Starting college or university in Canada comes with new responsibilities, and your first credit card can be a smart financial tool. The best student credit cards offer low fees, easy approval, and perks like cashback or rewards designed specifically for student life. Whether you’re managing expenses, looking to build credit, or earning rewards on everyday purchases, choosing the right card is key.
Let’s dive deeper into the best credit cards for students in Canada in 2026.
Key Points:
- Some of the best credit cards in Canada for students include the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, Neo Mastercard, and KOHO Essential Mastercard, among others.
- The best cards for students are those with no annual fees, generous cash back rewards, and flexible eligibility criteria.
- You can also use these cards to establish good credit.
- Before applying, make sure you understand all applicable fees and are able to make on-time payments that cover the full balance.
The Best Credit Card For Students In Canada
- Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card – For The Independent Student
- Neo Mastercard – For The Students Who Loves Exclusive Discounts & Offers
- KOHO Essential Mastercard – For The Student On A Budget
- Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card – For The Movie Enthusiast
- CIBC Aventura® Visa* – For The Student With Wanderlust
- President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard® – For The Student Who Likes To Cook
- CIBC Dividend® Visa* – For The Student Who Moved Out
| Best Credit Card For Students In Canada | Annual Fee | Minimum Income Requirement |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | $12,000 |
| Neo Mastercard | $0 | No income requirement |
| KOHO Essential Mastercard | $48 (may be waived) | No income requirement |
| Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card | $0 | $12,000 |
| CIBC Aventura® Visa* | $0 | No income requirement |
| President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard® | $0 | No income requirement |
| CIBC Dividend® Visa* | $0 | No income requirement |
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: For The Independent Student
If you’re a student with an income and you do most of your own shopping, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is one of the best credit card for students in Canada. You can earn 2% cash back on purchases from two categories of your choice. You may also unlock a third category if you open a Tangerine savings account.
Moreover, with the .5% cashback on all other everyday purchases, you’ll be raking in points like frequently. Better yet, there is no limit on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn on your everyday purchases.
Special Offer
If you’re approved, you’ll earn an extra 10% back on everyday purchases made within your first 2 months.*
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 20.95%
- Cash advance rate: 22.95%
- Income requirements: Gross annual income of $12,000 or more
- Earn rate:
- Get 2% cash back in any two categories
- 0.5% on all other everyday purchases
- Extra features:
- Unlimited cash back
- Get a 3rd cash back category when you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account
- ‘Left to Spend’ for transaction organization
- Account alerts
Neo Mastercard: For Students Who Love Exclusive Discounts & Offers
If you’re looking for a no-fee credit card with a high cash back rate, the Neo Mastercard is the card for you. The Neo Mastercard offers cash back and exclusive offers at thousands of participating stores. With it, you can earn 1% cashback on gas & groceries, plus up to 15% back at over 10,000 Neo partners across Canada.
If you open a Neo Everyday account, you can earn up to 4% cash back on gas and groceries and up to 1% cash back on everything else.¹
There are no income or credit score requirements, and users are guaranteed instant approval* with access to their virtual card to start using immediately.
Neo Mastercard Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 19.99% – 29.99% (QC: 19.99% – 25.24%)
- Cash Advance rate: 22.99% – 31.99% (QC: 21.99% – 25.249%)
- Income requirements: None
- Earn rate:
- Earn up to 4% cash back on gas and groceries¹
- Earn up to 1% cash back on everything else¹
- Extra features:
- Instant virtual card
- Auto-pay
- Real-time account alerts
KOHO Essential Prepaid Mastercard: For The Student On A Budget
If you’re on a budget and aren’t interested in a traditional credit card, a KOHO prepaid Mastercard is a great way to create a budget and stick to it with no monthly fee.
As per the above info, the KOHO Essential account may be the best choice for a student on a budget at $0 per month. Students can take advantage of 2% interest on savings and earn 1% cash back on groceries, transportation, and food and drink.
