Join millions of Canadians who have already trusted Loans Canada
Apply Now

When refugees settle in Canada, they’re often doing so after experiencing times of extreme hardship, like war, persecution or years spent in refugee camps. Afterwards, they may need some help settling into a new home, which is true whether they’ve been granted protection from the Canadian government or resettled from overseas.

While the government offers many services to make their transition to Canada easier, refugees also have to build credit histories if they want access to credit during their settlement. Building credit can help refugees gain access to affordable credit products and help them finance necessary purchases such as a car. 

Ways To Build Credit As A Resettled Refugee

No matter where you live, having a good credit history is necessary in order to qualify for credit in the future. Don’t worry, as a resettled refugee and permanent resident of Canada, there are some easy products that you can use to build credit, including:

KOHO Credit Building Program

KOHO’s credit building program is a great way to build credit as a resettled refugee as approval for the program is almost guaranteed. The KOHO Credit Building Program is a 6-month program with a monthly subscription fee of $10. When you register for this program, KOHO will open a line of credit for you to help you build your payment history and credit. Every subscription payment you make will be reported to a major credit bureau in Canada. The more on-time payments you make, the more positively your credit score may be affected.  

What Do You Need To Apply For The KOHO Credit Building Program? 

To be eligible for KOHO’s credit building program, you must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Open A KOHO Account – In order to subscribe to the credit building program, you’ll need to first open a KOHO spendable account. You can sign up for this prepaid Mastercard for free, which can be used to make purchases and earn cashback. You’ll also gain access to various other perks like their RoundUps savings feature, free e-transfers, and a financial coach if you upgrade to their premium KOHO account.
  2. Have Sufficient Funds – You must have enough funds in your KOHO account to cover the subscription fee for the KOHO Credit Building Program. KOHO will automatically withdraw the fee from your account each month. 

Secured Credit Cards

A secured credit card gives you access to credit in exchange for a security deposit. Secured credit cards are a great option as approval is guaranteed so long as you can provide the minimum security deposit. Credit, income and debt have no impact on your eligibility. 

Once you get a secured credit card, you can use it to make purchases like a regular credit card. Your lender will then report your repayments to one or both of Canada’s credit bureaus; TransUnion and Equifax. Making responsible payments will help you build a positive payment history which should help you build better credit. 

Once you’ve built your credit, you can switch to a regular credit card.  To cancel your current card simply contact your provider and make sure you’ve paid off any balance on your card. Once you cancel the card, your deposit will be returned.   

Best Secured Credit Cards

Annual FeeInterest RatesMin. Deposit
Neo Secured Credit$0- 19.99% - 26.99%
- QC: 19.99%-24.99%
$50
Capital One® Guaranteed Secured Mastercard®$5919.8%$75 or $300
Home Trust Secured Visa Card0$ or $59- 19.99% (no annual fee)
- 14.90% (with annual fee)
$500
Vancity enviro™ Secured Visa* card$0 - $39511.25% or 19.50 %$500
TD Cash Secured Credit Card$2927.74% variable APR$300

Cell Phone Payments

Many cell phone providers will offer you a service plan, even if you don’t have a credit history. This makes it an easy option to build credit as many cell phone providers also report your bill payments to Equifax and/or TransUnion. For this to work, you’ll need to sign up for a monthly post-payment plan (rather than a prepaid plan). 

Do note, that not all cell phone providers report bill payments, so be sure to ask your provider if they report payments before signing up for their service. 

FidoFido reports payments to Equifax and TransUnion after each billing cycle.
KoodoKoodo reports payments to Equifax and TransUnion after each billing cycle
TelusTelus reports payments to Equifax and TransUnion periodically
RogersRogers reports payments to Equifax and TransUnion after each billing cycle.
BellBell may or may not report your payment activity to the credit bureaus. 

Rent Payments

While rent payments are largely unreported, you can have your rent payments reported to Equifax through the Landlord Credit Bureau (LCB). The LCB is a platform that allows landlords to report a tenant’s rent payment to the credit bureau. Both you and your landlord must create accounts with the LCB in order to report your rent payments, so be sure to ask your landlord if they’re willing to do so before signing a lease. 

