Just arrived in Canada with your PR card or work permit? The top 10 best credit card offers for new immigrants in Canada let you earn hundreds of dollars in welcome bonuses, build a Canadian credit score from day one, and enjoy rewards that actually match immigrant life — groceries, transit, no foreign transaction fees, and remittances. In 2025–2026, banks are rolling out the red carpet for newcomers with no Canadian credit history required, instant approvals, and bonuses up to $650 in value. Whether you’re in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, or Montréal, these cards are ranked by real value for the first 12 months.
| Rank | Card Name | Issuer | Min. Income | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus (2025–2026) | Best Everyday Rewards | Why New Immigrants Love It |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Express Cobalt® Card | Amex | None | $155.88 | 30,000 MR points (~$300–$600 value) | 5× groceries/restaurants, 3× streaming, 2× gas/transit | Highest earn rate; points transferable to Aeroplan |
| 2 | Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | Scotiabank | $60,000 | $120 (FYF) | 10% cash back first 3 months (up to $200) + FYF | 4% groceries/gas, 2% recurring bills | Huge grocery cashback for families |
| 3 | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | Tangerine | $12,000 | $0 | 15% cash back first 2 months (up to $150) | Choose 2% on 3 categories (groceries, gas, etc.) | No-fee + flexible categories |
| 4 | BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard | BMO | $80,000 | $120 (FYF) | Up to 10% cash back first 4 months ($260 max) | 5% groceries (first 3 mos.), then 3%; 3% transit | Excellent newcomer program (no history needed) |
| 5 | TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card | TD | $60,000 | $139 (FYF) | Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (~$650 value) | 1.5 pts/$ groceries/gas, free first checked bag | Flights home to India/Philippines/Nigeria |
| 6 | CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite | CIBC | $60,000 | $120 (FYF) | 10% cash back first 4 statements (up to $250) | 4% groceries/gas, 2% transit/dining | Fast approval for PRs |
| 7 | RBC ION+ Visa | RBC | None | $48 (waived first year for newcomers) | 12,000 Avion points (~$120–$240) | 3× groceries/restaurants, 1.5× everything else | RBC Newcomer Advantage = instant approval |
| 8 | Neo World Elite Mastercard | Neo Financial | $12,000 | $0 | Up to $250 cash back first 3 months | Average 5–7% at 10,000+ partners (Walmart, Uber, etc.) | Custom offers + no FX fees |
| 9 | Home Trust Secured Visa (no credit check) | Home Trust | None | $0 | N/A (but 1% cash back + reports to bureaus) | 1% unlimited cash back | Guaranteed approval with $500–$10,000 deposit |
| 10 | KOHO Extra Prepaid Mastercard | KOHO | None | $9/mo. | 5% cash back + $50–$100 referral bonus | 2–5% on groceries, transit, eating out + earn interest on balance | Builds credit + cashback without real credit card |
Why These Cards Are Perfect for New Immigrants
- No Canadian credit history needed — RBC, BMO, CIBC, and TD have dedicated newcomer packages that approve you using your foreign credit report or income letter.
- Instant or same-day decisions — Tangerine, Neo, and KOHO approve in minutes.
- Welcome bonuses cover your first month’s rent or flight home — $200–$650 in value is common.
- Rewards on what you actually spend — groceries (4–5×), public transit, Uber, and remittances (no FX fees on Neo, Brim, or Scotiabank Gold Amex).
Detailed Breakdown of the Top 5 (2025–2026 Offers)
- Amex Cobalt – Still the king. Spend $750/month for 6 months → 30,000 points. Transfer to Aeroplan = free round-trip to Europe/Asia for many immigrants.
- Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite – 10% cash back on the first $2,000 spent (groceries, gas, bills) = $200 easy money. First year free.
- Tangerine Money-Back – Choose groceries + recurring bills + gas → 2% unlimited. 15% bonus first 2 months = $150 on $1,000 spend.
- BMO CashBack World Elite – Newcomers get approved with just proof of income. 10% first 4 months on all purchases (max $260) + first year free.
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite – Up to 50,000 points (spend $6,000 in 12 months). Free checked bag on Air Canada = instant savings for family visits.
Payment Options & Flexibility
- 0% installment plans — Most banks let you convert big purchases (furniture, laptops, flights) into 6–36 month payments at 0%.
- Balance transfer promos — Move debt from your home-country card at 0–1.99% for 6–12 months.
- Grace period — 21–25 days interest-free if you pay in full.
- Digital wallets — Every card above works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Pre-authorized payments — Set up auto-pay from your chequing account to never miss a payment and build credit fast.
How to Apply as a New Immigrant (5-Minute Process)
- Get your SIN (apply online or at Service Canada the day you land).
- Open a chequing account (RBC/TD newcomer accounts give $300–$600 free cash).
- Gather: Passport + PR card/work permit + proof of address + income letter or last pay stub.
- Apply online — use the bank’s “New to Canada” or “Newcomer” portal for highest approval odds.
- Receive card in 5–10 business days (or instant virtual card with Tangerine/Neo).
Secured option: If worried about approval, start with Home Trust Secured Visa — deposit $500–$10,000, get the same amount as credit limit, earn 1% cash back, and graduate to unsecured in 12 months.
Final Tips
- Pay your statement in full every month — Canadian interest rates are 19.99–29.99%.
- Keep utilization under 30% to build an excellent score fast.
- After 6–12 months, product-switch to premium cards for even bigger bonuses.
The top 10 best credit card offers for new immigrants in Canada are your fastest way to free money, free flights, and a strong credit file. Apply for Tangerine or RBC ION+ today if you want zero fees and instant approval — or go for Amex Cobalt if you can hit the spend for that massive 30,000-point bonus.
Which card are you grabbing first? Drop it in the comments and let’s get you that welcome cash!