Use code LOANSCANADA when you sign up for a KOHO account and get $40 FREE when you add funds to your account.
| KOHO Joint is now available on all 3 KOHO plans. Two users can now manage everyday spending and savings together, each with their own card and full access to the account. If either account holder has an Everything Plan, those premium benefits automatically apply to the Joint Account at no additional cost. |
KOHO Essential Prepaid Mastercard – Account Features
- Annual fee: $0 when you set up a direct deposit or add $1,000 per month
- Purchase rate: None
- Cash advance rate: None
- Income requirements: None
- Earn rate:
- Get 1% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation
- Up to 50% extra cash back from select merchants
- Extra features:
- Earn 2% savings interest on your entire account balance
- Free e-transfers
- Build credit with rent reporting
- Free Equifax credit score
| New Offer: Get 50% Off Credit Building New users can now access Credit Building monthly or with a 3-month plan for $15 — a 50% discount. KOHO users have seen their credit scores increase by +31 points on average within 4 months. |
Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card: For The Movie Enthusiast
If you love to cook dinner at home and then head to a movie on a Friday night with friends or a date, the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card this is the card for you. You’ll earn 2 Scene+ points for every dollar spent at select supermarkets, Home Hardware locations, and Cineplex.
There is also no annual fee, which makes it a great option for students who rather spend their money at the movie than on expensive credit card fees. Plus, you can save money when you rent a car from an AVIS or Budget location across Canada or the US.
Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 20.99%
- Cash advance rate: 22.99%
- Income requirements: $12,000 annually
- Earn rate:
- Earn 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend at participating groceries stores (IGA, Sobey’s, Safeway), Home Hardware, Cineplex theatres, and at Cineplex.com
- Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Extra features:
- Save up to 25% off at participating AVIS and Budget car rental locations in Canada and the US
CIBC Aventura Visa for Students: For The Student With Wanderlust
If you have a thirst for adventure and travel, this card may be your best offer. Earn Aventura points on your everyday purchases.
Aventura points never expire and can be used to book flights with any airline. Moreover, with these points, you can also cover taxes and fees. So, if you earn enough Aventura points, you won’t have to spend a dime!
Plus, there’s nothing better than earning points by doing the things you love: travelling. When you make a travel purchase through the CIBC rewards centre, you’ll earn points. This card also comes with a free SPC membership card, so you can save money on your trips and at home when you shop.
Lastly, it has what every student looks for in a credit card: no annual fee and no income requirements.
CIBC Aventura Visa Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 21.99%
- Cash advance rate: 22.99% (21.99% for QC residents)
- Income requirements: None
- Earn rate:
- 1 point for every $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and drugstores
- 1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases
- Extra features:
- Get a free SPC+ membership and save up to 30% on select brands online and in-store
- Purchase Security Insurance
- Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
- Fraud alerts
- CIBC Pace It installment plans
President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard®: For The Student Who Who Wants Savings On Groceries
If you love to cook or do a lot of grocery shopping, you’ll love this card. You’ll earn 1% in PC Optimum points for every dollar spent at participating PC grocery stores, including Loblaws, No Frills, Fortinos, and Real Canadian Superstore, among others. Plus, you can earn 2.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix.
You’re able to redeem your points starting at the value of 10,000 PC Optimum points, which equals $10 dollars.
President’s Choice Financial Mastercard Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 21.99%
- Cash advance rate: 22.97% (21.97% for QC residents)
- Income requirements: Subject to credit approval and other eligibility criteria
- Earn rate:
- 1% back in points at participating grocery stores
- At least 3¢/L back in points at Esso and Mobil gas stations
- 2.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
- 1% back in points at Joe Fresh
- 1% back in points on dining, transportation, and everywhere else
- Extra features:
- Mastercard Global Service
- Purchase Assurance & Extended Warranty
- Redeem points towards paying down your PC Financial credit card balanc
CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students: For The Student Who Moved Out
A great points card that’s designed with students in mind is the CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students. This card is perfect for students who have just moved and started living on their own because of its balanced points system.
You can earn 2% cash back on groceries, 1% cash back on dining, gas and transportation, and 0.5% cash back on everything else. There’s no limit on your total cash back earning potential.
As a CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students cardholder, you’ll receive a free SPC membership, which provides exclusive access to discounts and experiences. Shop deals and save up to 30% at over 450 partner retailers with your SPC membership.