You can also have your rent payments reported to the credit bureaus by using your credit card to pay your rent. While most landlords don’t have the capability to process your credit card payment, you can use third-party platforms like RentMoola. Using your credit card will not only help you build your payment history but you can also earn points through your credit card. 

FeeTypes of Credit CardTypes of Credit Card
RentMoola0.99 – 3.99%Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Union Pay

Car Loans 

A car loan lets you finance a vehicle and build credit at the same time. In this case, you’ll borrow a specific amount of money, use it to buy a car and repay your debt in installments. The lender then reports those payments to the credit bureaus.

Getting a car loan is often possible even if you have bad or no credit as the loan is secured against the car. However, do note, that lenders and auto dealers that approve clients with bad or limited credit normally charge higher interest rates and fees.   

Bank Products Designed For Newcomers To Canada

Whether you’re a new immigrant or a resettled refugee, there are many banks and lenders that offer credit products that are exclusively designed for new Canadian residents, such as special credit cards, loans, and car financing plans. 

To access those products, you’ll usually have to sign up for a basic banking package that features a free or low-cost chequing account (another good financial tool for resettled refugees).

Mortgages For NewcomersLearn More
Loans For NewcomersLearn More
Credit Cards For NewcomersLearn More
Newcomers Guide To CanadaLearn More

More Tips For Building Good Credit As A Resettled Refugee

If you’re planning on using credit products as a new Canadian resident, there are a number of important steps you should remember to take, including but not limited to: 

  • Pay Your Bills Responsibly – If you pay credit-related bills on time and in full, your credit scores may improve over time. Unfortunately, the opposite occurs when your bills are late or missed. While paying your minimum monthly credit card balance saves you from penalties, it means more interest will be added to your debt and isn’t a great habit for your credit.   
  • Limit Your Credit Applications – It’s not good to apply for a lot of credit at once either. Not only can this put you in bad debt, but your credit scores may also drop each time a potential lender checks your credit (this is known as a hard inquiry). Since most activity stays on your credit report for years, some lenders may also see multiple credit applications on your history and decide that you’re too risky to approve.
  • Monitor Your Credit – Every Canadian can access their credit report and score for free with Equifax, both online or by mail. Similarly, Canadians can access their Consumer Disclosure (a detailed report on your credit files) online with TransUnion. Many third-party companies also offer free credit monitoring but may not show you the same score as the credit bureaus. Either way, monitoring your credit report is a good way to spot errors, track your payment history and maintain good credit.  

Check Your Credit Score For Free In Canada

 CostCredit ScoreCredit Report 
CompareHub logoFreeYesYesVisit Site
Mogo logoFreeYesNoVisit Site
Borrowell logoFreeYesYesVisit Site
CreditKarma logoFreeYesYes-

Can You Get A Loan As A Refugee?

Yes, if you’re a permanent resident of Canada, you can qualify for the same kinds of loans as Canadians. That said, the government will not consider refugees who are claiming asylum as “protected” persons or grant them permanent resident status until their claim is accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). 

Once your asylum is approved, the IRB will send you a formal document or letter that proves your citizenship. Both of these documents can be used as proof of residency: 

  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence – If you’re a protected person who has been chosen in a foreign country and resettled in Canada as a refugee, you’ll get this type of document, along with your Permanent Resident Card shortly after.
  • Verification of Status – If the government considers you a protected person due to a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, you’ll obtain this document instead.       

Unless you’re a protected person and permanent resident, it can be tough to qualify for a loan in Canada, because most lenders won’t take applicants who are considered risky. The reasoning behind this choice is due to the possibility that they will suddenly leave the country and default on their payments.

Building Credit In Canada As A Refugee FAQs

What’s the difference between refugees and immigrants? 

An immigrant is a person who’s departed their country voluntarily to settle in another, which means they have the option of going back when they want. However, refugees are forced to flee their country permanently for fear of being persecuted, meaning they are unable to return home and must seek protection elsewhere.

How long do I have to wait before I can use my credit history?

