American Express Platinum for Non-Residents

I’ve had the American Express Platinum since 2017 — the German version. I applied for it right when I was leaving Germany, and that timing was deliberate. Getting approved for premium credit cards becomes significantly harder once you no longer have a fixed address and salary in your home country.

If you’re planning to go location-independent, this is one of those things to sort out before you leave.

Why I Got It Before Leaving

This is the most important takeaway from this article: apply while you’re still a resident.

When you have a German (or any European) address, a salary, and a credit history with your local bank — that’s when you’ll get approved for premium cards. Once you’re a digital nomad with a foreign address and self-employment income, banks get nervous.

I applied in 2017, got approved easily, and have kept the card active since. Moving to Colombia, then Georgia, then the Philippines — Amex doesn’t care as long as you pay the bill.

What I Actually Use It For

Priority Pass Prestige — Two Memberships Included

This is the primary reason I have the card. The German Platinum comes with two Priority Pass Prestige memberships — the highest tier. I use one, and my sister in Germany uses the other.

Each Prestige membership gives you:

• Unlimited lounge visits worldwide (1,300+ lounges)
• Bring a guest for free every time
• No per-visit fees, no visit caps

For context: a single Priority Pass Prestige membership costs €459/year if you buy it directly. The Amex Platinum includes two — that’s €918 in Priority Pass value alone, which already exceeds the card’s annual fee.

As someone who spends a lot of time in airports, having a quiet space with WiFi, food, and drinks on every trip is the single benefit that makes this card worth keeping year after year.

Hotel Status — Hilton Gold

The Platinum card automatically gives you Hilton Honors Gold status:

• Room upgrades when available
• Late checkout
• Complimentary breakfast at many properties
• 5th night free on reward stays

I don’t stay at Hilton exclusively, but when I do, the Gold status makes a noticeable difference. Upgrades happen more often than you’d expect.

Rental Car Status

Automatic status upgrades with major rental car companies:

• Hertz — Gold Plus Rewards (skip the counter, upgrades)
• Avis — Preferred (choose your car, faster pickup)
• Sixt — Gold (upgrades, express service)

When you’re renting cars regularly in different countries, these small perks add up. Skipping the rental counter alone saves 20-30 minutes per trip.

Large Purchases & Deposits

Any time I need a large amount blocked — car rental deposits, hotel security deposits, equipment purchases — I use the Amex. The high credit limit handles it without impacting my daily spending capacity on other cards.

Restaurant Credits — €150/year

The German Platinum includes €150 in annual restaurant credits at participating restaurants. I use mine when I’m in Berlin — I’ll take a few friends to Jim Block and let the credits cover it. It’s one of the easiest perks to actually use, and a nice way to get concrete value out of the card.

Travel Credit

Annual travel credit (€200) for flights booked through Amex Travel, plus various rotating perks and offers throughout the year.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance comes with the card:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Medical coverage abroad
• Baggage delay and loss
• Rental car insurance (CDW)

I don’t rely on this as my primary insurance, but it’s a solid backup layer.

The Annual Fee Question

The German Amex Platinum costs around €660/year. That’s not cheap. Here’s how I think about it:

For me, the Priority Pass alone justifies about half the fee. The travel credit covers another third. Everything else is gravy. If you travel fewer than 10 times a year, the math might not work for you.

Which Country’s Amex Platinum?

Amex Platinum is available in many countries, and the benefits differ significantly:

My advice: Get the card from the country where you currently have the best credit relationship — usually your home country. Don’t try to get a US Amex Platinum without a US credit history (Mercury’s IO card is your entry point for US credit).

Amex Global Transfer

If you later build US credit (through Mercury IO, for example), you can use Amex Global Transfer to move your credit history from your home country to the US. This lets you apply for a US Amex card using your existing relationship — bypassing the usual “no US credit history” problem.

This is a multi-year play, but worth knowing about.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Priority Pass lounge access (potentially 2 cards depending on version)
• Automatic hotel and rental car status
• Strong travel insurance
• High credit limit useful for deposits and large purchases
• Credits offset the annual fee
• Works globally — no issues using it across countries
• Amex Global Transfer enables future US credit access

Cons:

• High annual fee (€720 for German version)
• Not accepted everywhere (Visa/Mastercard have wider acceptance, especially in Asia)
• Benefits vary significantly by country
• Harder to get once you’ve left your home country
• Statement currency is in your home country (EUR for German card) — FX fees on non-EUR purchases

My Recommendation

If you’re currently employed in an EU country and planning to go location-independent in the next 1-2 years:

1. Apply for Amex Platinum now — While you have the address, salary, and credit history
2. Set up auto-pay — So the card stays active wherever you are
3. Get your Priority Pass — Start using it immediately

If you’ve already left and don’t have a premium travel card — look into whether you can still apply from your last country of residence. Some issuers are more flexible than others.

For US credit access as a non-resident, start with Mercury’s IO card (no SSN needed), then consider Amex Global Transfer later.

Need help structuring your financial setup before going location-independent? Book a consultation — I’ve been through this myself and can help you avoid the common mistakes.