Joint credit card, co-borrower, guarantor and authorized user: who owes what
Quick summary
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) lists four roles on a credit card. The primary cardholder and a co-borrower are responsible for the balance. A guarantor is responsible but cannot use the account. An authorized user is not responsible. Seehow credit cards work.
Checked November 3, 2026. Main source: FCAC: Joint credit cards (modified Oct. 15, 2025). See all 1 source.
Key facts
- Co-borrower
- Can use the account and is equally responsible for the balance
- Source: FCAC, modified Oct. 15, 2025
- Guarantor
- Cannot use the account but is responsible for the balance
- Source: FCAC, modified Oct. 15, 2025
- Authorized user
- Not responsible. The account belongs to the primary cardholder
- Source: FCAC, modified Oct. 15, 2025
The four roles
| Role | Can use the account? | Responsible for the balance? |
|---|---|---|
| Primary cardholder | Yes | Yes, including purchases by additional cardholders or authorized users |
| Additional cardholder or authorized user | Yes, with a linked card | No. The account belongs to the primary cardholder |
| Co-borrower or co-applicant | Yes | Yes, equally responsible for the balance |
| Guarantor | No | Yes |
Source: FCAC, modified October 15, 2025.
What it does to credit
The FCAC says purchases made by an authorized user or additional cardholder do not help that person build credit history. The page does not explain how joint or guaranteed accounts show on credit reports, so ask the credit bureaus or the issuer how the account will be reported.
Authorized users
Read what an authorized user does and does not do on our authorized user guide, and how to add a teen.
Before you agree to be a co-borrower or guarantor
- You are responsible for the balance even if you do not use the account.
- The FCAC page does not describe what happens when the other person stops paying, so ask the lender in writing before you sign.
- The page does not cover how to close a joint card. Contact the card issuer.
- If you only want to help someone build a history, ask about an authorized user card instead, where you hold the account and the balance is yours.
Questions people ask
Is a co-borrower responsible for the whole balance?
The FCAC says a co-borrower is equally responsible for the balance.
Is an authorized user responsible for the debt?
No. The account belongs to the primary cardholder, who is responsible, according to the FCAC.
What is a guarantor?
Someone who has no access to the account but is responsible for the balance, according to the FCAC.