What authorized users can do with a Chase Sapphire Reserve card
When you add an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve account, that person gets their own physical card linked to your account and can make purchases anywhere the card is accepted. They do not get a separate credit line — all charges go to your bill, and you remain responsible for the full balance. The authorized user's spending counts toward your annual spending thresholds and rewards, so if they spend $5,000 in the first three months, that counts as part of your own spending for any sign-up bonus you may have earned.
Chase does not run a credit check on the authorized user, and the account does not appear on their credit report. This makes it a way to give someone access to your card's benefits without affecting their credit history. However, the authorized user can see your full account activity, recent statements, and available credit, so this works best with people you trust completely.
Key Takeaways
- An authorized user receives a physical card and can spend up to your available credit, but you pay all charges on your primary account.
- Chase does not report the authorized user account to credit bureaus, so it does not build or damage the authorized user's credit.
- Purchases made by an authorized user count toward your annual spending thresholds and rewards, including any sign-up bonus categories.
- You can remove an authorized user at any time through your Chase account online or by calling the number on the back of your card.
- Chase charges no fee to add an authorized user to the Sapphire Reserve, though some cards in Chase's lineup do charge for additional cardholders.
How authorized user rewards and benefits work
The authorized user earns the same rewards rate as you do on every purchase. If you earn 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, the authorized user earns 3 points per dollar on those same categories. Those points go into your account's rewards pool, not a separate one for the authorized user. This means if the authorized user spends $2,000 on dining in a month, you receive 6,000 points that you can redeem however you choose.
The authorized user also has access to the card's travel protections and perks, including trip cancellation insurance, emergency medical and dental coverage abroad, and baggage delay reimbursement. However, these protections typically explore only to travel purchased with the card itself — if the authorized user books a flight on their own card and then asks you to reimburse them, the insurance may not cover it. The authorized user should use the Sapphire Reserve card directly for any travel they want protected.
The $300 annual travel credit that comes with the Sapphire Reserve is tied to your account, not the authorized user's card. You control how that credit is used, and it does not split between cardholders. If you use the full $300 credit yourself, the authorized user cannot use it again that year.
Adding and removing an authorized user
You can add an authorized user through your Chase account online. Log in, go to the card account, and look for the option to manage authorized users — the exact wording and location varies slightly depending on whether you use the Chase mobile app or the website. You will need the authorized user's full name and date of birth. Chase will mail a physical card to the address on file for your account, which typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
You can remove an authorized user at any time by logging into your account and selecting the option to cancel their card, or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. The authorized user's card stops working when ready, though any pending charges they made before removal will still post to your account. There is no fee or penalty for adding or removing an authorized user on the Sapphire Reserve.
When authorized users make sense for your situation
Adding an authorized user works well if you want to give a family member or trusted friend access to your card's rewards and travel protections without opening a separate account. A spouse or adult child can use the card for shared expenses — groceries, gas, dining — and all those purchases earn rewards that benefit your household. This is simpler than splitting bills or reimbursing each other later.
An authorized user also makes sense if someone in your household travels frequently and you want them covered by the card's travel insurance. Rather than buying separate travel insurance or worrying about whether their own card offers protection, you can add them to your Sapphire Reserve and know they are covered on any trip they book with the card.
However, adding an authorized user does not make sense if you are trying to help someone build credit. Since the account does not report to their credit bureaus, it will not help their credit score. If that is your goal, it is better to help them open their own card or become an authorized user on someone else's account that does report to credit bureaus.
Spending limits and account responsibility
Chase does not set a separate spending limit for an authorized user. They can spend up to your full available credit on the card. If your credit limit is $15,000 and the authorized user spends $10,000, you have $5,000 left to spend. This means you need to trust the authorized user to spend responsibly, or you can ask Chase to lower your overall credit limit before adding them.
You are responsible for all charges, whether you made them or the authorized user did. If the authorized user does not pay their share of the bill, you cannot dispute those charges or remove them from your account — you have to work it out with the authorized user directly. Late payments or missed payments on the account affect your credit report, not theirs, so it is important to stay on top of the full bill each month.
Comparing authorized users to other ways to share card benefits
Adding an authorized user is different from making someone a joint account holder. A joint account holder has equal legal responsibility for the account and can make changes to it, such as lowering the credit limit or closing the account. An authorized user can only spend and view the account — they cannot change account settings. For most situations, an authorized user is the safer choice.
Another option is to straightforward give someone your card to use for specific purchases. This avoids creating a permanent account link, but it also means they do not have their own card and cannot make purchases without asking you first. If you want to give someone regular, independent access to the card's benefits, an authorized user is more practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does adding an authorized user hurt my credit score?
No. Chase does not report the authorized user account to credit bureaus, so it does not appear on your credit report or theirs. Adding an authorized user has no direct effect on your credit score. However, if the authorized user spends heavily and you carry a high balance, your credit utilization ratio may increase, which could lower your score slightly.
Can an authorized user see my full account details and statements?
Yes. An authorized user can log into the account online and see your full transaction history, current balance, available credit, and recent statements. They have the same visibility into the account as you do, except they cannot change account settings or remove themselves. Only add someone as an authorized user if you are comfortable with them seeing all this information.
What happens to rewards if I remove an authorized user?
All rewards earned by the authorized user stay in your account. Removing the authorized user does not erase or reduce the points they earned. The points remain yours to redeem however you choose. The authorized user's card straightforward stops working once you remove them.
Can I set a spending limit just for the authorized user?
Chase does not offer a way to set a separate spending limit for an authorized user on the Sapphire Reserve. The authorized user can spend up to your full available credit. If you want to limit their spending, you would need to lower your overall credit limit before adding them, or monitor their purchases regularly and ask them to stop if they are spending too much.
Do authorized user purchases count toward my sign-up bonus spending requirement?
Yes. Any spending by an authorized user counts toward your sign-up bonus spending threshold. If you need to spend $4,000 in the first three months to earn a bonus, and an authorized user spends $1,500 during that time, that $1,500 counts toward your $4,000 requirement.