Best credit cards for newcomers to Canada

Most Canadian credit cards require a local credit history. If you landed in Canada six months ago, you probably do not have one yet. The cards on this page are different. Each one is designed to approve newcomers without a Canadian credit file, charge no annual fee, and start building your credit score from the first statement. The real decision is not whether to get a card — it is which one fits how you actually spend. A grocery-heavy household gets more from the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®. Someone who travels frequently or shops on Amazon.ca will get more from the TD Rewards Visa* Card. This guide covers the four strongest options for credit cards new to Canada, with specific earn rates, honest trade-offs, and a clear recommendation for each profile. For a broader look at how these cards compare against the full Canadian market, the best no annual fee credit cards in Canada covers every no-fee option in detail.

• TD Rewards Visa* Card: best for newcomers who want travel rewards and flexible redemptions with no annual fee
• BMO CashBack® Mastercard®: best for newcomers who spend heavily on groceries and want straightforward cash back
• Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card: best for newcomers who shop at Sobeys-family stores or visit Cineplex regularly
• National Bank mycredit Mastercard®: best for newcomers who want mobile device protection and French-language banking support

Best newcomer credit cards in Canada at a glance

TD Rewards Visa* Card: best for no-fee travel rewards

The TD Rewards Visa* Card earns 4 points per $1 spent on Expedia For TD, 3 points on groceries, dining and transit, and 2 points on recurring bills. For a card with no annual fee, that is a competitive everyday structure. The welcome bonus of 15,152 TD Rewards points is redeemable toward eligible Amazon.ca purchases, which gives newcomers a practical first redemption without needing to understand a complex travel program.

The honest trade-off is that the top earn rate only applies when you book travel through Expedia For TD, not directly with airlines or hotels. If you prefer booking direct or using other travel platforms, the card earns at the base rate on those purchases. Newcomers who are still settling in and not yet booking travel frequently may find the grocery and dining earn rates more immediately useful than the travel tier. Mobile device insurance is included, which is a practical perk for anyone who just purchased a phone on arrival.

BMO CashBack® Mastercard®: best for no-fee grocery cash back

The BMO CashBack® Mastercard® earns 3% cash back on groceries, 1% on recurring bill payments, and 0.5% on everything else. For a newcomer whose largest monthly expense is groceries, no other no-fee card in Canada earns more on that category. Cash back is simple to understand and simple to redeem, which matters when you are still learning how Canadian banking works.

The weakness is the 0.5% base rate on all non-bonus spending. If your grocery bill is modest or you spend across many categories, the card earns very little outside its bonus tier. The welcome bonus of $250 cash back requires $2,000 in spending within the first three months, which is a higher threshold than most no-fee cards ask for. Newcomers with irregular early income may find that target harder to hit. The card also carries no travel insurance of any kind, so it works best as a domestic everyday card rather than a travel companion.

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card: best for no-fee Scene+ rewards

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card earns 2 points per $1 at Sobeys-family grocers, Home Hardware and Cineplex, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Scene+ points can be redeemed for groceries, movies, travel and more, giving newcomers a flexible redemption pool without paying an annual fee. The welcome bonus of up to 10,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first three months is straightforward to earn.

The card’s value depends heavily on where you shop. If your nearest grocery store is a Loblaws, Metro or independent grocer rather than a Sobeys-family banner, the 2x earn rate does not apply and the card earns at the base 1 point per $1 on groceries. That base rate is not competitive against the BMO CashBack® Mastercard® for grocery spending. Newcomers who live near a Sobeys, FreshCo or Safeway will get the most from this card. Those who do not should look elsewhere.

National Bank mycredit Mastercard®: best for newcomers building credit from scratch

The National Bank mycredit Mastercard® earns 1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized payments, and 0.5% on everything else. The earn rates are modest, but the card includes mobile device protection up to $1,000, which is unusual for a no-fee card. Most cards that include mobile device insurance charge an annual fee of $120 or more. The newcomer-specific $100 welcome bonus is a practical first reward for anyone arriving in Canada and opening their first account.

How to choose the right newcomer credit card for your situation

The right card depends on two things: where you spend most and what you want to get back. Newcomers who spend heavily on groceries should prioritise the BMO CashBack® Mastercard® for its 3% grocery rate. Those who plan to book travel or shop on Amazon.ca will get more long-term value from the TD Rewards Visa Card. If you shop at Sobeys-family stores or visit Cineplex, the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa Card earns more at those specific merchants than either of the other two. The National Bank mycredit Mastercard® is the right choice if your credit score is below 660 or if you want mobile device protection without paying an annual fee.

A welcome bonus should not be the only reason to choose a card. The first-year value can look different from the long-term value once the bonus is spent. Focus on the earn rate in your top spending category, because that is what compounds over months and years. All four cards on this list report to Canadian credit bureaus, so any of them will help you build a credit history from your first statement. For a broader comparison of the full Canadian credit card market, the best credit cards in Canada covers premium and no-fee options across every category.

• Apply for a card with no annual fee first: keeping a no-fee card long-term helps your credit history length without any ongoing cost
• Pay your balance in full every month: all four cards charge 21.99% purchase interest, which erases any rewards earned if you carry a balance
• Use the card for your largest regular expense: groceries, transit or recurring bills are the fastest way to accumulate rewards on a no-fee card
• Check your credit score after six months: most newcomers can qualify for a mid-tier rewards card within 12 months of consistent on-time payments
• Avoid foreign currency purchases on these cards: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on all four cards makes them poor choices for international spending