card linked to your account and can make purchases on it. The authorized user's spending counts toward your account's credit limit and appears on your statement. You remain the primary cardholder and the person responsible for all charges, whether you made them or the authorized user did.
The authorized user does not have to meet Chase's income or credit requirements — Chase only reviews the primary cardholder's creditworthiness. This makes adding an authorized user a way to give someone access to the card's benefits without requiring them to open their own account. However, the authorized user cannot change the account, request a credit limit increase, or manage the account online or by phone — only the primary cardholder can do those things.
Chase does not report authorized user activity to the credit bureaus under the authorized user's name, so adding someone as an authorized user does not build their credit history. If you are considering this specifically to help someone build credit, a different approach would be more effective.
Key Takeaways
- An authorized user receives a physical card and can spend up to your credit limit, but you remain liable for all charges on the account.
- Chase does not run a credit check on the authorized user, so credit score or income does not matter for them.
- Authorized user activity does not appear on the authorized user's credit report, so this does not build their credit history.
- You can add or remove an authorized user online through your Chase account, by phone, or at a branch, and there is no fee to add one.
- The primary cardholder controls all account decisions, including credit limit changes and account closure.
How to add an authorized user to your Sapphire Reserve account
You can add an authorized user through three methods: online through your Chase account, by calling the number on the back of your card, or by visiting a Chase branch in person. The online method is the fastest — log into your Chase account, find the Sapphire Reserve card, select "Manage card," and look for the option to add an authorized user. You will need the person's full name, date of birth, and address.
Chase will mail a physical card to the authorized user at the address you provide, which typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. The authorized user can begin making purchases as soon as the card arrives. If you need the card sooner, calling the number on the back of your card may allow you to request expedited shipping, though this depends on your location and current processing times.
There is no fee to add an authorized user to the Sapphire Reserve, and you can add multiple authorized users to the same account if you choose. Each authorized user receives their own card with their name printed on it.
What benefits the authorized user receives
The authorized user has access to all the core benefits of the Sapphire Reserve, including the travel protections, purchase protections, and emergency services that come with the card. This means they can use the trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, emergency medical and dental coverage, and other protections when they travel with a card in their name.
The authorized user also earns the same rewards rate as the primary cardholder on all purchases they make — currently 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. These points go into the primary cardholder's rewards account, not a separate account for the authorized user. The primary cardholder controls how the points are redeemed.
The authorized user does not receive the annual $300 travel credit or the $50 annual dining credit that comes with the primary cardholder's account. These benefits are tied to the primary cardholder only. The authorized user also does not receive a separate welcome bonus — the welcome bonus is earned only by the primary cardholder when they open the account.
When adding an authorized user makes sense
Adding an authorized user works well when you want to share the card's travel benefits with a family member or travel companion without them needing their own account. If you travel frequently with a spouse, partner, or adult child, adding them as an authorized user means they can access the trip cancellation insurance, baggage coverage, and emergency services when they travel with the card.
It also simplifies expense tracking if you are paying for someone else's travel or dining expenses — their purchases appear on your single statement rather than requiring separate reimbursement conversations. However, you remain responsible for paying the full balance, so this only works if you are comfortable covering their spending.
Adding an authorized user does not make sense if your goal is to help someone build their credit history, since Chase does not report the authorized user's activity to the credit bureaus. It also does not make sense if you want to give someone independent control over an account — the primary cardholder retains all account management authority.
Removing an authorized user or managing the relationship
You can remove an authorized user at any time through the same methods you used to add them: online, by phone, or in person at a branch. Removing an authorized user does not close the account or affect your credit — it straightforward cancels their card. The card itself becomes inactive when ready, though the physical card should be destroyed to prevent misuse.
If you are concerned about an authorized user's spending, you can set spending limits through some card issuers, but Chase Sapphire Reserve does not currently offer this feature. Your only option is to monitor the account regularly through your online statement or to remove the authorized user if their spending becomes a problem.
If an authorized user's card is lost or stolen, contact Chase when ready using the number on the back of your card. Chase can cancel that specific card and issue a replacement without affecting the primary cardholder's card or account status.
How authorized user spending affects your credit and account
All spending by authorized users counts toward your credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of your available credit limit that you are using at any given time. If an authorized user runs up a large balance, it raises your utilization and can lower your credit score, even though you did not make the purchase. This is one reason to monitor the account regularly and to choose authorized users carefully.
Authorized user spending also counts toward any spending thresholds or bonus categories you may be tracking. If you are working toward a welcome bonus that requires a certain amount of spending in the first few months, purchases by authorized users count toward that total. This can help you reach the threshold faster, but it also means you need to account for their spending when budgeting.
If an authorized user misses a payment or the account goes into default, it affects your credit report and credit score, not theirs. You are the account holder, so all account history — positive and negative — appears on your credit report only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a child as an authorized user?
Chase allows you to add authorized users as young as 13 years old, though some sources suggest calling to confirm the minimum age for your specific situation. Adding a young teenager as an authorized user can introduce them to credit card use in a controlled way, since you maintain full account control and can monitor their spending on your statement.
Does the authorized user need to have a Social Security number?
Chase requires a Social Security number or tax ID for the authorized user. If the person does not have a Social Security number, you may need to call Chase directly to discuss alternative options, though this is not may provide to work.
What happens to the authorized user card if I close the Sapphire Reserve?
If you close the primary account, all authorized user cards become inactive when ready. The authorized user cannot use the card anymore, and they do not have the option to keep the account open or convert it to their own card.
Can an authorized user see the account online or make changes?
No. The authorized user cannot log into the account, view statements, change the address, request a credit limit increase, or make any account changes. Only the primary cardholder has access to account management. The authorized user can only use the physical card to make purchases.
Is there a limit to how many authorized users I can add?
Chase does not publicly state a maximum number of authorized users per account. In practice, most cardholders add between one and five authorized users. If you want to add more than that, calling Chase directly can clarify whether there is a practical limit.