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The best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada for 2024

We’ve broken down our picks for the best Scotiabank credit cards—whether you’re looking for cash back, points, no-fee cash back or low interest.

Why trust us

MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our  advertising and trusted partners .

The best Scotiabank cards by category

By Keph Senett on March 1, 2024 Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Scotiabank offers 17 credit cards tailored to various financial needs and goals. But a handful stand out as the very best the Big Six bank has to offer. Below, we break down our picks for the top Scotiabank credit cards across categories, from travel rewards to cash back and low-interest to perks.

Best for travel rewards

At a glance: While the bank has a few options when it comes to collecting travel rewards, our top pick is the Scotiabank Gold American Express. The annual fee is well worth it for the card’s earn rate, welcome bonus and perks, including no foreign transaction fees . For those who cross-border shop or travel, the latter is like an automatic 2.5% savings on each purchase in a foreign currency. A suite of travel-related insurance coverage and a discount on Priority Pass membership sweeten the deal.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• Annual fee: $120 (waived for the first year)
• Earn rates: 6 points per $1 spent at Sobeys-affiliated stores; 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries; 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to $650 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Must apply by July 1, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: $12,000
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 700 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

Best for cash back

At a glance: Cash back cards are exactly what they sound like: cards that rebate a percentage of your purchases as cash (usually applied directly to your balance). Our Scotiabank pick in this category is the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite. This card features an excellent earn rate of 4% back on groceries, recurring bills and subscription services (such as Netflix), 2% back on gas, public transit and ride-sharing services (including Uber), and 1% on all other purchases. Comprehensive travel insurance and concierge service make this an attractive card.

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite

• Earn rates: 4% cash back on groceries, recurring bill payments and subscription services; 2% on gas and public transit; and 1% on everything else
• Welcome bonus: earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on additional cards. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Recommended credit score for approval: 660 or higher

Honourable mention

At a glance: Our runner-up in this category is the Scotia Momentum Visa. This card features a solid earn rate of 2% cash back on grocery and drugstore purchases, gas and recurring bill payments—categories that cover the lion’s share of the average Canadian’s spending; all other purchases earn 1%.

Scotia Momentum Visa Card

• Annual fee: $39
• Earn rate: Earn 2% cash back for every $1 spent  on groceries, gas, drug stores and recurring bill payments; 1% back on everything else
• Welcome bonus: You can earn a 2.99% introductory interest rate with 0% fee on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39). Offer ends October 31, 2024.
• Annual income requirement:  $12,000

Recommended credit score for approval: 670 or higher Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

Best for students

At a glance: Scotiabank’s no-annual-fee Scene+ Visa is a great pick for students who don’t want to pay a fee each year for their credit card. Cardholders collect Scene+ rewards on everyday purchases, which are redeemable for movies at Cineplex cinemas. Scene+ points can also be used for discounts at restaurants—perfect for a study break or night out with friends.

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa card

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rates: 2 Scene+ points for every $1 spent at Sobeys banner stores and Cineplex; 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent everywhere else
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to 7500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months. Must apply by July 1, 2024.
• Points value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score for approval: 670 or higher
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

Best for low interest

At a glance: At regular credit card interest rates of around 20%, even a small debt can increase quickly. So, if you often carry a balance on your card, consider a low-interest rate option, like the Scotiabank Value Visa. With a low 12.99% interest rate, this card can help you pay down outstanding debt faster.

Scotiabank Value Visa

• Annual fee: $29 (waived for the first year)
• Balance transfer offer: 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 10 months. Offer ends 31 October 2024.
• Recommended credit score for approval: 670
• Interest rates:  12.99% on cash advances, 12.99% on balance transfers

Best for perks

At a glance: For travellers willing to pay an annual fee, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card delivers. Like the Amex above, this card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and includes a robust suite of travel insurance. Cardholders collect points in the Scene+ program at a rate of 3 points per $1 on eligible grocery stores, 2 points per $1 on restaurants and other grocery stores, entertainment and transit, and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases. Six free DragonPass airport lounge visits annually is an added benefit for this travel card. Plus, you can use your points to travel on any airline of your choosing.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

• Annual fee: $150 (waived for the first year)
• Earn rate : 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys stores; 2 points per $1 on groceries, dining, entertainment and transit; 1 point per $1 on everything else. Plus, pay no FX fees
• Welcome offer: earn up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived. Offer ends July 1, 2024.

At a glance: The Scotiabank Platinum American Express bundles many rewards and perks into one standout card. As with other Scotia rewards cards, points can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards or even cash, but it’s the travel rewards that really shine with the Platinum. In addition to the ability to book travel without restrictions, Platinum cardholders can enjoy 10 complimentary visits to airport lounges in the Priority Pass program, as well as membership in the Hertz #1 Club Gold. Cardholders are eligible for premium events through American Express Invites and VIP Pass. Seven types of travel insurance helps members travel safely, and with priceless peace of mind.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

• Annual fee: $399
• Earn rate: 4 points per $1 on gas, groceries, dining and entertainment; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome bonus: You can earn up to $2,100* in value in your first 14 months, including up to 60,000* bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
• Annual income requirement:  $40,000

Recommended credit score for approval: 750 or higher Interest rates: 9.99% on purchases, 9.99% on cash advances, 9.99% on balance transfers

More of Canada’s best credit cards :

• Scotiabank Gold American Express Review
• Best travel credit cards in Canada
• Best cash back credit cards in Canada
• Best low interest credit cards in Canada
• Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in Canada

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Table of contents

• Top Scotiabank cards at a glance
• Best Scotiabank cards by category

About Keph Senett

• Credit Cards
• Best Scotiabank Credit Cards in Canada February 2023

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Best Scotiabank Credit Cards In Canada For March 2024

Updated: Mar 20, 2024, 3:18am

Fact Checked

Scotiabank is one of the best financial institutions in Canada to get a credit card from. And, with 13 cards currently on offer, there’s plenty to choose from, too. They have cards with premium travel rewards , cash-back , no annual fees and even two student credit cards . Plus, most of their cards earn Scene+ points, which means there’s likely free movies, entertainment and travel up for grabs, too. To help you find the card best suited to you, we’ve rounded up the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada.

• Featured Partner

Best Scotiabank Credit Cards in Canada for March 2024

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• Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card

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• Best Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Aeroplan Credit Cards

Feature Partner Offers

On Scotiabank’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

40,000 Scene+ points

Regular APR

$120 (waived in the first year)

Best for rewards

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card  ranks consistently as one of the best rewards credit cards in Canada thanks to its generous reward categories and an enticing welcome bonus.

• Welcome bonus worth 40,000 Scene+ points
• Earns Scene+ rewards on every purchase
• No foreign transaction fees
• Built-in travel insurance
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line
• $120 annual fee
• Amex is not accepted at all locations
• Welcome bonus of 40,000 Scene+ points (Earn 20,000 points by making at least $1,000 in the first three months, get 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in your first year). Must open card by July 1, 2024 to qualify.
• Earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at select grocery stores including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Foodland.
• Earn 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent at other grocery stores, restaurants and on food delivery and entertainment.
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, transportation and streaming services.
• Earn 1 Scene+ points per dollar spent on everything else.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line.
• Comprehensive travel insurance covers emergency medical, trip interruption, flight delays, travel accidents, rental car collision and hotel burglaries.
• Includes mobile device coverage up to $1,000.
• Includes purchase security and extended warranty protection.

Best for cash back

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card  is one of Canada’s best cash back credit cards with up to 4% cash back on purchases.

• Welcome bonus worth $200
• Annual fee waived first year
• Earn cash-back rewards on every purchase
• Great travel insurance benefits
• Visa Infinite perks like free hotel upgrades
• Earns just 1% cash back on most purchases
• $120 annual fee (waived first year)
• Welcome bonus 10% cash back for the first three months on up to $2,000 of spending ($200 value). Must apply by October 31, 2024.
• Earn 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill payments.
• Earn 2% cash back on gas and transportation.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Get Visa Infinite perks including access to its free concierge service.
• Mobile device coverage up to $1,000.
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection.
• Save up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations.

Best for balance transfers

The Scotia Momentum Visa Card offers plenty of cash back, a low annual fee and an introductory interest rate of 0% on balance transfers.

• Low annual fee of only $39
• Earn cash back on every purchase
• 0% interest on balance transfers for the first six months
• No travel insurance coverage
• Very limited cardholder benefits
• Pay 0% interest on balance transfers for the first six months.
• Earn 2% cash back on grocery, gas, and pharmacy purchases.
• Earn 2% cash back on recurring bill payments.
• $39 annual fee

Best for no fee perks

Up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

19.99% / 22.99%

The Scotiabank American Express Card offers big rewards and generous reward categories with no annual fee.

• No annual fee
• Welcome bonus of up to 7,500 Scene+ points
• Earns Scene+ points on every purchase
• $12,000 annual income requirement
• Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $75 towards travel).¹
• Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshcoand more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spendon eligible entertainment purchases.Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit.Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming sevices
• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
• Mobile Device Insurance coverage
• American Express Invites®
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Mar.1, 2023. Subject to change.
• ¹ To qualify for these offers make sure to open a new Scotiabank American Express credit card account (“Account”) by July 1, 2024.

Best for fair credit

Scotiabank®scene+™ visa* card.

20.99% / 22.99%

The Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card is a great entry-level credit card with no annual fee, accessible qualification criteria and useful rewards.

• Earn Scene+ points on every purchase
• Low minimum credit limit of only $500
• Lackluster reward categories
• No insurance coverage included
• Limited cardholder benefits
• Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months¹
• No annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards¹
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Mar 1, 2024. Subject to change.
• To qualify for these offers make sure to open a new Scotiabank Scene+ Visa credit card account (“Account”) by July 1, 2024.
• ¹Offer Description and Conditions: The 7,500 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Scene+ Visa credit card accounts (“Account”) opened by July 1, 2024 and is subject to the below terms and conditions. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Best for no annual fee

The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card has a strong welcome offer on balance transfers and allows you to earn cash-back rewards on every purchase you make.

Learn More:  Read our Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card Review

• Earn 5% cash back for the first three months (up to $2,000 of spending)
• Cash-back rewards top out at 1%
• Welcome bonus of 5% cash back for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).
• Receive a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.
• Earn 1% cash back on all gas, grocery and pharmacy purchases.
• Earn 1% cash back on recurring payments like bills.
• Earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Low introductory interest

The Scotia Momentum Mastercard has a low introductory purchase interest rate of just 7.99% and pays cash back on every purchase with no annual fee.

• Introductory interest rate of 7.99% for the first six months
• Low interest rate of 7.99% for the first six months
• Earn 1% cash back on grocery, gas, and pharmacy purchases.
• Earn 1% cash back on recurring bill payments.

Best for travel

60,000 Scene+ points

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card boasts $700 in welcome bonuses, excellent travel perks and rewards cardholders with 2 Scene+ points for every dollar spent.

• Welcome bonus worth $700
• Earn double Scene+ rewards on every purchase
• Excellent travel insurance coverage
• Low purchase interest rate of 9.99%
• Complimentary airport lounge passes
• $399 annual fee applies in the first year
• No bonus reward categories
• Not accepted at all locations
• $399 annual fee.
• Welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus Scene+ points (get 50,000 points by spending at least $3,000 in your first three months and 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $10,000 in your first 14 months). Must open account by October 31, 2024.
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent using the card.
• 9.99% APR on both purchases and cash advances.
• 10 complimentary airport lounge passes
• Free concierge service
• Hertz #1 Club Gold Membership included.

Best for students

1,250 Scene+ points

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students offers students a way to build a credit history and earn rewards that are both flexible and useful.

• Available to students without a steady income
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar at certain grocery stores and at Cineplex
• Must be enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary school to qualify.
• Maximum annual income requirement of $12,000.
• No annual fee.
• Welcome bonus of 1,250 Scene+ points upon first purchase.
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland and FreshCo stores.
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Cineplex theatres.
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent everywhere else.

Best for no FX fees

$150 (waived in the first year)

With six airport lounge access passes, no foreign exchange fees and a reasonable income requirement, this is a great travel credit card . The flexibility of the Scene+ program allows you to book your own travel and redeem it at full value. If you shop for groceries at Sobeys, FreshCo (or other associated brands) and like going to the movies, this could be the perfect card for you.

Learn more:  Read our Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Review

• 6 complimentary airport lounge access passes to 1,200+ airport lounges
• No foreign exchange fees
• Book with Scene+ Travel or wherever you like and redeem points to cover your costs
• Avis Preferred Plus membership
• No mobile device insurance
• Earn up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived
• Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• 6 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
• Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
• Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Jan.4, 2024. Subject to change.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With the best Scotiabank credit cards the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, cash-back rates or reward rates and categories, fees, welcome bonus, and other rewards and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card boasts excellent travel rewards, no foreign exchange fees and comprehensive insurance coverage.

Rewards: Earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at participating grocers, 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent at other grocers, restaurants, food delivery and entertainment, 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, daily transportation and streaming services and 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on everything else.

Welcome Offer: 40,000 Scene+ points (Earn 20,000 points by making at least $1,000 in the first three months, get 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in your first year). Must open card by July 1, 2024 to qualify.

Annual Fee: $120

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Scotiabank American Express Gold Card is one of the best credit cards for casual travellers. It offers excellent insurance coverage and there are no foreign transaction fees. The only drawback to this card is the American Express badge, which makes it less likely to be accepted than alternatives from Visa and Mastercard.

———————————————————————————-

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card is an ideal credit card for daily use, paying up to 4% cash back on purchases and offering very good travel insurance.

Rewards: Earn 4% cash back on groceries and recurring payments, 2% cash back on gas and daily transit and 1% cash back on everything else.

