Updated September 28, 2026. Rates, fees and offers checked on each bank’s own website on that date.
Your first Canadian credit card matters more than it looks. Landlords check credit before signing a lease, phone carriers use it to decide whether you need a deposit, and in a few years it decides your mortgage rate. The good news: every big bank now has a newcomer program that approves permanent residents, foreign workers and students with no Canadian credit history, some with limits up to $15,000.
We compared the newcomer programs at RBC, Scotiabank, TD, CIBC and BMO, plus the best secured cards, and picked the cards that give you the most for a new-arrival budget. Every figure below comes from the bank’s own page.
Best newcomer credit cards at a glance
| Card | Best for | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| RBC Cash Back Mastercard | Best overall | $0 |
| CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa | Best cash back rewards | $99, rebated for the first 2 years (also for up to 3 authorized users) |
| Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa | Best welcome offer | $0 |
| TD Cash Back Visa | Best no-fee card for everyday bills | $0 |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | Best for Sobeys and FreshCo shoppers | $0 |
| RBC Avion Visa Platinum | Best for flying home | $120 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum | Best for Air Canada flyers | $89, waived in the first year (conditions apply) |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | Simple no-fee option | $0 |
How we picked these cards
- Approval without Canadian credit history. Every card here is offered through a bank newcomer program or is a secured card with near-guaranteed approval.
- Low cost in year one. We favoured no-fee cards and cards whose fee is waived or rebated while you build credit.
- Rewards on newcomer spending. Groceries, gas, transit, phone and internet bills, and flights home.
- A path to better credit. High starting limits help keep your credit use low, which helps your score.
The best credit cards for newcomers, reviewed
1. Best overall
RBC Cash Back Mastercard
If you only get one card in your first year, make it this one. It has no annual fee, RBC will give newcomers a limit of up to $15,000 with no Canadian credit history, and the cash back lands in your account without any points to track.
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards | Up to 2% cash back on groceries, up to 1% on everyday purchases |
| Newcomer offer | Up to 12% cash back for the first 3 months (offer ends October 31, 2026, conditions apply) |
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $15,000, no credit history required |
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
| Who qualifies | Permanent residents and international students who arrived in the last 12 months, and foreign workers who arrived in the last 48 months (RBC Newcomer Advantage) |
- +No annual fee, ever
- +Among the highest newcomer limits in Canada
- +Simple cash back with nothing to redeem manually
- −The 2% and 1% are top rates; RBC pays less until your spending reaches its tiers
- −Works best if you also open an RBC chequing account
Verdict: Best first card for most newcomers, especially if you plan to bank with RBC.
2. Best cash back rewards
CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa
The strongest everyday earner on this list for a newcomer budget. You get 3% back on gas, EV charging and groceries, and CIBC rebates the annual fee for your first two years when you open it as a newcomer.
| Annual fee | $99, rebated for the first 2 years (also for up to 3 authorized users) |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 3% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging and grocery purchases |
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $15,000 with no secured deposit when you bank with CIBC |
| Interest rate | 21.99% purchases |
| Minimum income | $15,000 household |
- +3% on the two biggest costs in a new household: food and fuel
- +Two years with no fee gives you time to build credit
- +Add up to 3 family members free during the rebate
- −The $99 fee returns in year three, so review it then
- −Best limit needs CIBC chequing and an in-branch visit
Verdict: Best for families spending a lot on groceries and gas.
3. Best welcome offer
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa
Scotiabank’s StartRight program approves newcomers for up to $15,000 with no Canadian credit history, and this no-fee card opens with 5% cash back on everything for three months. That is up to $100 back on the purchases most newcomers make anyway: furniture, a phone, winter clothes.
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Welcome offer | 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months, on up to $2,000 spent |
| Balance transfers | 0.99% introductory rate for 9 months (2% fee), then 22.99% |
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $15,000 through Scotiabank StartRight |
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
| Who qualifies | Permanent residents in their first 5 years, international students and foreign workers |
- +Strong first 3 months for setting up a home
- +Can use your home-country credit report through Nova Credit for a higher limit
- +StartRight covers students and foreign workers too
- −After the welcome period the everyday earn is modest
- −Nova Credit only works for select countries
Verdict: Best if you have big set-up purchases in your first three months.