CIBC Dividend® Visa* Features
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase rate: 21.99%
- Cash advance rate: 22.99% (QC: 21.99%)
- Income requirements: None
- Earn rate:
- Earn 2% cash back on eligible groceries
- Earn 1% cash back on eligible dining, transportation, gas, bill payments
- Earn 0.5 % cash back on everything else
- Extra features:
- Unlimited cash back
- Purchase Security Insurance and Extended Warranty Insurance
- Free SPC+ membership
- Exclusive Skip+ benefits
- Save on gas purchases at participating locations
Looking for the best credit card options?
Why Apply For A Student Credit Card?
Applying for a student credit card is a smart way to start building your financial foundation early.
- Easier To Get Approved For: These cards are designed for young adults with limited or no credit history, offering easier approval criteria and lower credit limits to encourage responsible use.
- Build Positive Credit: By using a student credit card for everyday purchases — like textbooks, groceries, or gas — and making on-time payments, you can begin establishing a positive credit score that will help you qualify for future loans, rentals, or even jobs.
- Earn Points: Many student credit cards also offer perks like cash back rewards, making your dollar work for you.
What To Look For The Best Credit Card For Students In Canada?
The best credit card for students in Canada depends on how well the card is geared toward students. Here are some important factors to consider before settling on one for you:
Annual Fee
Lower annual fees will help you keep more money in your pocket. The only time an annual fee may be worth it is if you spend enough to earn enough points to break even.
Minimum Income
Students typically earn a very modest income, if any at all. As such, look for a card that you can qualify for without requiring a sizable income.
Rewards
Why not make your money work for you? Many student-based credit cards offer the opportunity to collect and redeem points. If you’re interested in a card like this, look for one that is geared toward your particular lifestyle.
For instance, if you’re a cinema fanatic, then collecting points that can be redeemed for free movies make sense. Likewise, look for cards that offer points to be redeemed for travel if you love vacationing.
Extra Perks
There may be other perks that you might find attractive or even necessary. For instance, if you travel a lot, you may want to look for a card that also comes with some type of travel insurance so you don’t have to purchase a separate policy.
Learn more: Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
Why Do Students Have A Tough Time Getting A Credit Card?
Students have specific traits that can make it much more difficult to get a credit card. That includes limited or no credit history and employment hurdles. These situations can stand in the way of getting a credit card.
Can You Get A Credit Card With No Credit?
If you have no credit history, you’ll need to look at other options besides a standard unsecured credit card:
- Secured Credit Cards: Responsible use of a secured card can help improve your credit rating over time, increasing your chances of qualifying for standard credit cards later on.
- Retail Store Cards: You don’t need a credit check for a retail store card, which is a credit card issued by a specific retailer that offers rewards or discounts for purchases made at that store.
- Prepaid Cards: A prepaid card is a payment card loaded with funds in advance, allowing you to spend only what’s available. But keep in mind that they do not help in building your credit history.
Can You Get A Credit Card With No Job?
It’s possible to qualify for a credit card even if you’re unemployed, as long as you have a reliable source of income, such as employment insurance, pension payments, disability support, or other financial resources. Your credit score plays a major role in determining approval, especially when you’re not currently working.
If a standard credit card isn’t an option, consider alternatives like secured cards or prepaid cards, which can offer similar features and help build your credit history.
Learn more: How To Get A Credit Card Without A Job
Can You Get A Credit Card With Bad Credit?
As is the case with no credit history, a bad credit score will get in the way of securing a traditional credit card. In this case, you’ll need to consider the same options as you would if you started with no credit, including secured cards, prepaid cards, and retail store cards. But if you want to use your credit card to build credit, a secured credit card would be best.
Learn more: Can You Get A Credit Card With Bad Credit?
Thankfully, many of the credit card options listed above can lower the bar for approval requirements, making credit cards more accessible to students.
Bottom Line
All the cards mentioned here come with no annual fee, have little to no eligibility requirements, and offer reward benefits. Always do your research and choose a credit card based on your needs and not a freebie. Once you have a credit card that matches your lifestyle, keep track of your spending and pay off your balance in full. If you do that, you’ll build the credit you need and be that much closer to being a successful adult.
FAQs On The Best Credit Card For Students In Canada
Will I be charged interest if I only pay the minimum payment on my credit card?
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¹Minimum balance in a Neo Everyday account required to earn the highest rate. Cashback earn subject to monthly maximum spend limits. Cashback may be limited and varies by perks, offer, and partner. There may be monthly limits for boosted cashback offers.
* Terms & conditions apply. See the application for complete details.