Welcome Offer: New customers pay no annual fee in the first year and receive 10% cash back for three months or $2,000 in spending. Must apply by October 31, 2024 to qualify.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Card is one of Canada’s best cash back credit cards with no limit on the rewards you can earn. It also offers perks like mobile device insurance and travel emergency medical insurance. The only drawback is its high income requirement of $60,000.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Card pays up to 2% cash back on purchases and is a good choice for balance transfers with an introductory offer of 0% interest on balance transfers for the first six months.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back when you use your card at grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies, as well as for recurring payments. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Welcome Offer: None.

Annual Fee: $39

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Scotia Momentum Visa Card’s introductory balance transfer offer allows you to pay no interest for the first 6 months, but the interest rate jumps to 22.99% after that. Unlike many other cards, the annual fee is not waived in the first year. This card also lacks travel insurance coverage and has very limited benefits other than cash-back rewards.

Scotiabank American Express® card

The Scotiabank American Express Card offers better rewards than most no-annual- fee credit cards in Canada and offers an eye-catching welcome bonus.

Rewards: Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent at participating grocery stores and 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on other categories including other grocers, restaurants, food delivery (including meal kits), drinking establishments, entertainment, gas, daily transportation and streaming services. Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on everything else.

Welcome Offer: Welcome bonus of 7,500 Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $75 towards travel). Must open account by July 1, 2024.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: In addition to its generous welcome bonus and rewards, The Scotiabank American Express Card comes with more perks than most no-annual-fee credit cards. If you use your card to buy a new mobile device, you’ll automatically get insurance coverage for up to $500. And most purchases are eligible for purchase security and extended warranty protection. The only drawback is that American Express cards aren’t accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard .

If your credit is only okay, the Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa card has easier approval criteria than other cards on this list and offers Scene+ rewards on every purchase.

Rewards: Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent at select grocery stores, home buy and Cineplex theatres. Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent everywhere else.

Welcome Offer: Welcome bonus of 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months. Must open account by July 1, 2024.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card is more forgiving than most when it comes to credit scores. While you won’t be approved if you’ve had serious credit problems in the past, you may be approved with a credit score in the “fair” range of 560 to 659.

The benefits end there for the Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card, which offers little in the way of cardholder benefits and no insurance coverage.

If you like to be rewarded but can’t stand the notion of an annual fee, the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card has a generous welcome offer and cash back rewards with a titular no-annual-fee promise.

Rewards: Earn 1% cash back when you use your card at gas stations, grocery stores and drug stores, as well as for recurring payments. Earn 0.5% cash back on all other categories.

Welcome Offer: Welcome bonus of 5% cash back for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card makes good on its no-annual-fee promise but offers little else beyond an enticing welcome bonus. There’s no insurance coverage included, and the only additional benefit is a discount on car rentals.

The Scotia Momentum Mastercard has an introductory interest rate of 7.99% for the first six months making it a good choice for short-term financing, especially if you have a major purchase in mind.

Rewards: Earn 1% cash back at gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores and on recurring payments. Earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: None

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The introductory purchase interest rate on the Scotia Momentum Mastercard is 7.99% for the first six months, after which it jumps to 20.99%.The jump makes this card a poor choice if you want to carry a balance on an ongoing basis, but makes sense for an immediate purchase you want a bit of time to pay off. If you’re looking for a credit card to travel with, better options are available as this card has no travel insurance coverage and charges a foreign exchange fee.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is a serious card for serious travellers, offering complimentary airport lounge passes and no foreign exchange fee.

Rewards: Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent using the card across all categories.

Welcome Offer: Welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus Scene+ points (get 50,000 points by spending at least $3,000 in your first 3 months and 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $10,000 in your first 14 months). Must open account by October 31, 2024.

Annual Fee: $399

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: One would expect excellent benefits from a card with an annual fee of $399, and the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card delivers. Travellers benefit from comprehensive insurance coverage, 10 complimentary airport lounge passes per year and an included Hertz Gold Membership, as well as zero foreign transaction fee. The included concierge service is available to help with travel arrangements, reservations, and similar errands. New mobile devices are insured up to $1,000 and American Express perks like Front Of The Line are included. The glaring drawback is this card’s monster annual fee of $399. This fee more than covers the cost of the included airport lounge passes but isn’t worth it if you’re only an occasional traveller.

If you’re enrolled in post-secondary education, the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students can help you establish credit history and earn rewards while you’re at it.

Rewards: Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent responsibly on groceries, including at budget grocer FreshCo, as well as at Cineplex. Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent everywhere else.

Welcome Offer: Earn 1,250 Scene+ points when you make your first purchase.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Student credit cards are a great way to establish a credit history in Canada and the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students makes an excellent case for itself. In addition to its generous reward categories, Scene+ rewards points are ideal for students as they can be used for movies, gift cards, bill credits and more.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card earns rewards points at a solid rate, plus offers no foreign exchange fees and other travel perks.

Rewards: Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent at grocery stores owned by Sobeys (including Safeway, Foodland and IGA) as well as 2 Scene+ points for dining and other grocery stores, entertainment (movie, theatre and concert tickets) and transit (rideshares, public transit and taxis).

Welcome Offer: Get 25,000 Scene+ points when you spend at least $1,000 in the first three months and an additional 10,000 points when you spend at least $40,000 in the first year for a total of 35,000 points (a $350 value).

Annual Fee: $150

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The benefits of this card are plentiful. Aside from rewards, cardholders will get free membership to the Visa Airport Companion program, which includes six complimentary visits to more than 1,200 lounges. There’s also free Avis Preferred Plus membership, which provides you with discounts on car rentals. And there’s a lot of insurance coverage, including travel emergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, lost and delayed baggage, rental car collision loss/damage, hotel/motel burglary and travel accident insurance. Another uncommon perk is that it charges no foreign exchange fees (most cards charge 2.5%). The main drawback to this card is that it requires you to spend more than $40,000 a year in order to get the full value of the welcome bonus. The slightly above-average $150-a-year fee is also worth noting, too.

Credit card research and data analysis conducted by Tia Duncombe, Debra Toews and Jack Choros.

There are many great credit cards available in Canada , and Scotiabank has some great products available. In particular, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Card , for instance, is one of the top cash-back credit cards in Canada and the Scotiabank Gold American Express is one of the few cards in Canada to offer no foreign transaction fees .

Good return on the amount you spend

Scotiabank cards typically offer a solid rate of return on your spending, whether that’s in Scene+ point, which can be redeemed in a variety of ways, or in straight cash back.

Good insurance

Many Scotiabank cards also include travel insurance, ranging from out-of-province emergency medical and travel accident insurance to hotel/motel burglary and lost/delayed baggage. This typically depends on the level of card you’ve chosen or qualified for. Many Scotiabank cards also include consumer protection like mobile device insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty.

Low annual fee

With the exception of their premium cards, Scotiabank offers a number of card with no annual fee . In fact, there are six on this list. Even many of their cards with annual fees tend not to exceed $120 per year.

Lower income requirements

There are different income requirements for different Scotiabank cards, some as low as $12,000 per year.

Low or no welcome bonus

There are a number of Scotiabank cards that currently don’t offer a welcome bonus. That said, there are plenty that do, so it depends on when you apply and what card you are aiming to get.

High standard interest rates

The standard interest rate on a Scotiabank card hovers around 19.99% and 20.99%. There are a select number of cards with low interest rates , though.

Scotiabank Credit Card Eligibility Requirements

If you want to apply for a Scotiabank credit card, you’ll have to meet the same requirements as basically any other credit card.

Age: You’ll need to be the age of majority in your province or territory and a resident of Canada.

Credit Score: Most Scotiabank cards need you to have a “good” credit score of at least 660. However, they have a card on offer that requires a “fair” score of 560 to 659. Its premium cards may require a higher score, closer to 700.

Income: You’ll need to provide proof of income, as well as your employment history. This could include:

• Last three months of pay slips
• Letter confirming your employment
• If self-employed, six months of bank statements, receipts or invoices and tax returns for the last 12 months

Each credit card has its own minimum income requirement. For example, while the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card and the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card both have posted minimum income requirements of $60,000 ($100,000 for a household), other cards have much lower thresholds.

Personal Information: Your credit card application will involve providing additional information, including your name, birthday, social insurance number and your address. 

If you’re looking for an easy way to earn cash back, or want to earn Scene+ points, a Scotiabank credit card can be a good option. Also, if you already bank with Scotiabank and would like to keep your financial products in one place, it makes sense to get a Scotiabank credit card.

Which Scotiabank credit card is best?

The Scotiabank Gold American Express card tops this list as the best Scotiabank card in Canada. It ranks consistently as one of the best rewards cards in Canada and earns generous amounts of Scene+ points on all purchases. However, if you prefer cash to points, go with the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite , which also has plenty of perks and offers cash back.

What is the easiest credit card to get from Scotiabank?

The Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card has the lowest credit score requirement and you may be approved with a “fair” credit rating of 560 to 659.

What is the most prestigious Scotiabank credit card?

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is Scotiabank’s most prestigious offer, catering to frequent travellers with high income, excellent credit and who are willing to pay the $399 annual fee.

What credit score do I need to get a credit card from Scotiabank?

Most Scotiabank credit cards require a “good” credit score of at least 660. Scotiabank’s premium cards, like the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card, may require a score closer to 700.

How much credit limit can I get from Scotiabank?

Scotiabank doesn’t display the maximum credit amount you can get on a credit card with them. However, they do offer personal lines of credit up to $75,000.

What’s the difference between Scotia Rewards and Scene+ points?

Scotia Rewards and Scene+ points are the same thing. However, Scene+ replaced the now defunct Scotia Rewards in 2021. With this change, Scotia Rewards were transferred to Scene+ points at a 1:1 ratio.

Is there a way to get the annual fee waived for Scotiabank credit cards?

You can call your issuer to see if they will waive your annual fee. There are also a number of cards on this list that waive the fee the first year and plenty of no-annual-fee credit cards  on this list, as well.

Best Scotiabank credit card for newcomers?

Scotiabank’s StartRight Program aims to help newcomers to Canada who may have a difficult time getting a credit card or other loans due to their lack of Canadian credit history. This program offers those new to Canada a variety of credit cards, some of which offer a $15,000 credit limit with no credit history required.

Does Scotiabank increase your credit limit?

You can request an increase in your credit card limit online by selecting “Increase Your Credit Card” under “Additional Services” on the credit card in question. You will typically need to confirm your income, and then the bank will perform a hard credit check to confirm your eligibility. You can also call the bank or visit a branch.

If you have a positive payment history, Scotiabank may offer to extend your credit limit. In this case, the bank does not do a hard credit check.

Can I get two Scotia credit cards?

It may be possible to get two Scotiabank credit cards, especially if they serve different purposes, such as offering different rewards or if one is a personal account and the other a business credit card . However, keep in mind that banks have a low tolerance for credit card churning , or opening a new account just for the welcome bonus, and may decline a second card and/or withhold the welcome bonus.

Jordan Lavin is a personal finance expert, marketing professional, content creator, and writer with an extensive history of working with leading media, financial, and technology companies. When he’s not writing, Jordan can be found at a campground or curling rink, depending on the weather.

Scotiabank Passport ® Visa Infinite* Card

Summary of flytrippers' review, why get this card.

• Good welcome bonus of $320
• 6 free passes for VIP airport lounges
• No foreign transaction fees
• Rewards that are of the more simple type and can be used for any travel expense
• Excellent insurance coverage
• Good earn rates

WHO SHOULD GET THIS CARD

• Those who want 6 free airport lounge passes
• Those who will be spending in foreign currencies while not unlocking any welcome bonuses on other cards
• Those who want rewards that are more simple and can be used for any travel expense
• Those whose income is over $60,000

How to learn more

• Go to our editorial card review page (coming soon)
• Keep scrolling here for all the details
• Apply now via Scotia secure link
• See all the best credit cards in Canada

Card details

Welcome bonus structure (2 separate bonuses)

30,000 points Bonus after spending $1,000 (in a maximum of 3 months) *10,000 points Bonus after spending $40,000 (in a maximum of 12 months) *NOT  INCLUDED IN OUR FLYTRIPPERS VALUATION

30,000 points  Total with the main part of the bonus *40,000 points Total with the 2 parts of the bonus * NOT  INCLUDED IN OUR FLYTRIPPERS VALUATION

Earn on the minimum spending requirement

2,000 points Estimated earn on the minimum spending requirement of $1,000 (at the multiplier earn rate of 2 pts/$) *39,000 points Minimum earn on the minimum spending requirement of $39,000 more for the additional bonus * NOT  INCLUDED IN OUR FLYTRIPPERS VALUATION

Total rewards by unlocking the welcome bonus

32,000 points  Main part of the welcome bonus + earn on the minimum spending requirement to unlock it *81,000 points  Welcome bonus + earn on the minimum spending requirement to unlock it * NOT  INCLUDED IN OUR FLYTRIPPERS VALUATION

‣ Apply for the Scotiabank Passport ® Visa Infinite* Card

Value of the welcome bonus offer (at our Flytrippers Valuation of  1¢/pt )

$300 Welcome bonus (30,000 pts) $20 Earn on the spending requirement (2,000 pts) –$0 Card fee (1st year free)

$320 Total net value by unlocking the welcome bonus alone

‣ Learn more about our Flytrippers Valuation of welcome bonuses

Effective return rate

32%  Return on the minimum spending requirement ( $320  on $ 1,000  in 3 months)

‣Learn more about effective return rates (coming soon)

Rewards acquisition summary

$320  Rewards you get for  $0

‣ Apply for the Scotiabank Passport ® Visa Infinite * Card

Value of redemption options (welcome bonus)

For each available redemption option, here is the value of the 32,000 Scene+ points  you get by unlocking the welcome bonus:

$320 Travel booked on any website $320 Travel booked on the Scene+ website $320 Merchandise at participating stores ≈ $224-$320 Gift cards ≈ $224 Merchandise $224 Statement credit

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Scene+ points (coming soon)

Value of redemption options (per point)

For each available redemption option, here is the value  per Scene+ point to help you understand:

1¢ Travel booked on any website 1¢ Travel booked on the Scene+ website 1¢ Merchandise at participating stores ≈ 0.7¢-1¢ Gift cards ≈ 0.7¢ Merchandise $0.7¢ Statement credit

‣Learn more about the basics of the values per point (coming soon)

Redemptions for travel (any website)

The more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. It is worth less but gives you more flexibility. Scene+ points are really as simple as points can be, as you can use them to simply erase any travel expense booked on any site.