4. Best no-fee card for everyday bills
TD Cash Back Visa
A no-fee card that earns on the bills newcomers pay every month: groceries, gas, public transit, streaming and recurring bill payments. TD says permanent residents may get a limit of up to $15,000 with no credit history.
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 1% Cash Back Dollars on grocery, gas and EV charging, public transit, recurring bills and streaming; 0.5% on everything else |
| Welcome offer | Earn up to $150 in Cash Back Dollars (account must be approved and opened by October 1, 2026) |
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $15,000 for permanent residents, no credit history required |
- +Earns on transit and phone or internet bills, which many cards skip
- +No fee to keep it long term
- −Lower earn rate than the CIBC Dividend Platinum
- −Welcome offer deadline is very close
Verdict: Best for transit riders and anyone who puts bills on autopay.
5. Best for Sobeys and FreshCo shoppers
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa
Scene+ points work at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and participating Co-ops. If one of those is your local grocery store, this no-fee card pays you back where you already shop.
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, participating Co-ops, FreshCo and Home Hardware |
| Welcome offer | Up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points in your first 3 months |
| Interest rates | 21.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $15,000 through Scotiabank StartRight |
- +Points are easy to use at the grocery checkout
- +A student version is available with the same earn rates
- −Less useful if you shop at Loblaw stores such as No Frills or Superstore
Verdict: Best if your nearest grocery store is a Sobeys-family banner.
6. Best for flying home
RBC Avion Visa Platinum
Most travel cards want a high income, which is hard to prove in your first months here. RBC says this one has no minimum income to apply, and Avion points can be used on any airline, any flight, at any time. Useful when family is on another continent.
| Annual fee | $120 |
|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Up to 70,000 Avion points, which RBC values at up to $1,500 in travel (apply by November 25, 2026) |
| Rewards | 1 Avion point per $1 on everyday purchases |
| Insurance | Travel coverage including trip cancellation |
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases, 22.99% cash advances |
- +No minimum income requirement
- +Flexible points for any airline
- +Large welcome offer
- −$120 annual fee from day one
- −Only worth it if you will actually travel
Verdict: Best for newcomers planning a trip home in the next year.
7. Best for Air Canada flyers
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum
A low-cost way into Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program. The first year is free and the points work on Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners, which fly to most newcomers’ home countries.
| Annual fee | $89, waived in the first year (conditions apply) |
|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points (account must be approved by October 1, 2026) |
| Rewards | 1 point per $1 on eligible gas, EV charging, grocery and direct Air Canada purchases |
| Insurance | Travel insurance package included |
- +Free for the first year
- +Aeroplan points go far on Star Alliance flights
- −Welcome offer deadline is very close
- −Everyday earn outside the bonus categories is lower
Verdict: Best if you plan to fly Air Canada or Star Alliance.
8. Simple no-fee option
BMO CashBack Mastercard
BMO approves newcomers for an unsecured card with a limit of up to $5,000 and no credit history. The CashBack Mastercard has no annual fee and lets you redeem from as little as $1, or set up an automatic deposit from $25.
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Newcomer credit limit | Up to $5,000 unsecured, no credit history required |
| Redemption | Cash out any time from $1, or automatic deposits starting at $25 |
| Documents | PR card, confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) or work or study permit (IMM 1442), plus two pieces of ID |
- +Very flexible cash back redemption
- +Clear document list, so the branch visit is quick
- −Newcomer limit is lower than RBC, TD, Scotiabank or CIBC
- −Application is in branch
Verdict: Good if BMO is your bank or the branch closest to home.
Can’t get approved? Start with a secured card
If you don’t qualify for a newcomer program yet (for example, you are a visitor, or your income isn’t set up), a secured card is a guaranteed way to start. You put down a refundable deposit, it becomes your limit, and the card reports to the credit bureaus like any other card. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, apply for a regular card and ask for the deposit back.
