Does US credit follow you to other countries?
Sophia Koch
Updated on February 03, 2026
U.S. credit scores reflect the creditworthiness of U.S. residents. Other countries have their own systems to judge whether borrowers are likely to pay off their debts. Credit scores aren’t shared between countries, partly because data protection laws vary.
Does your UK credit rating follow you to America?
Yes, they are the same companies operating on both sides of the pond. However, your UK credit history does not translate to the US, and vice versa. In both countries, these credit bureaus collect information about your credit history and credit behaviors, as well as personal information.
Will my debt follow me to another country?
Most debts won’t follow you to another country, but staying one step ahead of your creditors might be a lot harder than you think. Debt can feel like a massive weight hanging around your neck.
Can Credit Card Debt follow you overseas?
If you move abroad with unpaid credit card debt, your creditors may send you to collections or file a lawsuit against you. Credit card debt usually cannot be recouped outside of the country. But that doesn’t mean the debt ceases to exist. It could even make it harder to establish residency in a new country.
Does Germany have credit scores?
The credit system in Germany is known by the name of SCHUFA. It is short for Schutzgemeinschaft für Allgemeine Kreditsicherung. For every German resident, the SCHUFA system starts collecting data related to financial history to formulate a score for your creditworthiness.
What is the highest credit score UK?
Experian is the largest CRA in the UK. Their scores range from 0-999. A credit score of 721-880 is considered fair. A score of 881-960 is considered good.
Why do I have a blank credit record in the UK?
3 Your current commitments. The way things stand you are likely to have a blank credit record because UK banks won’t be able to run a credit check on a non-UK address for a number of reasons. F or credit applications a blank credit record is a proverbial spanner in the works.
Is it possible for my credit score to follow me abroad?
But, the answer isn’t quite as simple as yes or no. Put simply, your credit score won’t follow you abroad, but your payment history and debts will. Let’s take a closer look.
Is the UK Credit Bureau the same as the US?
However, your UK credit history does not translate to the US, and vice versa. In both countries, these credit bureaus collect information about your credit history and credit behaviors, as well as personal information. However, that’s pretty much where the similarities stop.
What to do if your credit history is wiped out?
So your first aim should be to re-establish a credit record at a UK address as quickly as possible and certainly before you submit a mortgage application. Whether you rent somewhere or use a family address, it doesn’t really matter.