Redeem your 32,000 Scene+ points  for:

32,000 pts Discount of $320 on travel booked on any website

Redemptions for travel (Scene+ website)

Another more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. There’s really no reason to use them this way though, as you don’t get more value.

Redeem your 32,000 Scene+ points  for:

32,000 pts Discount of $320 on travel booked on the Scene+ website

Redemptions for merchandise (participating retailers)

Another more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. It’s one of the extremely rare instances where you should use points for something other than travel, as you get the same value if you use them for merchandise at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, IGA (QC), Home Hardware, Recipe Unlimited’s many restaurant brands, Cineplex, etc.

Redeem your  32,000 Scene+ points  for:

32,000 pts Discount of $320 at participating retailers

Redemptions for anything other than travel (except at participating stores)

Should  always be avoided , as with  all  rewards!

‣Learn more about why you should always redeem your rewards for travel (coming soon)

Expiry Scene+ points never expire as long as you have the Scotiabank Passport ® Visa Infinite* Card . And even if you no longer have the card, you can easily extend the expiration indefinitely.

‣Learn more about Scene+ points expiry (coming soon)

Pooling Scene+ points cannot be pooled with travel companions. But this isn’t really an obstacle to using them in multi-player mode.

‣Learn more about pooling rewards (coming soon)

Logistics Scene+ points can be used directly on the Scene+ website/app or at the cash register at participating retailers.

‣Learn more about how to get started with Scene+ rewards (coming soon)

Program summary Rewards: Scene+ points Source: Bank/retailer rewards Type: More simple Flytrippers Valuation: 1¢ per point Minimum value: 1¢ per point Maximum value: 1¢ per point Transferable: No

‣Learn more about rewards programs basics (coming soon)

3 points per $ ( 3% ):

• Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, Co-Ops, IGA, Thrifty Foods, other Empire grocery banners
• Voilà grocery delivery
• Indirectly at retailers available via grocery store gift card displays

2 points per $ ( 2% ):

• Other grocery stores (and their gift cards )
• Restaurants and food delivery apps
• Entertainment (movies, theaters, ticket agencies)
• Transit (rideshares, taxis, buses, subways, and more)

1 point  per $ ( 1% ):

• Everywhere else

Earning with additional cards

Fee for additional cards: $0 for the 1st additional card ($50/year for more) Quantity allowed: N/A Minimum age: N/A

‣Learn more about additional cards (coming soon)

6 free annual passes for VIP airport lounges worldwide You get 6 free passes to enter 1,200+ airport lounges around the world, including 21 in 8 Canadian airports. All DragonPass lounges (Visa Airport Companion by DragonPass).

‣ Learn more about the airport lounge access

No foreign transaction fees One of the few cards in Canada that does not charge a 2.5% fee for all foreign currency transactions.

‣ Learn more on foreign currency transaction fees

Car rental elite status benefit You get elite status with Avis.

‣Learn more about the Scotiabank elite status benefits (coming soon)

Visa Infinite Concierge Service You get access to a 24/7 concierge service to help you book travel, make restaurant reservations, find tickets, organize flower or other deliveries, and perform other research tasks for you.

‣Learn more about the Visa Infinite Concierge Service (coming soon)

Visa Infinite Hotel Collection You get exclusive perks at some expensive luxury hotels.

‣Learn more about the Visa Infinite Hotel Collection (coming soon)

Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country program You get access to exclusive expensive gourmet experiences.

‣Learn more about the Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country program (coming soon)

Insurance included

Medical travel insurance for 25 days (64 years and under) Medical travel insurance for 3 days (65 years and above) Trip cancelation insurance Trip interruption insurance Flight delay insurance ($500, 4hr minimum) Rental car insurance Delayed and lost baggage insurance Travel accident insurance Hotel burglary insurance Purchase protection coverage Extended warranty coverage

‣Learn more about the insurance coverage included with the Scotia Passport ® Visa Infinite* Card (coming soon)

Insurance not included

Mobile device insurance

‣Learn more about the different types of insurance coverage (coming soon)

Card eligibility Minimum personal/household income: $60,000 (personal) OR $100,000 (household) Age: Majority in your province Estimated credit score: Good or Excellent Credit bureau: TransUnion Canada

‣ Learn more about credit card eligibility requirements (coming soon)

Welcome bonus eligibility You must not have had a Scotia card in the past 2 years.

‣ Learn more about credit card welcome bonus eligibility rules (coming soon)

Offer end date Offer ends July 1, 2024

‣ Subscribe to Flytrippers’ free travel rewards newsletter to get all card updates

Card details Issuer: Scotiabank Network: Visa Card type: Credit card Product type: Personal card

‣Learn more about credit card types basics (coming soon)

Annual fee Card fee: $150/year (1st year free) Fee for additional card: $0 for the first additional card ($50/year on each additional card)

‣Learn more about why Flytrippers recommends never looking at the fee alone (coming soon)

Rates FX fee: 0% Purchases annual interest rate: 20.99% Funds advance annual interest rate: 22.99% Balance transfer fee: N/A

‣ Learn more about why Flytrippers recommends ignoring rates (coming soon)

Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first-year annual fee waived¹

• Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligble entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options(including rideshares, buses, subways taxis and more)
• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• 6 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
• Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
• Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Jan.4, 2024. Subject to change.

Savings and Reward potential in the first 12 months based on the following card usage and offers:

$300 in travel rewards(30,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $1000 within the first 3 months;

$100 in travel rewards(10,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $40,000 annually on your account each year (12 months);

$150 primary card fee waiver for the first year;

$50 additional card fee waiver on your first additional card(including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders)every year;

$104 in foreign transaction fee savings based on average first-year annual foreign spend per account(save the 2.5% foreign transaction fee typically charged by other card issuers);

$287 in travel rewards(28,733 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual first-year spend per account with an average spend of 19% in 2x accelerator categories;

$350 value with a complementary Visa Airport Companion Program Membership and 6 lounge passes(annual membership plus one free visit approx. CAD$136/USD$99 plus 5 lounge passes at CAD$43/USD$31 per pass). Currency Conversions as of November 9, 2023.

Potential First Year Value= up to $1,341

Actual Savings and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply*.

Offer Description and Conditions¹: The 30,000 bonus Scene+ Points Offer and First Year Annual Fee Waiver (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened by July 1, 2024 subject to the conditions below. We will waive the annual fee for the primary card issued before July 1, 2024 on the Account for the first year only. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder, you are always eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday eligible purchases annually on your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite account. Conditions apply-see below for further details.

30,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To qualify for the 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “Bonus Offer”), you must have at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. The 30,000 Bonus Offer points will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days following the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within 3 months from the Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. Bonus Offer applies to new Accounts only opened by July 1, 2024. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period.

10,000 Annual Bonus Scene+ Point Conditions: As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder you can earn an annual Scene+ point bonus starting at 10,000 Scene+ points when you make at least $40,000 in eligible purchases annually on your Account each year (12-months). Annual period starts from the Account open date and resets every 12 months thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for every additional $10,000 in eligible purchases thereafter in that same year, after the $40,000 annual spend has been reached. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.

The Annual bonus Scene+ points will be credited within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $40,000 annual spend threshold on the Account and within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met each additional $10,000 annual spend threshold on the Account, provided your Account is open and in good standing (as defined above).

First Year Annual Fee Waiver Offer Description and Conditions: We will waive the annual fee for the primary card issued before July 1, 2024 on the Account for the first year only.

Offer Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.

Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders). The current preferred annual interest rates for this Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.

To qualify for these offers, make sure to open a new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card account by July 1, 2024.

To qualify for the 40,000 bonus Scene+ points:

• Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
• Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cardholder, you are eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday net eligible purchases annually.

Once you qualify, we’ll credit your account in 2 installments:

• 30,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to your account within approximately 2-3 business days following the qualifying $1,000 in net purchases being posted to your Scene+ membership Account in your first 3 months.
• Annual 10,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to your Scene+ membership account within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $40,000 annual spend threshold.

Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the 30,000 bonus points offer. All cardholders remain eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus with an annual spend of at least $40,000.

*See Card Provider’s website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Start earning rewards today

And make sure to download our free checklist for when you get a new card—it includes very important mistakes to avoid (it will open in a separate tab, or you can click here ).

via Scotia secure application

*Beta version of card page. Sign up to get updated guide soon.*

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The views and opinions expressed on this page are purely our own. They have not been provided, approved, endorsed, or ratified by any third party mentioned on the site.

Financial institutions are not responsible for updating or ensuring the accuracy of the information on Flytrippers’ website. All the information was independently collected by Flytrippers and not provided by financial institutions.

All offers described on the Flytrippers website are subject to the financial institutions’ latest terms and conditions, which can be found on their official website. No efforts are spared to ensure this page is up to date but offers from financial institutions change quickly. It is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of these offers on their website. Flytrippers will not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the offers or the result of your actions.

Flytrippers’ website does not contain all available credit card offers or all available credit card products on the market. In addition, Flytrippers never shares an offer if it is not considered advantageous for some travelers, at its sole discretion.

No author on Flytrippers’ website is a financial advisor, a financial planner, a legal professional, or a tax professional. No author on Flytrippers’ website can in any way be considered as such.

All articles, pages, and content on Flytrippers’ website are merely personal opinions of a general nature and are for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice for specific situations. It is your responsibility to perform your own personal research to ensure that travel rewards are appropriate for your own situation.

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Terms & conditions — Travel rewards

† Terms and conditions apply.

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Apply now for the Scotiabank Passport ® Visa Infinite * Card and get a welcome bonus worth $ 320 !

ScotiaGold Passport Visa Review for 2023: Food, Fun and Film

By Stefani Balinsky | Published on 11 Oct 2022

This card is all about sound, taste, and action. It is not pretentious and it doesn’t see the point in waiting to have fun. It is into travelling, eating at restaurants available in any small, medium, or large city where you can just talk over appetizers and maybe play trivia. The  ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card  is made for entertainment and travel and not for status seeking.

The ScotiaGold Passport Visa sits at the top tier of the Scene+ Visa Cards. The Scotia Rewards program merged in 2021 with the Scene Rewards. Now cardholders benefit from travel rewards and entertainment loyalty discounts in one seamless program. 

Surprisingly, it has a minimum credit limit of $5,000 and no mention of any minimum income requirement. The new program is Scene+ and it makes the ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card not only more flexible but also more appealing. 

The ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card Welcome Offer

Annual fee: $110

Interest rate: 19.99%  on purchases/ 22.99%  on cash advances, balance transfers

As far as welcome offers go, it is decent. If you are a movie buff, your 5000 Scene+ points gets you a lot at your local Cineplex. You are eligible for two VIP movie tickets or $50 in movie food.

If you want to maximize your movie trip, your 5000 points become four regular or 3D movie passes. You can also use your points on entertainment at the Rec Room, the Playdium, or the Cineplex store. 

What else can your 5000 points buy? When it comes to restaurants, it means $50 in food at over 800 restaurants nationwide including Harvey’s and East Side Mario’s. It works for dine-in and take-out.

If you want to buy alcohol with your points, you can. Of course, it is only in select locations. If alcohol isn’t your thing, your 5000 Scene points translate to $50 in travel. 

The ScotiaGold Passport Visa: a steady 1 Scene+ Point for every $1 spent

This is pretty good. Some other cards put their grocery and gas benefits as a percentage of spend. They make everything easy.

They also put limits on eligible amounts. The  ScotiaGold Passport Visa  makes it simple. If you spend $1 CAN, you earn 1 Scene+ Point, unless it is a Bonus situation. The only exception is for travel which we mention next.

Earning extra Scene+ Points and cash back 

ScotiaGold Passport Visa is about fun and socializing. It also has partnerships with big names to earn cardholders extra points. When you shop at its partner businesses, you earn at least 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent. 

ScotiaGold Passport Visa and Cineplex

Everytime you use your  ScotiaGold Passport Visa  on movie tickets you get 10% off. It applied even on Tuesdays when tickets are already discounted. I kind of like the idea that you can watch movies for less money. Plus with the theater-going experience getting better and better, like VIP tickets and reclining seats, the rebate and the points you earn makes movie going very attractive. It also makes it more affordable.

• Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on movie and entertainment purchases at Cineplex theatres
• Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on the Cineplex store

ScotiaGold Passport Visa and Apple, BestBuy, Rakuten

You can order Apple products or something from Best Buy and earn cash back. Once again, the  ScotiaGold Passport Visa  focuses on media and entertainment. It is one of the only cards I’ve come across that taps into brands and outlets known for sound and vision. 

In addition, cardholders earn money back in points when they shop with Scene+ Rakuten. It might add up to 20% more with Scene+ Rakuten. Another score for ScotiaGold Passport Visa and understanding consumer behaviour. Is there a better thrill than shopping and getting a cheque or points sent to you? 

Scotiagold Passport Visa and authorized users

You can add authorized users. Each additional card has a $30 annual fee. However, any earned points go to the primary cardholder’s account. 

The ScotiaGold Passport Visa and travel

You earn 5% cash back on travel related purchases with the ScotiaGold Passport Visa and arrangements made with Scotia+Travel. You cannot get the Cash Back Rebate if the trip meets only one of those conditions. The fine print states that the cash back only applies to hotels, airfare, and car rental charged to the card. That means that vacation dining earns you the 1:1 ratio and no cash back. 