Home Trust Secured Visa
Almost everyone who puts down a deposit is approved, and Home Trust reports to the credit bureau every month. Your limit equals your deposit, from $500 to $10,000, and the deposit is CDIC protected. Choose $0 a year at 19.99% interest, or $59 a year at 14.90%. Not available in Quebec, and Home Trust’s FAQ lists being a permanent Canadian resident as a requirement.
Neo Secured Mastercard
Neo lets you start with a small deposit and earns cash back, which is rare for a secured card. Neo is changing its memberships on October 1, 2026, and secured cardholders will need a paid Build or Grow membership after that date, so compare the monthly cost with the rewards before you apply.
Already have credit back home? Bring it with you
Two options let your foreign credit history count in Canada. Nova Credit translates your home-country credit report so Scotiabank can offer a higher limit, for applicants from Australia, Austria, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine (Scotiabank list). And if you already hold an American Express card in another country, Amex Global Card Transfer can get you approved for a Canadian Amex without a Canadian credit report.
Newcomer programs compared
| Program | Credit limit with no Canadian history | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| RBC Newcomer Advantage | Up to $15,000 (students up to $2,000) | PR and students within 12 months of arrival, foreign workers within 48 months |
| Scotiabank StartRight | Up to $15,000 | PR in first 5 years, international students, foreign workers. Home credit via Nova Credit for select countries |
| TD New to Canada | Up to $15,000 for permanent residents | Permanent residents (ask TD about limits for workers and students) |
| CIBC Newcomer | Up to $15,000, no deposit | Permanent residents, foreign workers and students who bank with CIBC |
| BMO NewStart | Up to $5,000 unsecured | Permanent residents, foreign workers and students |
Limits are the maximum each bank advertises. Your actual limit depends on your income, status and documents.
How to apply as a newcomer: what to bring
- Proof of status: PR card, confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), or your work or study permit (IMM 1442).
- Two pieces of ID, usually your passport plus one more.
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and a Canadian address.
- Income details: job offer letter, recent pay stubs, or proof of funds.
- A Canadian chequing account. Opening it at the same bank usually gets you the best limit and the fastest approval.
Most banks let you start online, but newcomer applications with the highest limits are usually finished in a branch. Book an appointment and bring originals.
Your first 12 months: a simple plan to build credit
Open a chequing account and one credit card at the same bank. Don’t apply anywhere else yet: every application adds a hard inquiry to your new file.
Put one or two regular bills on the card, such as your phone plan and groceries. Set up automatic payment of the full balance.
Keep your balance under 30% of your limit when the statement is issued. On a $2,000 limit, that means under $600.
Check your free credit report with Equifax and TransUnion to make sure the card is reporting and your details are right.
Ask for a credit limit increase, or add a second card with better rewards if you need one. If you started secured, ask to move to an unsecured card.
Mistakes newcomers make (and how to avoid them)
- Paying only the minimum. Interest on these cards runs about 20% to 23% a year. Pay the full statement balance every month.
- Applying for several cards at once. Multiple hard inquiries on a brand-new file can lower your score and trigger declines.
- Using a debit card to “build credit.” Debit spending is your own money and does not build a credit history.
- Maxing out the card. Going over your limit can bring fees and hurt your score.
- Closing your first card. Keep your oldest no-fee card open; the age of your credit history counts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a credit card in Canada with no credit history?
Yes. RBC, Scotiabank, TD and CIBC advertise newcomer limits of up to $15,000 with no Canadian credit history, and BMO offers up to $5,000. If you don’t qualify, a secured card is almost always approved.
What credit score do newcomers start with?
You start with no score at all, not a low one. Canadian scores range from 300 to 900, and a score usually appears after a few months of card use. Around 660 and up is considered good.
Does a debit card build credit in Canada?
No. Only borrowing and repaying, such as a credit card or loan, builds credit history.
Can international students get a credit card?
Yes. RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC and BMO include international students in their newcomer programs, usually with a lower starting limit. RBC, for example, offers students up to $2,000.
Can my credit history from back home help?
Sometimes. Scotiabank uses Nova Credit for select countries to offer higher limits, and American Express lets existing Amex cardholders transfer to a Canadian card.
Secured or unsecured: which is better?
Both build credit the same way. Unsecured is better if you qualify because you don’t tie up cash. Secured is the fallback if you are declined.