As a resettled refugee, it can take a lot of time to build a solid credit history. Some lenders and financial institutions won’t lend to you until you have at least 18 months worth of positive credit activity on your credit report. 

How can I obtain my credit report?

In Canada, you can get a copy of your credit report and credit score for free from Equifax online or by mail. You can also get a copy of your monthly Consumer Disclosure (a detailed report on your credit files) online for free with TransUnion. Each bureau has a slightly different version of your report on file, so be sure to check both copies on a regular basis.  You can also get your credit report and score from private companies like CompareHub, Borrowell, and Credit Karma.

Does the government offer support for refugees?

The Canadian government offers several types of support for refugees, like the Refugee and Humanitarian Settlement Program (for people seeking protection outside Canada) or the In-Canada Asylum Program (for people making refugee protection claims inside Canada). Certain provinces (such as Quebec) provide these kinds of protection as well. Once you’re considered a protected person (instead of an asylum claimant) and have received your Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Verification of Status document, you can start building your credit history and applying for various credit products.

Trying To Build Your Credit History As A Refugee?

It’s definitely not an easy task but building a good credit history is essential if you plan on applying for a credit card, loan, line of credit, or mortgage in Canada. To do so, you’ll need to obtain the status of a protected person first. Contact the federal government for more information about our country’s refugee protection and financial programs today.       

Bryan Daly avatar on Loans Canada
Bryan Daly

Bryan is a graduate of Dawson College and Concordia University. He has been writing for Loans Canada for five years, covering all things related to personal finance, and aims to pursue the craft of professional writing for many years to come. In his spare time, he maintains a passion for editing, writing screenplays, staying fit, and travelling the world in search of the coolest sights our planet has to offer.

More From This Author

Special Offers

More From Our Experts

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Bank-of-Canada-Interest-Hike-1.png
How Will The Bank Of Canada’s Interest Rate Hike Affect You?

By Maidina Kadeer
Published on June 8, 2023

The interest rates set by the Bank of Canada, also known as the ‘bank rate’, is a key factor in determining the cost of borrowing money.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Tims-Credit-Card.png
Tim Hortons’ First Credit Card Coming To Canada

By Stefani Balinsky

Tims first credit card is a Mastercard® and it is coming to Canada in the next few months. You'll want it if you like earning rewards fast

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Vanilla-Prepaid-Card-Review-2.png
Is The Vanilla Prepaid Card The Best On The Market?

By Lisa Rennie

What is the main advantage to a Vanilla Prepaid Card? If you cannot access credit and you don't want to commit to cash, then Vanilla is always

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Speeding-Ticket.png
Cash Money Versus easyfinancial Loans

By Bryan Daly

There are major differences between Cash Money and easyfinancial loans. Cash Money doesn't need as much information but easyfinancial has more

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/easyfinancial-Loan-Alternatives.png
easyfinancial Loan Alternatives

By Bryan Daly

If you've been rejected a loan from easyfinancial, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of easyfinancial loan alternatives in Canada.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mazda-Finance.png
How To Refinance A Mazda Car Loan

By Bryan Daly

If you're finding it difficult to keep up with your Mazda finance payments, find out if refinancing is an option for you.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Untitled-design.png
How To Pay Off Student Debt In Canada Quickly

By Corrina Murdoch

When it comes to paying off student loan debt in Canada, is there a way to accelerate the process and get out of debt sooner?

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Best-Credit-Cards-With-Extended-Warranty-1.png
Best Credit Cards With Extended Warranty 2023

By Matthew Taylor

A credit card extended warranty is a great tool to have and take advantage of. Especially for consumers who purchase expensive electronics

Recognized As One Of Canada's Top Growing Companies

Loans Canada, the country's original loan comparison platform, is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's fastest growing companies by The Globe and Mail!

Read More

Why choose Loans Canada?

Apply Once &
Get Multiple Offers
Save Time
And Money
Get Your Free
Credit Score
Free
Service
Expert Tips
And Advice
Exclusive
Offers

Build Credit For Just $10/Month

With KOHO's prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $10/month.

Koho Prepaid Credit Card