The bare minimum amount of Scotia+ points that you can redeem for travel is 5000, which translates to $50 CAN. Of course, the details are again important. Every hotel or car rental transaction earns 3 Scene+ points for every $1 CAN spent. That is pretty generous. 

Scotiagold Passport Visa cardholders can potentially save 25% on car rental. You pay for the rental with your ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card or with points. The only catch is that you have to book at a participating Budget or Avis location. 

Traveling with Scene+Travel and your ScotiaGold Passport Visa is easy. There are no blackout periods. Still, you need to know about your travel insurance coverage.

ScotiaGold Passport Visa travel insurance

Manulife underwrites the travel insurance for ScotiaGold Passport Visa cardholders and Global Excel Management handles the claims. Overall, the travel insurance is not noteworthy. However, you can buy travel insurance from another provider. If you like the other perks and benefits of theScotiaGold Passport Visa and want supplemental travel insurance it is an easy fix.

Travel Emergency medical insurance

Believe it or not, the ScotiaGold Passport Visa has one of the best travel emergency medical travel insurance coverages of all of the Scene+ cards. It covers customers under age 65 for up to 25 days.

The  ScotiaGold Passport Visa  emergency medical travel insurance has a maximum of $1,000,000 CAN that covers diagnostics, repatriating you or your body, hospital stays and more. The coverage kicks in as soon as you leave your province of residence. Of course, there are exclusions like pre-existing conditions, elective or non-emergency treatment, and injuries you get while intoxicated. Always read the fine print!

Travel accident: common carrier insurance

In the event you are injured on a common carrier, you are covered if you purchased at least 75% of the ticket with your ScotiaGold Passport Visa or points. Well, that makes the case for not using cash. The coverage extends to the primary cardholder’s dependent children and to an authorized user whose name appears on a card. Individuals are covered up to $250,000 CAN or a total of $500,000 CAN per incident. 

Car rental collision, loss, or damage insurance

You are automatically covered by Collision Loss/Damage Insurance when you pay for a car under your own name with your ScotiaGold Passport Visa. You just have to decline the rental agency’s coverage. The period is for a maximum of 48 consecutive days. For some reason, a car valued at over $65,000 is not covered. That leaves you a lot of choices.

Hotel/motel burglary insurance

Get this: you are only covered for motel or hotel stays within your home province, Canada, or the United States. You are covered up to $1000 in excess of what the hotel or motel pays you. Of course, not everything is covered. Anything transferable like tickets, cash, documents, and credit cards are not covered by the policy. If your room has a safe, you should use it.

What isn’t covered by ScotiaGold Passport Visa travel insurance

The ScotiaGold Passport Visa’s travel insurance bundle doesn’t cover trip cancellation and trip interruption. In addition, it doesn’t cover for flight delays either. I don’t know why the coverage is made this way. Again, you can supplement this with  your own travel insurance . 

However, if your luggage is delayed more than 4 hours, you are insured for the cost of all checked baggage up to $1000 combined for all insured people on this same trip. If your luggage is lost, you are covered up to $1250. This does not apply to unchecked baggage.

Redeeming your ScotiaGold Passport Visa points Redeeming your points is easy. This is where the fun happens again. You can redeem your points for travel, entertainment, tech products, and food.

Surprisingly, you can shop online at Apple or BestBuy with your points. Your points have to cover a minimum of 20% of the cost at Apple or Best Buy. That is pretty reasonable.

For dining, you can redeem a minimum of 5000 points. That translates to $50 off your bill. The maximum dollar amount you can redeem is $350. You cannot use points for taxes and tips.

Cardholders can redeem their points at Playdium and the Rec Room. These places are not in every province. However, it is another example of the ScotiaGold Passport Visa’s focus on socializing even more than travel.

Who is the ScotiaGold Passport Visa card meant for?

This card is for people young-at-heart or just really into having fun. The card is built for socializing. It would likely make a great card for a young adult or a primary cardholder with kids old enough to be authorized users. You are not locked in to anything except booking travel through Scene+Travel. Your points accumulate fast and redemption is easy. There is nothing complicated about the ScotiaGold Passport Visa, and truthfully, that is a major plus.

The main drawback is its lack of trip delay or cancellation insurance insurance. But that should not be a dealbreaker. You can buy your own  travel insurance . What you cannot replace on your own is the Cash Back Rebate or the points accumulation. 

Click here to learn more and apply.

ScotiaGold Passport Visa Score

Benefits and perks scotiagold passport visa card.

• 5% cash back on eligible travel booked through Scene+Travel
• Simple to understand: 1 Scene+ point for every $1 purchase
• Visa Zero Liability policy
• Theft, loss, damage protection
• Access to Scotia SelectPay (Buy Now, Pay Later)
• Optional credit card protection insurance
• No travel restrictions on trips booked through Scene+Travel
• Save up to 25% on car rentals in Canada and the US when booked with participating Avis or Budget locations
• Emergency medical insurance, delayed/lost baggage protection, rental car insurance, travel accident protection, and hotel/motel burglary coverage
• Automatic enrollment in SCENE+ Program or linking to your existing membership
• Earn and redeem points at restaurants and retail including Apple, Best Buy, and Rakuten

Stefani Balinsky

Scotia Rewards Points Program

• Written by Mohamed Konate
• Published: December 3, 2023

Table of Contents

Scotia Rewards Points Program Review

Over our last couple of reviews, we’ve taken a break from reviewing all the different financial services offered by several of Canada’s leading banks and instead honed in on credit card loyalty programs designed to reward customers for using their bank-issued credit cards to make purchases on all kinds of items ranging from gas and groceries, to pharmaceuticals, to technology, and everything in between. Today, we’re going to look at another loyalty program, this time offered by Scotiabank.

Scotiabank, formerly known as the Bank of Nova Scotia, is part of Canada’s “Big Five” of banking. With nearly $1 trillion in assets under management, Scotiabank is the third largest bank in Canada. Scotiabank has consistently expanded its operations since its founding in 1832, and Scotiabank now serves more than 25 million customers worldwide.

Scotia Rewards Points Overview

The Scotia Rewards program is a credit card loyalty program similar to rewards programs offered by other big banks such as RBC and BMO. Like its counterparts from other banks, the Scotia Rewards program is designed to reward customers with points based on the amount of the purchase price of any purchase they make using their Scotiabank credit card.

Rewards members can then redeem those points for a variety of rewards, including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and experiences.

How do Scotia Rewards work?

The Scotia Rewards program works like all other credit card rewards programs. Rewards members use their enrolled credit card to make a purchase, accumulate points based on the value of that purchase, then redeem those points for rewards once they’ve accumulated enough.

Likewise, members can redeem Scotia Rewards points for air fare, hotels, and other travel-related rewards, merchandise, gift cards, and experience packages. But unlike its competitors, Scotia Rewards offer members more flexibility when booking travel.

Instead of limiting the use of Scotia Rewards points to travel booked through Scotiabank’s travel centre, Scotia Rewards members are free to book their own travel using their Scotia Rewards credit card then apply their Scotia Rewards points toward the cost of the booking in the form of a statement credit.

How To Earn Scotia Reward Points

As we’ve mentioned, Scotia Rewards members accumulate points by using their Scotiabank credit cards to make purchases. Scotiabank offers several credit cards, backed by both American Express,Mastercard and Visa , that allow members to earn rewards points. We’ll set out the details of each eligible rewards credit card below.

– Scotiabank Gold American Express

• $120 annual fee; 19.99% interest rate
• 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of membership
• 5 points per dollar spent at eligible grocery stores, restaurants, food delivery services, and food subscriptions
• 3 points per dollar spent on transportation, including ridesharing services, public transportation, taxis, and gas
• 1 point per dollar spent on every other purchase
• $0 foreign transaction fee
• Additional benefits include access to Amex Offers, Amex Front of the Line pre-sale event tickets, complimentary concierge service, discounts on airport lounge access, and a comprehensive suite of travel insurance products

– Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

• $139 annual fee; 19.99% interest rate
• 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of membership
• 2 points per dollar spent on food, dining, entertainment, and transportation
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
• Additional benefits include complimentary Priority Pass membership, allowing members to access hundreds of airport lounges free of charge, 6 free companion lounge passes, complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership, and a comprehensive suite of travel insurance products

– ScotiaGold Passport Visa

• $110 annual fee; 19.99% interest rate
• 5,000 bonus points on your first purchase
• 1 point per dollar on all purchases
• 5% cash back on travel booked through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service
• Additional benefits include discounts on rental cars and comprehensive travel insurance

–  Scotiabank American Express

$0 annual fee; 19.99% interest rate.

• 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 within the first three months of membership
• Additional benefits include access to Amex Offers and Amex Invites, rental car discounts, purchase protection, extended warranties, and four types of travel insurance

As you can see, Scotiabank offers a variety of rewards credit cards that are each tailored toward different spending and usage habits. While the Scotiabank American Express Gold card and Passport Visa Infinite card offer a host of additional benefits and the potential to earn substantial bonus points for a relatively modest annual fee, the Scotiabank American Express and Rewards Visa cards provide members who don’t need all the extra benefits with access to Scotiabank’s rewards program and no annual fee.

So, the bottom line is that if you’re looking to maximize your points and you frequently dine out, love to cook, have a large family to feed, or otherwise spend heavily on food and entertainment, the 5x points on those categories of purchases offered by the Scotiabank American Express Gold card could be extremely valuable. Likewise, if you’re a frequent traveler who enjoys access to airport lounges, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite , which includes complimentary lounge access, could be quite valuable, as well.

What Are Scotia Rewards Points Worth?

The Scotia Rewards program is designed to strike a balance between flexibility and value. Still, as with other credit card loyalty programs that we’ve seen, the Scotia Rewards program is most valuable when used for its travel rewards. Thus, although Scotia Rewards points may be redeemed for a variety of rewards, they are most valuable when redeemed for travel-based rewards. In this section, we’ll set out exactly what a Scotia Rewards point is worth in real-world purchasing power based on the type of reward for which it’s redeemed.

– Travel rewards

Scotia Rewards points max out in value at 1¢ per point when redeemed for travel-based rewards. In other words, a Scotia Rewards member can redeem 10,000 rewards points for $100 in value toward air fare, hotels, rental cars, cruises, or vacation packages. Members can elect to pay for the entire cost of their travel purchase with points if they have enough, or they can split the cost of their trip between their credit card and their rewards account.

But the most notable feature of Scotiabank’s rewards program is its Apply Points to Travel feature . This feature allows members to book their own travel, using whichever site or service they prefer, and so as long as they use their Scotiabank Rewards credit card to pay for the cost of the trip, they can apply their Scotiabank Rewards points toward the cost of that purchase for up to 12 months after the fact. Rewards points retain their full 1¢ per point value whether travel is booked through the Scotiabank Rewards Travel Service or whether the member elects to Apply Points to Travel.

– Gift cards

Scotiabank Rewards points can also be redeemed for a variety of gift cards. Members can redeem 7,000 rewards points for a $50 gift card. This comes out to a value of .7¢ per point. This drop in value when compared to redeeming points for travel and is comparable to the drop in value we’ve seen from other rewards program, and it makes it clear that the Scotiabank Rewards program is best used for its travel-based rewards. It can take up to six weeks for members to receive any gift cards ordered using rewards points.

– Statement credits

Recall that the Apply Points for Travel feature allows members to redeem their points for what is essentially a statement credit for the value of travel booked outside the Scotiabank Rewards Travel Service, and those points are still worth their maximum 1¢ per point when used for that purpose.

Well, members can also redeem their points for statement credits on purchases that are not travel-related. However, Scotia Rewards points lose a bit of value when redeemed for a non-travel-related statement credit. Instead of being worth 1¢ per point, they are worth .67¢ per point. In other words, members must redeem 7,500 points to receive a $50 statement credit.

– Merchandise

Members have the option to redeem their rewards points for a variety of merchandise from leading retailers such as Apple and Best Buy. The value of a Scotia Rewards point varies somewhat depending on the exact piece of merchandise, but rewards points can be quite valuable in this scenario, too.

For example, at the time of this writing, members can redeem 45,900 points for a Breville mixer that retails for $399. This comes out to just under .9¢ per point, which is quite close to the maximum value of a Scotiabank Rewards point.

– Experiences

Scotiabank Rewards members can cash in their rewards points for a variety of unique experiences and vacation packages, too. These rewards include tickets to tours and events, admission to the Vancouver Aquarium, and exclusive dining experiences.

– Convert to SCENE Rewards points and vice versa

Lastly, Scotiabank partners with Cineplex to allow its rewards members to convert their Scotiabank Rewards points into SCENE rewards points. Scotiabank Rewards members can currently convert 10,000 rewards points into 7,700 SCENE rewards points. Likewise, members can also convert SCENE rewards points into Scotiabank rewards points.

Scotia Rewards Benefits

Scotia Rewards offer Scotiabank credit cardholders a valuable way to receive a bit more value on money they’re already spending. Additionally, the Scotiabank American Express Gold card’s 5x points on food and entertainment purchases and 3x points on transportation expenses could go a long way toward accumulating a significant points balance quickly given these classes of purchases are quite common and often comprise a large part of many consumers’ monthly spending.

Scotia Rewards members also benefit from the flexibility afforded by Scotiabank’s Apply Points to Travel feature, which allows members to book travel however they prefer and then apply Scotia Rewards points at the same value they would carry if the member booked his or her travel directly through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service.

How To Redeem Scotia Rewards Points

Redeeming points is simple and straightforward. Members begin by logging into their Scotia Rewards account. From there, they can access their credit card statement to apply points toward a travel or non-travel-related purchase, use points to buy merchandise from the Scotia Rewards catalogue, purchase gift cards, or redeem for experiences. Members can also redeem points by booking travel directly through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service.

