What an Authorized User on Chase Sapphire Preferred Can Do
An authorized user is someone you allow to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred account. They get their own card linked to your account, can make purchases with it, and those purchases count toward your spending bonus and annual spending thresholds. The authorized user does not have to pay the bill—you do—but they can earn rewards on their own spending.
Chase allows you to add authorized users at no extra cost. The primary cardholder (you) remains responsible for all charges, whether you made them or the authorized user did. This is different from a joint account, where both people are legally responsible for the debt.
Authorized users on the Sapphire Preferred can access the same travel and dining benefits you have, including trip cancellation insurance, emergency medical and dental coverage abroad, and access to the Chase Sapphire Preferred lounge program if you have that benefit. They do not get their own separate rewards account—all rewards go into your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can add authorized users to your Chase Sapphire Preferred account for free, and their purchases count toward your annual spending bonus.
- Authorized users receive their own physical card but cannot make account changes, set payment amounts, or view your full account details.
- You remain fully responsible for all charges made by authorized users, and late payments or high balances affect your credit, not theirs.
- Chase may report the authorized user to credit bureaus, which can help their credit score if the account is in good standing.
How to Add an Authorized User Online
Log into your Chase account at chase.com and go to your Sapphire Preferred card details. Look for a link or button labeled "Manage Authorized Users" or "Add Authorized User"—this is usually in the account settings or card management section. Click it and select "Add Authorized User."
Chase will ask for the authorized user's full name, date of birth, and relationship to you (spouse, child, friend, etc.). You do not need their Social Security number. After you submit this information, Chase will mail a card to the address on file for your account. The card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Once the card arrives, the authorized user can set up it by calling the number on the back of the card or by logging into the Chase mobile app if they set up their own login. They will need to confirm their identity with Chase before the card becomes active.
What Authorized Users Can and Cannot Do
An authorized user can make purchases anywhere the Sapphire Preferred is accepted and can view their own transaction history in the Chase app or online portal. They cannot change the account's primary address, request a credit limit increase, make payments, set up autopay, or change the card's PIN.
Authorized users also cannot see your full account balance, your total credit limit, or your other cards. They see only the transactions they made and the current statement balance. This separation protects your privacy while letting them use the card.
If you want to remove an authorized user later, you can do so when ready through the same "Manage Authorized Users" section in your account. The card becomes inactive when ready, though the user may still see their past transactions in their login for a limited time.
How Authorized User Spending Affects Your Rewards and Bonuses
All purchases made by authorized users count toward your annual spending bonus. If you have a $5,000 bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months, purchases by authorized users count toward that $4,000 threshold. This can help you reach the bonus faster if you add a user who will spend on the card.
Rewards earned on authorized user purchases go into your account, not theirs. If the authorized user spends $1,000 and earns 3,000 points (at the Sapphire Preferred's standard 3x rate for travel and dining), those 3,000 points appear in your rewards balance. The authorized user does not have a separate points account.
Annual fees and benefits reset on your account anniversary, not on the authorized user's card anniversary. If your Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, you pay it once per year, and the authorized user's card is not charged separately.
Credit Report Impact for You and the Authorized User
The Sapphire Preferred account appears on your credit report as an account you opened. Chase may also report the authorized user to the credit bureaus, which means the account can show up on their credit report too. If the account is in good standing—no late payments, low balance—this can help the authorized user's credit score by adding a positive account to their history.
However, if you miss a payment or carry a high balance, that negative information appears on both your credit report and the authorized user's report. The authorized user is not legally responsible for the debt, but the account activity still affects their credit score. This is why you should only add authorized users you trust to use the card responsibly.
If you remove an authorized user, the account may stay on their credit report for up to seven years, depending on the credit bureau. The impact on their score will fade over time as the account ages.
When Adding an Authorized User Makes Sense
Adding an authorized user is useful if you want to share the card's benefits with a family member or partner who will make regular purchases. If your spouse travels frequently and you want them to earn rewards on their own travel spending, adding them as an authorized user lets them do that while you manage the bill.
Adding a child as an authorized user can be a way to help them build credit history, though they will not be able to make account changes or see your full balance. Some parents do this to teach spending habits while keeping control of the account.
Adding an authorized user does not make sense if you do not trust them to use the card responsibly, if they will not spend enough to justify the card's annual fee, or if they have their own credit card and do not need access to yours. You can always add or remove users later as your situation changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an authorized user see my full account balance and credit limit?
No. Authorized users can see only the current statement balance and their own transactions. They cannot view your total credit limit, your full account history, or any other cards linked to your account. This keeps your financial information private while letting them use the card.
What happens if an authorized user makes a purchase I did not approve?
You are responsible for paying it. Authorized users have the same access to the card as you do, so Chase will not dispute a charge just because you did not personally approve it. If an authorized user makes unauthorized charges, you can remove them from the account and contact Chase about the specific transactions, but the card itself does not have built-in spending limits for authorized users.
Does adding an authorized user lower my credit score?
Adding an authorized user does not trigger a hard inquiry, so it should not lower your score. However, if the authorized user makes large purchases that increase your account balance, your credit utilization ratio goes up, which can temporarily lower your score. Once the balance is paid down, your score should recover.
Can I set a spending limit for an authorized user?
Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer built-in spending limits for authorized users. You cannot cap how much they can spend on the card. If you want to control their spending, you will need to monitor the account regularly or discuss spending expectations with them directly.
What if I want to add an authorized user but they live in a different state?
Chase will mail the card to the address on file for your account. If you want the authorized user to receive the card at their own address, you can update the mailing address temporarily before adding them, then change it back. Alternatively, you can have the card mailed to your address and forward it to them yourself.