Moving to Canada comes with a laundry list of to-do’s, and perhaps one of the most important things to take care of is your finances. In addition to opening a bank account, you might also want to look into applying for a credit card for newcomers in Canada.
Having a credit card is great for making convenient purchases, but more importantly, it’s an excellent tool to help you build good credit.
Banks and lenders use your credit score to measure your creditworthiness. With a good credit score, you’ll have a better chance of getting approved for various financial products, including a mortgage to buy a house. And having a credit card — and using it responsibly — is a great way to start building solid credit.
Certain credit cards are better suited for newcomers than others, especially when it comes to annual fees and approval requirements. Read on to find out some of the best credit cards for newcomers to Canada.
Best Credit Card For Newcomers In Canada
| Annual Fee | Rewards | |
| Secured Neo Mastercard | $5/ monthly | – Up to 4% on gas and groceries.¹ – Up to 1% on everything else.¹ |
| Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa Card | $0 | – Earn 1% cashback on all eligible gas, grocery, and pharmacy purchases and recurring payments. – Earn 0.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases. |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | – Earn 2% Money-Back Rewards in 2 categories. – Earn 0.50% Money-Back Rewards on all other eligible purchases. |
| BMO CashBack® Mastercard® | $0 | – 3% cash back on grocery purchases. – 1% cash back on recurring bills. – 0.5% cash back on all other purchases |
| Home Trust Secured Visa | – $0 with rate of 19.99% – $59 with rate of 14.90% | N/A |
Secured Neo Mastercard
Secured Neo Mastercard is a secured credit card offered by Neo Financial; a fintech company in Canada that aims to change the way Canadians spend, save and build credit. While the Secured Neo Mastercard
is a secured credit card, it comes with many perks of a traditional credit card, including cashback rewards and the ability to build credit. You can earn up to 4% on gas and groceries and up to 1% on everything else.¹ The cashback earn rate is tiered, so the higher your Neo Everyday account balance, the higher your cashback rate.
The card also has low requirements for approval. There is no credit check (hard credit check required in QC), and the minimum deposit is $50. Users can also take advantage of Neo’s real-time notifications to help budget and track expenses.
The Secured Neo Mastercard comes with a $5 monthly fee.
Annual fee: $0
Purchase rate: 19.99% – 29.99% (QC: 19.99% – 24.99%)
Cash advance rate: 22.99% – 31.99% (QC: 19.99% – 25.99%)
Earn rate:
- Up to 4% on gas and groceries.¹
- Up to 1% on everything else.¹
- Up extra with select Neo partners.
Perks:
- Can help build or rebuild your Canadian credit history.²
- Guaranteed approval for all Canadians.
- Change your limit at any time.
- Upgrade to the premium plan for $9.99 to earn extra cash back on spending.
- Customize cards by adding Neo perks.
Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa Card
One of the best cashback credit cards available is the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card. As the name suggests, there’s no annual fee to pay, which is a huge perk for those looking to keep costs to a minimum.
You’ll earn 5% cashback on all purchases up to $2,000 for the first 3 months. Then, you’ll earn 1% cashback on all eligible gas, grocery, and pharmacy purchases, as well as recurring payments. And 0.50% on all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Purchase rate: 19.99%
Cash advance rate: 22.99%
Earn rate:
- Earn 1% cashback on all eligible gas, grocery, and pharmacy purchases and recurring payments.
- Earn 0.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Perks:
- 0.99% introductory rate of on balance transfers for the first 6 months.
- Save up to 25% at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Another great no-free credit card that offers cashback rewards is the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. This card allows you to earn unlimited Money-Back Rewards on purchases.
You’ll earn 2% cashback on everyday purchases in 2 different categories of your choice, and 0.50% cashback on all other eligible purchases. And if you open a Tangerine Savings Account, you can get a 3rd category added.
Special Offer
If you’re approved, you’ll earn an extra 10% back on up to $1,000 in everyday purchases made within your first 2 months.*
Annual fee: $0
Purchase rate: 19.95%
Cash advance rate: 19.95%
Earn rate:
- Earn 2% Money-Back Rewards in 2 categories, including groceries, pharmacies, home improvement stores, and more.
- Earn 0.50% Money-Back Rewards on all other eligible purchases.
Perks:
- No limit to how many Money-Back Rewards you can earn.
- Deposite your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third money-back category.
- For the first 30 days, you can take advantage of a 1.95% transfer balance rate for the first 6 months.
- Add authorized users onto your account for free.
- Mastercard Zero Liability
BMO CashBack® Mastercard®
The BMO CashBack Mastercard comes with no annual fee and allows you to earn cashback on everyday purchases. This card is a good option for newcomers due to its low requirements and high cash back rates.
