Moving internationally creates significant challenges for maintaining and transferring credit scores, as credit histories do not automatically follow you across borders. Your U.S. credit score becomes irrelevant in most foreign countries, where lenders use entirely separate systems to assess creditworthiness. However, strategic planning can help you preserve your U.S. credit for potential future returns while simultaneously building a new credit profile in your destination country. The key lies in understanding that credit systems are nationally isolated—what works in the U.S. won’t apply in Germany, Japan, or the UK without deliberate effort.

Critical findings from the sources reveal:

• U.S. credit scores do not transfer internationally and become useless for securing loans or services abroad ^[5][9][10]
• Credit invisibility is a major issue for expats, as foreign credit histories aren’t recognized in the U.S. (or vice versa), requiring you to build credit from scratch in the new country ^[3][4]
• Maintaining U.S. credit accounts (credit cards, bank accounts) is essential if you plan to return, as closing them destroys your credit history and lowers your score ^[1][2][7]
• Local credit-building strategies differ by country—secured cards, utility payments, and electoral registration are common starting points ^[6][8]

To navigate this successfully, you must operate on two parallel tracks: preserving your existing U.S. credit (if applicable) while proactively establishing credit in your new country of residence.

Managing Credit Scores During and After International Relocation

Preserving Your U.S. Credit Score While Abroad

For Americans moving overseas—whether temporarily or permanently—protecting your U.S. credit score requires deliberate action, as inactivity or mismanagement can severely damage it. The primary risk is that credit card issuers may close accounts due to prolonged inactivity, which shortens your credit history and increases utilization ratios. A 20-year expat on Reddit confirmed that scores are most affected by "percent of available credit used, and age of credit," meaning older accounts and low utilization are critical to maintain ^[2].

Experian recommends four core strategies to safeguard your score:

• Keep at least one U.S. credit card open and use it periodically (even for small purchases like subscriptions) to prevent closure. Set up autopay to ensure timely payments, as payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score ^[1][7].
• Maintain a U.S. bank account for bill payments and as a financial anchor. This account can be linked to your credit cards for autopay and helps verify your U.S. address ^[1].
• Switch to online statements and alerts to monitor activity and detect fraud early. Identity theft is a heightened risk when managing accounts from abroad ^[1][7].
• Use a U.S. address (e.g., a family member’s or mail-forwarding service) for all financial correspondence. Without a valid address, banks may freeze or close accounts ^[1][7].

Failure to follow these steps can lead to account closures, which reduce your available credit and shorten your credit history—two factors that heavily influence your score. Wise Bread warns that expats who ignore U.S. debts or let accounts become dormant often return to find their credit scores "decimated" ^[7]. For those planning to return to the U.S., this can create barriers to renting housing, securing loans, or even getting utility services.

Building Credit in a New Country: Country-Specific Strategies

Unlike the U.S., where credit scores are standardized (FICO or VantageScore), other countries use vastly different systems—or none at all. Greenback Tax Services outlines these variations:

• Canada: Scores range from 300–900 (vs. 300–850 in the U.S.), with similar evaluation criteria (payment history, utilization) ^[9].
• UK: Uses Experian/Equifax but scores up to 999. Electoral roll registration and utility bills help build credit ^[6][9].
• Germany: SCHUFA scores (0–100) focus on negative records (e.g., late payments). Rent and utility payments are rarely reported ^[9].
• Japan/Australia: No standardized scores; lenders assess income, savings, and employer stability. Australia’s scores range up to 1,200 ^[9][8].
• France/Spain: Creditworthiness is tied to salary, savings, and employment contracts rather than scores ^[10].

To establish credit abroad, Afriex and Holborn Assets recommend these steps:

1. Open a local bank account as a prerequisite for credit applications. Some countries (e.g., Germany) require proof of residency and employment ^[8][6].
2. Apply for a secured credit card (backed by a cash deposit) if unsecured cards are unavailable. This is a common first step in the U.S., UK, and Canada ^[8][4].
3. Leverage alternative data: In the UK, services like Experian Boost allow utility and rent payments to count toward your score. In the U.S., Nova Credit helps immigrants transfer foreign credit histories ^[3][6].
4. Keep credit utilization below 30%—a universal rule across most scoring systems. Higher utilization signals risk to lenders ^[8].
5. Monitor your new credit report for errors. Disputing inaccuracies is critical, as some countries (e.g., Germany) penalize negative records heavily ^[6].

The process is time-consuming: Cadogan Tate notes that expats in the U.S. can achieve a "good" score (670+) in about a year with consistent payments, while other countries may take longer due to stricter requirements ^[4]. For example, Germany’s SCHUFA system may take 3–5 years to reflect a strong profile, as it prioritizes long-term stability ^[9].

A critical caveat is that no service can "transfer" your U.S. score abroad. Nova Credit and similar tools only provide foreign lenders with a translated version of your history—they don’t merge it into the new country’s system. As Investopedia states: "There are no international credit scores," meaning you’ll always start from scratch ^[5].