How to Earn More Scotia Rewards Points

The key to maximizing Scotia Rewards points is to make sure to use an eligible rewards credit card to make as many purchases as you can use it for, but especially to use it to make purchases that are eligible for bonus points, such as food, dining, entertainment, and transportation.

Holders of the ScotiaGold Passport Visa can also maximize their earning potential by using that card to book travel directly through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service because doing so earns the cardholder an extra 5% cash back.

How Scotia Rewards Compares to Other Credit Card Rewards Programs

The Scotia Rewards program is one of several comparable credit card loyalty programs that Canadians can use to make their money go a little further. But what sets the Scotia Rewards program apart from its competition is the flexibility it affords to members by allowing them to redeem points at their maximum value for travel booked both through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service and through third party travel services. This is a feature that we haven’t seen from any other rewards program so far.

Additionally, the 5x bonus points offered by the Scotiabank American Express Gold card is an extremely good deal given that those bonus points are offered on three classes of common expenses: food, dining, and entertainment.

Scotiabank’s rewards program offers credit card users a great way to quickly accumulate rewards points on some of their most common day-to-day purchases. What is more, the fact that Scotia Rewards points can be used to pay for travel booked through third parties provides members with a remarkable amount of flexibility to travel when and how they prefer.

While Scotiabank’s lower-tier rewards credit cards don’t offer much in the way of added value, if you’re in the market for a premium credit card and your spending habits justify an annual fee, the Scotiabank American Express Gold or Passport Visa Infinite could both be strong choices based on their sign-on bonuses, potential to earn bonus points on common purchases, and additional benefits.

Compare the Best Scotiabank Credit Cards in Canada

FAQ’s

How do I log in to my Scotia Rewards account?

Members log in to their Scotia Rewards account by going to www.scotiarewards.com and using the link in the top righthand corner of the website.

How do I contact Scotia Rewards?

Members can contact Scotia Rewards via telephone, email, or social media.

Can Scotia Rewards points be transferred?

Yes. Members can convert their Scotia Rewards points into SCENE rewards points, and vice versa.

Do Scotia Rewards points expire?

No. Scotia Rewards points will not expire so long as the member maintains his or her rewards account.

How do I check my Scotia Rewards points balance?

Members can check their rewards points balance and track when and how they’re earning rewards points all from their online rewards account.

Do Scotia Rewards points cover taxes and fees?

Yes. Members can use Scotia Rewards points to pay for travel-related taxes, fees, and surcharges.

Are Scotia Rewards points subject to blackout dates or seat restrictions?

No. Members are free to use their Scotia Rewards points to book travel anytime and anywhere without worrying about blackout dates or seat restrictions.

How do I earn Scotia Rewards points faster?

Because purchases of gas, groceries, dining, entertainment, and transportation are eligible for 3x to 5x bonus points, the fastest way to earn Scotia Rewards points is to use an eligible rewards credit card to pay for those classes of purchases.

Mohamed Konate is a personal finance expert, blogger, and marketing consultant based out of Toronto. He is a former financial services professional who worked for many years at major Canadian financial institutions where he managed the marketing strategy around various financial products ranging from credit cards to lines of credit. Mohamed is passionate about personal finance and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Quebec (Montreal) and a Master in International Business from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec).He is also the author of the Canadian Credit Card Guidebook. Read his full author bio

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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Best offer available until July 1, 2024

Signup bonus:, annual fee:, annual interest rates:, earning rate:, perks & benefits:.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is one of the best cards for earning fixed-value points, due to the sheer ease of redeeming Scene+ points.

Throw in a lack of foreign transaction fees, and this card is a winner with a relatively low annual fee to boot.

Bonuses & Fees

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers up to 40,000 Scene+ points as a signup offer.

The bulk of the bonus, 30,000 Scene+ points, are awarded upon spending $1,000 in the first three months. 30,000 Scene+ points is worth up to $300 when redeemed for a statement credit against travel purchases.

You can also earn an additional 10,000 points every year upon spending $40,000 every year, although at such a high threshold, your efforts are likely better spent on other cards.

The annual fee is $150, which is waived in the first year with the current offer. Plus, you’ll get one free supplementary card, and then it’ll cost $50 per card thereafter.

Earning Rewards

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent  on groceries, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit. Entertainment includes movies, theatre, and live performances, while transit covers railroads, local transit, taxis, and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

As part of a partnership with Empire grocery stores , you can earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on Empire grocery stores such as Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, and FreshCo. Purchases made at other grocery stores will continue earning 2 points per dollar.

While this is a decent return, you’ll note that the Scotiabank Gold American Express card actually offers a higher 5% return on groceries, dining, and entertainment, so that’d be a better card to use for spending on these categories. Of course, Visa is more widely accepted than Amex, so that’s another thing to take into account.

On all other spending, you’ll earn a standard 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent.

Moreover, it’s important to note that the accelerated earning rates are capped at $50,000 per calendar year, and not per category. You’ll earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent  thereafter.

Redeeming Rewards

Scene+ is one of the most flexible fixed-value points programs in Canada. Points have a value of 1 cent per point , and can be easily credited towards any travel expense.

This is far superior to fixed-value points programs from Canada’s other major banks, which force you to book your travel through their in-house travel agencies. This means that you could be limited to using your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacations.

That’s not the case with Scene+ – book whatever you want, and then redeem points against the purchase up to a year after it posts. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Your points won’t expire for as long as you’re a cardholder. If you cancel the card, you’ll have 60 days to redeem your Scene+ points before they’re gone.

Perks & Benefits

One of the main features of this card it that it has no foreign transaction fees – indeed, it’s the first credit card offered by the Big 5 banks in Canada to include such a benefit. While most other credit cards charge a 2.5% markup on foreign transactions, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card uses the Visa mid-market rate.

This is therefore an excellent card to use when you’re travelling abroad. In fact, if you were to make more than $6,000 in foreign purchases in one year, then you’d have saved enough to cover the card’s annual fee.

This is because most other cards that charge foreign transaction fees would have levied $150 in fees after spending $6,000, with a 2.5% foreign exchange fee.

$6,000 a year isn’t a lot of money to spend on foreign purchases if you’re a regular traveller. Throw in six complimentary DragonPass lounge visits, and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card would be a great addition to your wallet.

Insurance Coverage

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is a premium travel credit card, and so comes with very strong insurance benefits. Coverage includes:

Emergency medical insurance of up to $1 million for you, your spouse, and dependent children on unexpected medical illness or injury when travelling out-of-province for up to 25 days (3 days for age 65 and up)

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance of up to $1,500 and $2,000 per person, respectively

Flight delay insurance for delays of more than four hours, up to $500 per person

• Delayed and lost baggage  insurance  of up to $1,000

Rental car collision or damage insurance, which can help you save on the insurance fees usually charged by car rental companies for vehicles with a MSRP of up to $65,000

• Hotel burglary insurance  of up to $1,000 in the event of theft

Plus, on the purchase protection side, you’ll get a 90-day protection period against damage, loss, or theft for most new items. In addition, you also get  extended warranty of up to one year.

Historical Offers

As a Visa Infinite product, this credit card has a minimum personal annual income requirement of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000, or have $250,000 in assets under management with Scotiabank to be eligible. You'll also need to be approved for a credit limit of at least $5,000. Follow the link below to the Scotiabank website to learn more about this card and submit an application.

13 Comments

Should I apply an additional supplementary card, do they offer the additional card holder 6 free airport lounge pass of their own?

I believe only the primary cardholder receives lounge passes for this card.

Their website does not say the first year fee is waived – can you please confirm? Thanks.

Is there an age limit with the Emergency Medical Insurance coverage? We are both 72.

National Bank offers 15 days Emergency Medical Insurance coverage up to age 75

Unfortunately, it’s only up to age 65.

Do the 6 Priority pass visits include Priority pass restaurants or is it only lounges?

Just applied for the Visa Passport card. Was charged the annual fee and no bonus coming my way. Im informed its because I didnt wait 2 years from the last time I cancelled the card (may 2020) WTF! I guess I should have read the fine print? lol. Managed to get them to waive the annual fee at least. lesson learned.

@Andy Hone – No, they didn’t. I just used it two weeks ago in Elevation Lounge in YYC airport. Not sure where you heard that from – a very unreliable source, evidently.

They stopped offering price protection as of July 1, 2021 on the passport VI card.

https://www.scotiabank.com/content/dam/scotiabank/canada/credit-cards/en/NOC-Passport-VisaInfinite_Eng.pdf

Hi. From what I’ve read, Priority Pass ended the relationship and the “6 Lounge Passes” is no longer a benefit to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card. Too bad, it’s one of the main reasons I signed on.

Priority Pass ended the relationship with Plaza Premium, not with Scotiabank. In fact, Scotia Passport cardholders now get six free visits to Priority Pass lounges every membership year, as well as six free visits to Plaza Premium lounges through June 30, 2022: https://princeoftravel.com/blog/plaza-premium-dragonpass-continued-lounge-access-for-visa-cards-through-june-2022/

The t&c on scotia’s website state that if you have a retail card with them then you are not eligible for the promo, have you tried doing a product transfer with luck?

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• $799 annual fee
• Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $10,000 in the first 3 months
• 30,000 additional points when making any purchase in months 14 – 17
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining and travel, and 1 point on all other purchases
• $200 annual travel credit
• $200 annual dining credit (per calendar year)
• Unlimited airport lounge access
• MESSAGE ME FOR A REFERRAL LINK

Anyone who frequently travels or is looking for luxury travel perks should get the  American Express Platinum Card . The primary cardholder and a guest get unlimited access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, hotel status upgrades (Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors), a NEXUS rebate (includes global entry and TSA precheck), and a comprehensive travel insurance package that covers travel medical and trip cancellation.

While some people will instantly pass when they see the $799 annual fee, you can get the card for just $199 for the first year. You get a $200 dining credit benefit each calendar year. That means you can use it twice before your second annual fee posts. You also get a $200 travel credit once every year of your cardmembership. All in, you can get up to $600 in credits in the first year. That effectively makes your annual fee for the first year just $199. This assumes you can use the dining credit.

Another reason this card is worth it for all types of travellers is the welcome bonus. When you sign up with a referral link, your welcome offer is typically worth 80,000 to 100,000  American Express Membership Rewards  points. That has a minimum value of $800 to $1,000. However, if you transfer your points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, you could easily double the value of your points. In other words, the welcome offer could be worth $1,600 to $2,000.

If you’re a frequent traveller, this card is worth holding long term for the travel benefits. Even if you don’t travel often, signing up for the welcome bonus and benefits is worth it for the first year.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 740 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 80,000 to 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when using a referral link. The minimum spending requirement is usually $5,000 to $10,000.

Best travel card for overall spending

American express cobalt card.

• $12.99 Monthly fee ($155.88 yearly)
• 1,250 monthly Membership Rewards points after charging $750 in purchases each month for a year (15,000 points total)
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eats and drinks
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on travel
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

When it comes to travel rewards, sometimes you need a card that earns you a lot of points on your daily spending. The  American Express Cobalt Card ’s earning rate is 5 points per $1 spent on eats and drinks (including grocery stores), 3 points on select streaming services, 2 points on travel and transit, and 1 point on everything else. That’s a lot of bonus categories, but note that there is a monthly spending cap of $2,500 for each category. Once you reach it, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent.

Remember, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since Aeroplan points can easily have a value of 2 cents per point, your earning rate on eats and drinks can be as high as 10%. There’s no other card that gives you that high of a return.

The downside of this card is that you don’t get many travel benefits. However, you do get mobile device insurance, and the welcome bonus has been consistent.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 700 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically, you’ll earn 2,500 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend $500 monthly for the first 12 months. That’s 30,000 bonus American Express Membership Rewards points you can earn in the first year. The offer has also been as low as 1,250 monthly points for 12 months, with a minimum spend of $750 each month.

Best travel card for the welcome bonus

American express business gold rewards card.

• $199 annual fee
• Up to 115,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus when using a referral link
• Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points when spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 10,000 points when you charge $20,000 each quarter (yearly benefit)
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases
• Mobile device insurance

Although the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card doesn’t have the highest welcome bonus, it gives you the best bang for your buck. You’ll get 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of cardmembership. This is an incredible offer since it’s a straight spend instead of spending a minimum each month for multiple months.

Since this is a business credit card, most of the benefits are focused on business owners. You get 55 interest free days, expense management reports, and employee abuse protection. You also get some travel insurance, but it doesn’t include travel medical.

Even though this is a business credit card, many consumers will apply for the card because of the welcome bonus. I’m not telling you to lie. I’m just reporting what I’ve heard.

Eligibility : There’s no minimum income required. A credit score of 700 is recommended before applying. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when spending $5,000 in the first three months.

Best travel card for all-in-one-travel

Scotiabank passport™ visa infinite* card.

• $150 annual fee
• 30,000 Scene+ points when spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• 10,000 points when spending $40,000 in the first year
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire owned supermarkets
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 6 passes per year
• No foreign transaction fees

When looking at this list of the best travel credit cards in Canada, you’ll quickly realize that many cards excel in one area, but not all. With the  Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card , you get a travel credit card with a decent earning rate and good travel benefits. It’s ideal for people who don’t want to carry multiple credit cards, as you can use it at home or abroad.

The earning rate for this card is 3 Scene+ points at Empire-owned grocery stores (IGA, Safeway, Sobeys supermarkets), 2 points on all other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and transit purchases, and all other purchases get you 1 point. While this isn’t the best earning rate, it’s decent.

What really sets this card apart is the overall travel benefits. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you’ll save 2.5% on purchases made in foreign currencies. You also get a free Visa Airport Companion Program with six complimentary annual passes. Plus, a comprehensive travel insurance package is included. 