You can also take advantage of an introductory interest rate of 0.99% on transfer balances for 9 months, which gives you plenty of time to pay down any high-rate balances you might currently be carrying on other credit cards.
Annual fee: $0
Purchase rate: 20.99%
Cash advance rate: 22.99% (21.99% for QC residents)
Earn rate:
- 3% cash back on grocery purchases.
- 1% cash back on recurring bills.
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Perks:
- With this card, you’ll have an extended warranty and purchase protection.
- If you’re a fan of Cirque du Soleil, you can get 15% off the tickets.
- Get up to 25% off car rentals at Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental.
Home Trust Secured Visa
Another secured credit card option is the Home Trust Secured Visa, which also requires that you make an initial deposit before you can start spending. Secured credit cards like the Home Trust Secured Visa are a great option for newcomers in Canada because approval is guaranteed as long as you make the required minimum deposit. After that, you can spend up to your deposit limit before you need to top up your account again.
Annual fee: $0 or $59
Purchase rate: 19.99% interest and $0 annually or 14.90% interest and $59 annually
Cash advance rate: 19.80% or 19.99%
Earn rate: N/A
Perks:
- With this card, you’ll get protection from unauthorized purchases and fraud through their Zero Liability policy.
- You can add the card to your digital wallet including Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay.
- You can manage your account balance and track your spending online.
Looking for the best credit card options?
What Should You Look For In A Credit Card For Newcomers In Canada?
Before you set out to get yourself a credit card after immigrating to Canada, consider the following features of a financial product:
- Annual fee. As a newcomer to Canada, you’re most likely looking to keep all your expenses to a minimum, and one way to do that is to look for a credit card that comes with a $0 annual fee, or at least a very low fee. If the card comes with a yearly fee, assess the rewards that it offers and make sure they’re worth the fee you have to pay each year.
- Rewards. Many credit cards offer some type of rewards system that allows you to earn points with every expenditure you make. Look for a card that offers high cashback rewards for the types of purchases you spend the most on.
- Perks. Some credit cards offer other perks besides rewards points, including travel insurance, VIP airport lounge access, and purchase protection.
- Eligibility requirements. Find out what you need to qualify for the credit card you’re interested in and make sure you meet these criteria before applying.
How To Qualify For A Credit Card As Newcomers In Canada
In order to qualify for a credit card as a newcomer to Canada, you’ll first need to open a bank account. All big banks in Canada offer products specifically for newcomers and can help streamline the process of opening an account. At the same time, you may also be able to open a credit card account with the same financial institution, which might be the easier route to take.
If you’re unable to get approved for an unsecured credit card, there are a few things you can do:
Apply For A Secured Credit Card
An unsecured credit card is a lot more difficult to get approved for and typically requires more stringent approval criteria. In this case, you might want to consider applying for a secured credit card, which is much easier to get access to. By using the card regularly and responsibly, you can build good credit to the point where you may eventually get approved for an unsecured card.
Apply For A Prepaid Card
Another option available is a prepaid card. These types of financial products let you load money onto them and then use them for making purchases. Keep in mind, however, that a prepaid credit card will not help you build credit.
Get In Touch With Your Bank
If you have a bank account and other financial products with a bank in your home country, give them a call and ask if they offer credit cards in Canada.
Are you PNP Immigrant? Here’s how to budget and save your money.
What You Need To Apply For A Credit Card For Newcomers In Canada
As a newcomer to Canada, you’ll need the following to apply for a credit card:
- Residency status. You’ll need to provide information related to your residency status, including your visa details.
- Home address. You’ll probably require a residential address in Canada to secure a credit card.
- Employment. Having a stable income and job is a requirement for credit card approval.
- Financial information. Different financial requirements may exist for newcomers to Canada compared to Canadian citizens. As such, you might need a certain amount of savings in your Canadian bank account for credit card approval.
Final Thoughts On The Best Credit Card For Newcomers In Canada
There are so many loose ends to tie up when immigrating to Canada, and dealing with your finances is a big one. Having a credit card in your wallet can afford you many perks, but some are better suited for newcomers than others. Look into each of the cards mentioned here and choose one that best suits your needs.
FAQs - Credit Cards For Newcomers To Canada
What should I do if I can’t qualify for a credit card as a new immigrant?
Do I need a SIN card to apply for a credit card?
Do I need a bank account to get a credit card?
Neo Credit and Neo Secured Credit cards are issued by Neo Financial™ pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.
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.
²When you make payments in full and on time each month
