Does your credit score change when you move to another country?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 04, 2026
A credit score accrued in the United States has no bearing overseas; it will neither harm nor help you in overseas financial dealings. The technology doesn’t yet exist for the possibility of international credit scores; additionally, laws prohibit the sharing of credit information overseas.
Does your credit score change if you move states?
Your U.S. credit score won’t follow you Leaving your credit score back in the States may sound appealing if you’re hoping to escape your debts by moving abroad. It’s not that simple. Often, when you apply for a visa in another country, your debt will be examined. You still can’t take your credit score.
Does your debt follow you 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.
What happens to your credit card debt when you move out of the country?
What happens to your credit card debt when you move out of the country? Debt collectors are still entitled to seek payment for your debt even if you leave the country. This means that they can file a lawsuit against you and can go after any assets that you leave behind.
What countries do not use credit scores?
Here’s how 10 countries deal with credit, and how they score your financial worth.
- Japan. Kagoshima, Japan.
- United Kingdom. The Canary Wharf headquarters of Barclays Bank in London, England.
- The Netherlands. A negative mark could take five years to disappear.
- Canada. Toronto, Canada.
- Spain.
- Brazil.
- France.
- Germany.
Does moving hurt credit score?
Your home shouldn’t be a source of stress, so make sure it isn’t filled with things that are hurting your finances. Bottom line: Moving can hurt your credit score, but only indirectly.
Will changing my address affect my credit score?
Your address doesn’t affect your credit score. However, it affects what information appears on your report, which can affect your score. Moving house too often can also make you look less stable, which might discourage some lenders from giving you credit. Credit reference agencies update your address automatically.
What happens to your credit score when you move abroad?
“When you move abroad, you’re back to square one,” explains James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian. “This is the case even if you’re moving somewhere governed by similar, or common, data protection directives to your home country, such as between EU member states”.
Do you need money to move to Australia?
Here is where you can take your first breath of air away from the costs of moving to Australia. There is now nothing more to pay for at least a few months whilst you wait to receive notice from the Australian Dept. of Immigration that you’ve been successfully called forward to apply for your Skilled Visa.
Do you need a work visa to move to Australia?
Unless you are from New Zealand, it is a requirement to have a work visa before moving to Australia for a new job. But what comes after? How can you move easily to the land of kangaroos and the Great Barrier Reef?
What happens to your credit score when you move back home?
One way of ensuring you won’t be caught short when you move back home is to maintain your credit score there. “See whether there’s a financial product you can keep running while you’re away, so you don’t totally wipe out your credit standing at home when you’re not around,” Jones advises.