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 or at least $250,000 in assets under management. A credit score of 700 is also recommended. Welcome bonus : You’ll typically get 35,000 to 50,000 Scene+ points as the welcome offer. In most cases, you’ll need to spend a minimum amount in the first three months and another in the first 12 months for the full bonus.

Best travel card for Aeroplan rewards

Td aeroplan visa infinite card.

• $139 annual fee
• 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• 20,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 in the first 180 days
• 20,000 Aeroplan points on your anniversary when you spend $10,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• First bag checked free on Air Canada flights

Since Air Canada is the country’s top airline, it’s natural that many people will want to earn Aeroplan points, Air Canada’s loyalty program. For most people in this situation, the best travel credit card would be the  TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card . The earning rate is 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases. All other purchases earn you 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent. In other words, you can earn Aeroplan points on every purchase.

Another reason this card is worth getting is the included free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight travelling companions. Since checked luggage normally costs $30 to $50 each way, this can be a valuable benefit. Other benefits you get include a NEXUS rebate and travel insurance.

It’s worth noting that Aeroplan has many retailer partners, so you can double dip on the points. All you need to do is shop via the Aeroplan eStore and then pay with your Aeroplan credit card. It’s that simple.

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 is required. It’s also recommended that you have a credit score of at least 700. Welcome bonus : New cardholders typically get between 40,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan bonus points. This intro offer is usually divided into multiple parts with different minimum spending requirements.

Best travel card for premium Air Canada benefits

Td aeroplan visa infinite privilege card.

• $599 annual fee
• Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase
• Earn 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 in the first 180 days
• Earn 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 in the first year
• Earn 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on gas, and groceries, and 1 point on all other purchases
• First bag checked free, priority check-in & boarding on Air Canada flights
• Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America
• DragonPass airport lounge access + 6 free annual passes

Normally, I wouldn’t have two recommendations for Aeroplan, but the extra benefits of the  TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card  deserve its own category. Besides the free first checked bag, you also get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and a guest, six free passes to airport lounges that are part of the  Visa Airport Companion Program, priority boarding (zone 2), priority baggage handling, priority airport services, and priority airport standby and upgrades.

The annual fee for this card is $599, but as you can see, you get tons of benefits. Having Maple Leaf Lounge access and priority boarding can significantly impact your comfort when travelling. The earning rate is 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on gas, groceries, travel, and dining purchases, and 1 point on everything else.

Some travellers will apply for this card during a busy travel year to take advantage of all the benefits. When their anniversary is about to come up, they’ll downgrade to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. This allows them to earn two welcome bonuses, which can easily be more than 150,000 total points.

Eligibility : A minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 is required. It’s also recommended that you have a credit score of at least 700. Welcome bonus : Typically worth between 50,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan points. This bonus is usually divided into multiple parts with different minimum spending requirements.

Best travel card for WestJet flyers

Westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

• $119 annual fee
• 450 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
• Earn 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Receive a round-trip companion voucher – every year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC)
• Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation

In the last year or so, WestJet has changed its strategy and is now focused mainly on Alberta. As a result, the  WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard  is now only good for people who fly WestJet regularly. Compare this to the past when WestJet had decent lift across Canada. Now they’re more of a niche airline.

With this card, you’ll earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases. This is a decent earning rate since most cards only give you 1% back in rewards on all other purchases. That said, since WestJet Rewards is essentially a cash back rewards program. Although you’ll be able to use your points to offset the cost of your airfare, you won’t be able to get aspirational flights for cheap, like Aeroplan.

The real advantage of this card is the WestJet benefits. The primary cardholder and up to eight guests travelling on the same itinerary get their first checked bag free. In addition, you get a yearly  companion voucher , which allows a guest to pay a lower base fare when they’re travelling with the primary cardholder. This benefit alone can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Eligibility : Minimum personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. Welcome bonus : Usually up to 4450 WestJet dollars. You’re given 250 WestJet dollars after your first purchase and another 200 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first three months. There have been occasional offers of up to 700 WestJet dollars.

Best travel card for hotel stays

Marriott bonvoy american express card.

• $120 annual fee
• 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you charge $3,000 in the first 3 months with a referral link
• Earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at participating Marriott properties
• Earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at gas and travel purchases for the first 6 months (up to 15,000 points) – Offer ends May 6, 2024
• Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy points for per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points

So far, the list of the best travel credit cards in Canada has focused on airline rewards. However, many people just want to save on hotel stays or get free nights. That’s where the  Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card  excels. Marriott International has more than 8,500 properties in 130+ countries. That means you’ll be able to use your points in most parts of the world.

The earning rate is 5  Marriott Bonvoy  points per $1 spent at Marriott properties and 2 points on all other purchases. Since one Marriott Bonvoy point has a value of about .9 cents each, you’re getting a decent return.

To be realistic, anyone who likes to travel should have this card. That’s because you get a free annual night certificate worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That certificate can easily have a value of at least $300, which is clearly more than the $120 annual fee that this card charges. Another perk with this card is Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, which gives you priority late checkout and 10% bonus points on stays. Some travel insurance is also included.

Eligibility : No listed income requirement. A credit score of at least 700 is recommended. Welcome bonus : Typically worth 50,000 – 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of card membership.

Best travel card with no annual fee

Cibc aeroplan visa card.

• No annual fee
• 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase
• Earn 1 Aeorplan point per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases

Unfortunately, most of the best travel credit cards in Canada come with an annual fee, but not the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card . The earning rate is 1 Aeroplan per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. For every other eligible purchase, you’ll get 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent. 

Since this is a no fee card, the main benefits you get are purchase security and extended warranty. With purchase security, your purchases are protected from loss, theft, and damage for 90 days. The extended warranty doubles your manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year.

Some people will sign up for this card just for the welcome bonus of 10,000 points. They do this because you get the bonus after you make your first purchase. It’s that easy.

Eligibility : Minimum income of $15,000. A credit score of at least 640 is recommended. Welcome bonus : Typically 10,000 Aeroplan points after your first purchase.

Best travel card for travel insurance

National bank world elite mastercard.

• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on grocery and restaurant purchases up to $2,500 per month. Then earn 2 points per $1 spent
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills and à la carte Travel
• Unlimited access to National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport
• Annual $150 travel credit

Whenever you travel outside of your home province, it’s highly recommended that you get travel medical and extended travel insurance. Fortunately, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard covers 60 days if you’re under 55, 31 days for those aged 55 – 64, and 15 days for those aged 65 – 75.

As for the coverage, you get $5,000,000 for travel medical expenses. The extended travel insurance includes trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, and car rental theft/damage insurance. You must charge the entire trip cost to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard for your insurance to apply.

Other benefits include a $150 travel credit, unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport for the primary cardholder, plus one guest, mobile device insurance, purchase protection (180 days), and extended warranty (up to two additional years).

Eligibility : Personal income requirement of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. A credit score of 700 is recommended. Welcome bonus : The welcome bonus has been anywhere from 0 to 50,000 points.

Best travel card for no foreign transaction fees

Eq bank card.

• $20 referral bonus (must fund account with $100 within 30 days)
• No monthly fees
• 0.5% cash back on all purchases
• Free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada
• Earn 2.50% interest until you spend

I have a detailed list of the  best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in Canada , but the one I recommend the most is the EQ Bank Card. This is a prepaid card, so you need to preload funds before you can use it. This can easily be done via your  EQ Bank account  or an e-transfer. Once you make a purchase in any currency that’s not Canadian dollars, you’ll save on the 2.5% fee that’s normally charged.

I prefer this card to others because you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees when making ATM withdrawals. Most major banks now charge a 3.5% exchange fee when using foreign ATMs so these fees can add up quickly. Note that when you do use a foreign ATM, the operator may charge you a one-time fee. EQ Bank does not charge you a separate fee. If you use the card within Canada, EQ Bank will reimburse you for any ATM fees.

As for your spending, you’ll earn 0.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, and any funds you have deposited to your card will continue to earn you interest. 

Eligibility : Must have an EQ Bank account. No income or credit history is required. Welcome bonus : You get a $20 cash bonus when signing up with a  referral link  and funding your account with $100 within 30 days of account opening.

Best travel card for multi-currency

Cibc ac conversion card.

• No load or conversion fees
• Load up to 10 currencies with no fees
• 1% cash back on all eligible purchases (until October 31, 2023)

You may have to deal with various currencies whenever you travel to different countries. Instead of exchanging cash in advance, you could use the  CIBC AC Conversion Card  since it allows you to load up to 10 different currencies. That means you can use one card in 40 different countries.

The currencies available are Canadian dollars, United States dollars, Euros, Great Britain pounds, Mexican pesos, Hong Kong dollars, Australian dollars, Japanese Yen, Turkish Lira, and Swiss Francs.

This card is good for people who don’t want to deal with currency fluctuations. However, note that you only get one free foreign ATM withdrawal each month. On a positive note, this card has no fee.

Eligibility : No income or minimum credit score required. Welcome bonus : $20 when signing up with my  exclusive referral link .

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards will either earn you points/miles with its in-house travel rewards program or a con-branded major loyalty program such as Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. Although general travel rewards programs give you flexibility, co-branded loyalty programs can be more valuable depending on your redemption.

Types of travel credit cards

There are three types of travel rewards credit cards. Understanding how they all work lets you decide which is best for you. That said, frequent travellers will often get more than one type of travel credit card in Canada since it allows them to earn different points. This can be useful if you have different travel goals in mind.

Airline Rewards credit cards

Airline cards are often popular due to their brand recognition. For example, Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada. If you have an  Aeroplan credit card , you’ll earn Aeroplan points. Those points can later be redeemed for any available seat on Air Canada and its partners.

Other Airline rewards credit cards available include  WestJet Rewards  and  Air Miles . With WestJet Rewards, the dollars earned can be applied to WestJet flights. Air Miles is technically a general travel rewards program, but since you earn miles and they use dynamic pricing for redemptions, I lump them together with airline rewards.

Obviously, airline rewards credit cards are aimed at people loyal to specific brands. Some premium cards will come with specific airline benefits such as free checked bags, priority services, and airport lounge access to entice them to sign up.

General travel rewards credit cards

General travel rewards credit cards are designed for people who aren’t loyal to a specific airline. With these types of rewards, you earn points, which can then be redeemed for any flight on any airline. In addition, you can use your points on hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and even cruises.

How you redeem your points will depend on the program. Some general travel rewards programs allow you to redeem your points on any travel purchase you make to your card. On the other hand, some cards require you to book through its online travel portal. Obviously, the ability to book anything on your own is much more flexible since it allows you to find the lowest price and claim any status benefits you may have.

Hotel rewards credit cards

While flying for free is appealing, some people like earning points for resorts and hotel stays instead. Canada’s most popular hotel rewards credit card is the  Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card . It’s appealing because Marriott has more than 8,000 properties in 150+ countries. The only other co-branded hotel credit card in Canada is Best Western.

Hotel credit cards will include benefits that can be used at most properties within their network, but it’s typically tied to your status tier. Generally, the basic benefits are early check-in, late check-out, and high speed WiFi. Once you hit the higher tiers, you’ll get a welcome gift, free breakfast, and room upgrades.

What are the best travel credit card programs in Canada?

Every bank in Canada has its own travel rewards program, but none of them are the same. They offer different ways to redeem your points, but some give you more options. I’ve  ranked and detailed them all in this article , but here’s a quick ranking from best to worst. Each link goes to my detailed reviews so you can learn more about the programs.

***I will turn these into H3s so don’t worry about things here

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards  is ranked number one because you have the most options with your points. You can transfer your points to various loyalty programs and hotel partners, including Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. In addition, you can use your points on any travel purchase or through the Fixed Points Travel program.

RBC Avion Rewards

RBC recently rebranded their points  Avion Rewards . You can redeem your Avion Rewards points with the fixed travel program or through the travel portal. There are also a few airline transfer partners in WestJet and British Airways.

Although  Scene+  is a pretty straightforward loyalty program, but they rank higher because they have credit cards with high earning rates and lots of partners where you can earn additional points. For travel redemptions, you can book through the travel portal or on your own.  When redeeming points for travel booked on your own, there’s a 50,000-point minimum. 

CIBC Rewards

CIBC Rewards  ranks right in the middle of the pack for bank loyalty programs. It’s pretty basic, but it does have a fixed travel program, which allows you to get more value out of your points. The credit cards they offer are decent, but none are exceptional. That’s why you won’t find any CIBC cards that earn Aventura points on my list of the best travel credit cards.

HSBC Rewards

While some people love  HSBC Rewards , I don’t rank it very high. Although you can redeem your points for any travel purchases charged to your card, there is a minimum redemption of 25,000 points ($125). The ability to transfer your points to airline partners such as Asia Miles, Singapore Krisflyer Miles, and British Airways Avios, but for most Canadians, they won’t be useful.

TD Rewards  will likely be fine for the average traveller since they use Expedia to power their travel bookings. That means you can book just about anything since Expedia is so big. The reason I rank TD Rewards so low is that its credit card offerings are not impressive and you get no airline travel partners.

BMO Rewards

BMO Rewards  ranks on my list mainly because it takes 150 BMO Rewards points to redeem $1 in travel. That means 1 BMO Reward point is worth .67 cents. Since BMO Rewards credit cards typically earn you 1 BMO Reward point on all other purchases, you’re getting a very poor earning rate.

What are the best frequent flyer programs in Canada?

The best frequent flyer programs in Canada are a bit subjective as it comes down to who you fly the most with. That said, there are three main frequent flyer programs to be aware of. Remember that enrollment into these programs is automatic if you apply for a co-branded credit card. Alternatively, when signing up, you can input your membership number if you’re already enrolled.

I personally think Aeroplan is the best frequent flyer program in Canada since it’s the easiest one to earn and redeem your points. As you’ve quickly learned above, multiple credit cards allow you to earn Aeroplan points. In addition, many of the co-branded credit cards come with perks such as insurance coverage, no baggage fees, and an annual fee rebate.

When redeeming your points, Aeroplan allows you to use your points on any available seat on Air Canada flights. That said, they use dynamic pricing, so the number of points required for a flight can change quite a bit. On a positive note, Aeroplan also has partners where the cost of a free flight is a fixed price. Read my  Aeroplan Rewards  guide for a comprehensive breakdown.

Westjet Rewards

As you’ve likely guessed,  WestJet Rewards  is the loyalty program for WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline. Unlike Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards uses a cash back rewards system instead of points. You’ll literally earn WestJet dollars as the loyalty program.

While I like the simplicity of WestJet Rewards, it has its limitations. The earn rate and sign-up bonuses with co-branded credit cards aren’t that attractive. In addition, you can only use your WestJet dollars on the base fare. As in, you can’t use your hard-earned WestJet dollars on additional charges, seat selection, or even baggage fees.

Air Miles  is one of Canada’s most popular loyalty programs, but it doesn’t have as much punch as the other programs. Even though Air Miles now has more redemption options, it can be challenging to get good value out of the program compared to Aeroplan. That said, Air Miles does have a few sweet spots, and BMO recently acquired them, so I expect some positive changes.

The other major issue with Air Miles is that it can be hard to earn bonus miles. You could get a co-branded Air Miles credit card, but the spending requirement to earn points is a bit high. That said, they do have bonus offers that target members. You can also use your Cash Miles for gift cards.

How to redeem travel credit card rewards

Now that you know how to calculate the value of your points, you can start looking at the different ways to redeem your rewards. Every loyalty program will have different redemption options, but not all will be equal. Generally speaking, the type of rewards you earn with your travel credit card will yield you the most value. For example, airline redemptions would be best for an airline credit card.

While value is important, you need to know how to make your redemptions to maximize your value.

Through the loyalty program

If you’re collecting points from a branded loyalty program, you’ll have to book through their website. For example, Marriott Bonvoy points can only be redeemed via the Marriott website. This makes perfect sense since the loyalty program wants to keep everything central.

Travel portal

Bank travel rewards programs often have a travel portal that you must use to redeem your points. Some travel portals are partnered with a major brand, such as Expedia for TD, while others have their own search engine. What’s annoying about travel portals is that there’s no guarantee you’ll find the lowest price there. In addition, some loyalty programs require you to book directly for your status to be recognized. If you book through a travel portal, you might not be entitled to your hard-earned benefits.

Book on your own

Instead of having a travel portal, some bank rewards programs allow you to use your points on any travel purchase charged to your credit card. Once the purchase has been posted, you can redeem as many points as possible to offset your costs. This is a great option since it allows you to search for the lowest prices while getting your status recognized. After the purchase posts, you can usually go into your online cards to use your points for a statement credit.

Transfer partners

American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Rewards, and HSBC Rewards have travel loyalty program   partners that allow for point transfers . This can be beneficial if you’re looking to maximize your points. For example, with American Express Membership Rewards, you can claim 1,000 points for $10 in travel. That’s a value of 1CPP. However, you can also transfer your points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Since I value Aeroplan points at 2 cents each, I’d be doubling the value of my points by making the transfer.

Benefits that may come with travel cards

Now that you know how points work with the best travel credit cards in Canada, you need to understand the additional benefits you get. You won’t get the following benefits with every card. In addition, many of these perks only come with premium credit cards with a high annual household income requirement. Focus on a few perks that matter most to you and then see which cards offer them.

• Travel insurance –  I’ll go into further details about travel insurance below, but travel insurance would cover things such as medical, trip cancellation, delayed luggage, car rental insurance, etc.
• Free checked bags –  Premium airline credit cards typically give the primary cardholder and up to 8 passengers on the same itinerary their first checked bag free. You can save a lot since checked bags typically cost $30 – $60 each way.
• Airport lounge access –  Many travel cards now come with airport lounge access. Some will give you a set number of visits a year, while others provide unlimited access. The type of lounge you get access to will depend on your credit card.
• Priority airport services –  Priority boarding, check-in, and security may be included with some credit cards. This can be handy since it means less time spent in lines. These benefits are usually only available at specific airports.
• Travel credits –  A few credit cards provide yearly travel credits. These credits can be used to book new travel or on travel services such as seat selection and checked baggage.
• Nexus rebate –  Nexus  is a program between Canada and the U.S. that allows travellers to cross the border quickly. While getting an interview will take time, once you’ve been approved, you’ll spend less time at security and customs.
• No foreign transaction fees –  Most credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% when you make a purchase not in Canadian dollars. To avoid this fee, get a  credit card without foreign transaction fees .
• Extended warranty –  Although this is almost a standard benefit, extended warranty will double the manufacturer’s warranty for up to one additional year.
• Purchase protection –  This is another standard benefit of travel credit cards. With purchase protection, your purchases are covered from loss, theft, and damage for 90 days.

Travel credit card earn rates

The earn rate on travel credit cards refers to how many points or miles you’ll earn on all your purchases. Generally speaking, most cards offer an enhanced earning rate on a few categories, such as groceries and gas stations. All other purchases would earn you a base earn rate. That said, some travel credit cards also have a flat earn rate where the points or miles you earn would be the same regardless of where you make your purchases.

What’s interesting is that earning rates can vary quite a bit. For example, more than ten Aeroplan credit cards are available, but they all have different earning rates. If you want an Aeroplan credit card, you should look for one that offers an accelerated earning rate on the categories where you already spend the most.

Co-branded credit cards will always give you a higher earn rate with the brand. For example, a Marriott Bonvoy credit card will give you an enhanced earning rate at Marriott properties.

How to calculate the value of travel credit card points

While earning points is important, redeeming them is equally essential. General travel rewards programs typically have a fixed value for their points. For example, 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards points = $10 in travel. That works out to a value of 1 cent per point.

Figuring out the value of airline and hotel loyalty program redemptions is more complicated since the value can change quite a bit. That said, you can use a standard formula to calculate the value per point.

(Cash value of redemption – taxes & fees) x 100 / number of points required = Cost per point

For example, let’s say you’ve found a roundtrip flight from Toronto to Los Angeles for 29,000 Aeroplan points, plus $81 in taxes, or $650 cash. You would use the following formula to calculate your cost per point.

($695 – $81) X 100 / 29,000 = 2.12CPP

You should always calculate the value of your redemptions to quickly determine how much value you’re getting. I value Aeroplan points at 2 CPP, so the above redemption is a good value.

How to choose a travel rewards credit card

With so many travel credit cards to choose from, there are a lot of factors to consider before you click apply. It’s not as simple as just picking the card that gives you the most points or credit card rewards. You need to think about your goals, how you will use the card and what benefits you want. Here are some things to consider.

If you want to redeem a business class flight via Aeroplan or stay for free at a luxury Marriott property, you should apply for cards that earn you Aeroplan points or Marriott Bonvoy points. Remember, American Express credit cards allow you to transfer points to both programs.

Do your travel plans include your partner? If so, you should both be accumulating miles and points together. You can earn additional points using the American Express  Refer A Friend program . Use my links above to get started, then start referring your friends.

Welcome bonus

The quickest way to earn travel rewards points is through the welcome or sign-up bonus.   Be sure to read the conditions of the sign up bonus. Some cards require only one purchase, while others may require you to spend $3,000 – $5,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. Try to time your credit card applications around when you have a major purchase coming up.

Annual fees can add up, so cards offering the first year free (either waived or by reimbursement) are worthwhile. If the card does have an annual fee, look at the sign up bonus and included benefits. Many travel cards, especially the top-tier options, have high annual fees, but quite often, what you get every year is worth more than the annual fee.

Take a look at how many points you’ll earn for specific categories. Some of the best travel credit cards in Canada will give you more points when you spend on travel, groceries, gas, etc. This is known as an enhanced   earn rate or reward rate. All other purchases would fall under the base earn rate.

Flexibility of rewards

The ability to use your points for different travel redemptions is incredibly valuable. The ability to transfer your points or to use them on a fixed travel program can sometimes double the value of your points. If you’re going to use a co-branded credit card with a specific program, make sure it still gives you some flexibility. For example, don’t collect miles if finding a flight that benefits you is difficult. Research blackout dates, seat availability and taxes.

Additional benefits

The actual benefits you get with your travel rewards card are also important. If you travel frequently, free checked bags, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees can go a long way. Premium travel cards can even give you enhanced benefits that may be worth more than your card’s annual fee.

How to apply for ones of best travel credit cards in Canada?

Applying for travel credit cards in Canada follows the same process as applying for other credit cards. You can apply in person at the branch of the credit card issuer if that is an option, but most people choose to apply for their new card online from the comfort of their home. It’s fast and easy. 

• Compare the credit cards above and decide which option is best for you. Make sure that you qualify before you apply to avoid disappointment. Many of Canada’s best travel credit cards have minimum income and  credit score requirements  that are often higher than other credit cards. 
• Collect all the information you need to apply for your new credit card. This includes personal information such as name, address, and contact information. You will also require information about your income and employment status. You may also need your social insurance number, so have it handy.
• Once you have decided, click the “apply now” button for one of the cards above. Alternatively, you can do so from the bank’s website or in a branch.
• Fill out the online application as directed. You will be presented with further information on the credit card, including interest rates and small print details. Take the time to read this through and understand the ins and outs of your credit card. If you are happy, continue on until you have finished the form and click apply or submit to the representative at the bank.
• Wait for approval and your new card. Many online applications are instant, but even then the card may take a week or two to get to you, at which time you can activate it. 

Are travel credit cards worth it?

If you are a frequent traveller or looking for rewards you can put towards a vacation, then absolutely yes. Travel credit cards have some of the best perks and benefits on the market from lounge access to car rental discounts and insurance. Plus, the rewards programs can be incredibly lucrative if you book wisely. After all, who doesn’t want the possibility of earning a free flight?

That being said, if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy travelling or travels very rarely then a travel credit card might not be the best option. You might get more value from a cash back card. 

What is the best travel rewards credit card in Canada?

Canada has many options for travel cards, and what is best will be determined by how you want to use the card. If you are looking to maximize hotel stays and frequently stay in Marriott brand hotels, then the Marriott Bonvoy American Express might be the best pick. If you are a frequent flyer and typically book through either Air Canada or WestJet, look at the airline co-branded credit cards. Not picky about brands? The American Express Platinum card is incredibly flexible and packed with benefits and perks. If you want a card with no foreign transaction fees, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite might be your card. 

Consider your wants and spending habits when choosing your travel rewards card to ensure you pick the best option that will be the most lucrative for you.

Do travel rewards points expire?

Most travel loyalty points will expire after 12 – 18 months of inactivity. However, any activity resets that clock. Let’s say you have a travel rewards credit card and earn points every month, then your points never expire.

Now, let’s say you’ve cancelled your card and are no longer actively earning any points. Redemptions also count as activity, so that can reset your clock too. Keep in mind that many things qualify as points activity, such as donating some points or earning points through a contest. These are easy ways to extend the life of your loyalty points.

The key thing to understand is that there’s typically not much flexibility if you let your points expire. The loyalty programs will rarely reinstate any lost points. Make sure you check your email regularly, as they will inform you if your points are about to expire.

What credit score do I need to get a travel rewards credit card?

Travel credit cards tend to be some of the most lucrative on the market in terms of rewards program as well as added perks and benefits. This means that generally speaking, you will need to have a good credit score. You’ll want a credit score of at least 700 for mid-tier cards. For one of the high-end cards you’ll be aiming for a credit score of at least 740. Note that these are just suggestions.

Keep in mind that on top of the higher credit score requirements, travel credit cards tend to come with higher annual fees. This is especially true for the top-tier cards like the American Express Platinum Card or American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.

How does credit card travel insurance work?

With travel medical insurance, your insurance coverage applies regardless if you charge your travel expenses to your credit card or not. Travel medical is essential whenever you leave the country as it’ll cover you for trips to the doctor or hospital. It also usually covers travel emergency events such as ambulance rides or helicopter evacuations.

Basically, you should never travel without travel medical insurance. To be clear, you need travel medical insurance even if you’re travelling outside of your province of residence or taking a short road trip across the border. That’s because your provincial healthcare may not cover you.

Besides travel medical insurance, many travel rewards cards offer an expanded suite of insurance. That said, you’ll need to charge a percentage or all of your relevant travel expenses to your credit card for your insurance policy to apply. Be sure to read your certificate insurance to find out exactly what the eligibility requirements are.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

With trip cancellation/interruption, you can be refunded up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for qualifying reasons. A qualifying reason would be a family death, job loss, or natural disaster. You can’t just claim the insurance because you no longer want to travel. Trip cancellation insurance usually has a cap per person, and for the entire trip. For example, $1,500 per person, up to $6,000. For most people, that won’t cover all their expenses, so you could be out of pocket some cash even with a successful claim.

Flight delay insurance

When your flight is delayed (usually 4 or 6 hours), your flight delay insurance will allow you to claim reasonable expenses. Eligible expenses could include meals, entertainment, spa treatments, or even a hotel room. This is the policy you want to avoid sleeping on hotel floors.

Lost/delayed baggage insurance

Lost/delayed baggage insurance allows you to purchase qualifying items if your bags are delayed or lost (usually 4 or 6 hours). What items you would be able to claim depends on your situation. For example, if you had a business meeting the next morning and then a casual event, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to be able to claim the cost of a suit and casual clothes. Now, if you were to buy 10 pairs of shoes, you’d probably be denied.

Rental car collision/loss damage insurance

As the name implies, rental car collision/loss damage insurance covers you from collision or loss damage when renting a car. To qualify for this insurance, you must turn down any insurance your car rental agency offers. Note that this insurance does not cover third-party liability insurance. That’s where someone sues you for personal injury. That said, if you have auto insurance at home, you’ll likely get liability insurance included when renting a car.

Hotel/motel burglary insurance

If your accommodations are broken into while you’re travelling, and your personal items are stolen or damaged, your hotel/motel burglary insurance will cover the costs to replace your things up to a certain amount.

Travel accident insurance

Travel accident insurance pays you a lump sum if you lose a body part or your life. How much you’ll get paid depends on what you’re losing. A finger will get you some money while losing a leg will get you more. You obviously never want to cash in on this insurance policy.

Are there other travel credit cards worth considering?

The best travel cards I’ve listed above are for each specific category. That said, there are still other credit cards worth considering, such as the following:

• TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Admittedly, a few of these cards would be ideal for many travellers. Each one comes with different perks and benefits, so you would need to read each review individually and then compare it to my best travel credit cards in Canada list to see what’s best for you.

How do travel credit cards affect your credit score?

Every time you apply for a best credit card, your  credit score  will take a hit of 5 to 10 points. This is normal as the credit card provider will check your credit score hard to see if you’re creditworthy. After a few months, it’ll return to normal.

Getting additional credit can sometimes benefit you since it increases your credit utilization ratio. Your ratio is the amount of credit you use relative to how much you have access to. That means someone who normally carries a balance of $1,000 but has access to $10,000 in credit has a credit utilization ratio of 10%.

Finally, paying your bills on time will help your credit score. Always pay your bills on time and in full. You can  check your credit score for free with ClearScore .

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

92 Comments

I vouch for the Scotiabank Infinite Visa card. I use it for everything!

And it’s great to know about that No Foreign Exchange fee credit card! I couldn’t find one back when I was looking for one. I’m surprised Amazon offers a credit card…

4% back on certain categories can make the fee tolerable, it’s definitely one of the best card.

Thanks for the wealth of info. Does AMEX run promos where they waive the annual fee? I am asking specifically for the Cobalt.

Amex has never offered a rebate on the Cobalt monthly fee.

If you live in Alberta for instance Westjet is a prominent carrier. And with a special bonus on now of $350 westjet dollars after first spend its hard to beat. And a companion ticket once a year, free luggage checkin which quickly covers your annual fee. No blackouts, a buck is a buck, the simplicity is my highlight.

As a thought, the Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCard just took away all their annoying tiers for rewards redemption, just received an e-mail on it today. I was considering other credit cards, and still will for the future, but it makes my large rewards balance on the card much more usable for 2016 when I hope to have a nice 25th Anniversary vacation away. What used to be a great card is still a decent card, and now with the tiers gone it goes back to being a good card. Time will tell if it become a top level card again.

Pastorash1,

Good eye! The Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCard will soon be offering a 40K bonus miles when you signup instantly making it arguably the best travel card available. I’ve updated my list to include it.

I’m a big fan of the capital one aspire travel card and how they eliminated the tiers for the rewards. I actually just redeemed some earlier this morning. It was very easy to do. I’m glad I got it when they still had an annual fee of $120 (with 10,000 bonus rewards annually, essentially making the annual fee $20)

Our Big Fat Wallet,

I missed out since I was too cheap to pay the yearly fee. I should have done the math, at $20 a year, that’s totally worth it.

Typo – “when you spend $1,00 in the first 90 days”, should say “$1000” 🙂 and I’d wait for the BMO World Elite First Year Free + 30K offer when it comes back

Thanks for the catch. FYF + 30K signup offer is pretty good. The flexibility of the BMO card is one of the best.

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if you travel more than one time a year then the best is Scotia AMEX Gold. For $99, it gives the best coverage for all travel (inc cancellation insurance), good cash back and much more. Just the travel insurance coverage for you and your partner will cost more than $99 per year.

Yes, the Scotia AMEX GOld is indeed an excellent card.

[…] $1,000,000 in emergency medical insurance for 15 days if you’re under the age of 65, many of the best travel credit cards in Canada come with better insurance […]

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[…] The earn rate of 1 Scotia Rewards point per $1 spent on all purchases is not terrible, but it’s also not great when you compare it to some of the best travel credit cards in Canada. […]

[…] cuts out the abuse. Even with this change, the American Express Platinum card is still one of the best travel credit cards in Canada and one of the best American Express cards in Canada. Check out my review now for my full thoughts […]

[…] and enhanced travel insurance. The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card was already on my list of the best travel credit cards in Canada, so these extra benefits are […]

Hi Barry…I have both the HSBC world elite and the President’s Choice world elite MasterCard’s. Do you know if both the travel insurances are in effect or just one policy when I travel?

Both would be in effect but you can only make claims through one of your insurance providers.

The HSBC card has much better insurance overall but note that besides travel medical, all other travel insurance only applies if you purchased your flights and hotels with your HSBC card.

I am curious about the Van City Visa Card where I get a dollar value returned to me when requested. Do you have any comments about it?

I’m not as familiar with Vancity. From what I understand, they’re a credit union out in BC. I believe the card you’re talking about is a cash back card which you should compare to the following list before you decide to sign up.

https://www.moneywehave.com/best-cash-back-credit-cards-in-canada/

[…] people know that using one of the best travel credit cards in Canada can save you big, but let me show you how. Let’s say you’re a family of four: two […]

What are your noughts on he Avion Visa Infinite for travel rewards.? Does it rank anywhere in the top

Avion is a decent program, but the card is nothing special and WestJet is their only transfer partner. That being said, every so often there’s a special promotion where you can get 25K bonus points when you sign up and the first year is free which is a good deal.

Not sure why the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite is flagged with a “This card is no longer offered by the provider” message when I click on the link for it above. I still have one and the CIBC website still advertises the card at the front of their list of credit cards. I was going to share my experience with this card, in particular the CIBC Rewards program where you would redeem the Aventura points you earn with the card. Not sure where/if I should leave my comments now.

Good catch. Not sure why RateHub is showing that as the card is still clearly being offered. I’m going to change the link now. Feel free to share your experience with the card om this page or on my review of the card https://www.moneywehave.com/cibc-aventura-visa-infinite-review/

Hey Barry, my main card is the Scotia Infinite Momentum. With my spending partners this card earns me approx $900/yr. If I were to add one travel card to the mix just to get the sign-up bonus, which would you suggest and why? I typically travel once or twice a year. Are you able to cancel a card prior to uaing the points you’ve earned. Thank you

Since your main goal is the sign up bonus, you should just pick a card that works for you. American Express cards have the most flexibility since you can transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott and then cancel your account without losing any points. I also like the Scotiabank PAssport Visa Infinite card since you get 6 lounge passes, a $300 sign up bonus, and no forex fees. However, if you cancel your card before using your points, you lose them. You could transfer those points to SCENE or as a statement credit, but the value is lower compared to using them for travel.

Is there any way to get the fees reduced on the Amex Platinum? $700 is a lot of money just to buy yourself some perks

Unfortunately not. You do get an annual travel credit of $200 so it brings the fee down to $499

Interesting reading. I guess you don’t think much of RBC’s AVION cards, seeing as you have no mention of them. What is it about them that caused them not to make your list?

The card has a few decent promos now and then, but right now it doesn’t which is why it’s not on the list.

What are your thoughts on the following? Good information on here!

RBC® Avion® Visa Infinite Privilege‡ or RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking

It’s okay, but I sort of prefer the Amex Personal Platinum card more. The Amex card has a higher annual fee of $699 but you also get an annual travel credit of $200 and additional travel benefits such as hotel status upgrades. Amex points also allow you to book any type of travel and you can also transfer your points.

Thanks! Do you have any feedback on the VIP security fast track lane at select Canadian Airports?

It just puts you in the priority line at select airports which is definitely a nice feature. The AMex Platinum card has that benefit but only at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

looked at a sample of return flights from Vancouver and or Bellingham to Phoenix as an example on WestJet, Allegiant and Alaska….WestJet is the most expensive at about $465 (6 hours travel time from Van) followed by Alaska at $260 USD (4 hour travel time from Bellingham) then Allegiant $140 USD (2 hour travel time from Bellingham). Reward points and fees are only part of what should be considered.

[…] BMO World Elite Mastercard has long been known as one of the best travel credit cards in Canada due to its generous signup bonus of 35,000 BMO Rewards points. That may seem high, but 35,000 BMO […]

What are your thoughts on the Scotiabank Gold Amex card?

The Scotiabank Gold AMex is a fantastic card, it just doesn’t have a generous signup bonus compared to the ones on my list here. It also lacks lounge access compared to the Scotiabank Passport credit card but it does have higher multipliers for some categories.

Any idea if you get the bonus sign up on the Amex platinum card if you had one in the past and then downgraded to the gold amex.

Technically speaking, all Amex bonuses are once per lifetime. That being said, if you had the Platinum years ago, you’d likely get the signup bonus again. Of course, Amex is perfectly within their rights to deny you the bonus. Calling in advance to see if you would get the bonus would only ensure you don’t since you’d essentially be flagging yourself.

What about the TD Travel First Class Card?

That card currently has a great sign up bonus as a good rate of return when booking on Expedia for TD. It’s got no lounge access though.

Hi Barry, Just from perks perspective, Amex Platinum has everything that I want the most: 1. Trip cancellation (which usually comes with trip interruption, but not the other way around) 2. Rewards that can be converted into different program, aeroplan/avios in this case 3. Hotel status benefit

But, I still can’t justified paying the annual fee, plus, in order to maximized points, I want my wife to use the same card and it will cost me another $175, which bring the total annual fee of $874. Granted, there is cheaper additional card alternative with Gold card, but, I still have to pay $50 for that, which bring total annual fee of $749. Granted, there is $200 travel credit, but, that still make me paying $674 for platinum additional card or $549 for gold card. Not to mention the fact that the $200 travel credit only useful if we travel. What if I don’t travel every year?

Any recommendation of what credit card should I be getting which provide perks as close as Amex Platinum?

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, Amex Platinum is the only card providing hotel status benefit, correct?

One thing that I want to the most but missing from Amex Platinum, no foreign transaction fee.

That said, assuming that Amex Platinum is the only card with hotel status benefit and I’m willing to not have this benefit, any card you can recommend which provide: 1. Trip cancellation 2. Rewards that can be converted into different programs 3. No foreign transaction fee

The Amex Platinum card has a high annual fee because it comes with all those perks, it’s really aimed at people who love to travel. Unfortunately, there’s no card that comes anywhere close to the Platinum card. RBC has WestJet and Avios as transfer partners but no lounge access. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card gives you 6 lounge passes trip cancellation, has no forex fees but it has no transfer partners. The Scotiabank card is probably the closest to what you want.

Hi Barry, What if my requirements for credit card just the following 2 benefits: 1. Trip Cancellation 2. Rewards that can be converted into different programs

I would think, this is the core benefits that I really needed. What’s the best card?

I would recommend taking a look at the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard and the RBC Visa Infinite Avion card

https://www.moneywehave.com/hsbc-premier-world-elite-mastercard-review/

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“To get your RSVP code, all you need to do is launch the app, you don’t actually have to be a member.”

Thanks for all the insight. This is very helpful. I currently just upgraded to the TD Travel Visa but it’s looking like it may not be the best option. More importantly, I’m looking for an affordable way to withdraw cash in countries throughout both Europe and SE Asia. It looks like STACK might be the best option for that? Can you (or anyone on this board) offer any additional insights on that one? Any additional info would be great!

STACK is my go to card for getting cash since it has no forex fees. I wrote a review which you can check out – https://www.moneywehave.com/stack-mastercard-review/

[…] you can lower your costs by taking advantage of the huge signup bonuses that some of the best travel credit cards in Canada offer. The welcome points you get could easily be worth $250 – $1,000 so it’s worth […]

Hi Barry, What would you suggest as the best option for my daughter to take with her to Hawaii next month? From what I have read Stacks looks like it might fit best for her? Also, mu husband and I are taking our first trip to the US in Feb. Since we already bought cancellation insurance would it be pointless to apply for the Scotia Passport Infinite? We havent done any travelling and not sure if we will be doing any anytime soon after this trip. I would appreciate any advice I can get:) Thank you

STACK is great due to low fees using it as a credit card and withdrawing funds from ATM as long as you’ve loaded funds in advance. The card had delivery issues in the past, so I would check with them to ensure you would get the card before then.

From an insurance standpoint, the Scotiabank card would indeed be useless, but you do get 6 lounge passes and a nice sign up bonus which is worth more than the $139 fee so that’s wort considering. Scotiabank delivers their cards quite fast so you wouldn’t have any issues getting it before your daughter departs.

Thanks Barry for responding so quickly:)

I looked into getting the meridian cash back card with $99 annual fee. The application alarmed me tho as they are asking for every single bit of security information I possess. If their system was breached I would be SOL Any comments. Do all credit unions ask for this much security info?

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[…] system so I had to base things on a few different categories. Although some banks have some of the best travel credit cards in Canada, redeeming those points might be difficult which would lower their ranking. In my write up of each […]

I have had the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard for the past few years, but they have just cut rewards from 2% on all purchases down to 1.5%. So, now I am looking for a better replacement. It seems the HSBC World Elite Mastercard may be a slightly better option.

The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is indeed a great card, but I believe there’s a minimum points requirement if you’re going to redeem for travel.

When I click on your referral link for Amex gold, I get

Sorry, there was an error in accessing the application. Please try again using the link provided in your original offer.

Is link working or I have to do something?

Same with Cobalt

I’m looking at this now and it seems lie Amex has removed all of their referral links for users. It’s not showing up in my account or app anymore.

I found the updated links online. Gold and Cobalt links should be working now. I still need to fix the Platinum links. Thanks for flagging!

if you would choose between Amex Gold and Cobalt, which one would you choose ?

If you spend a lot on food, the Cobalt has a better earn rate but note that your points can’t be transferred to Aeroplan.

The Gold Rewards Card is a quick way to earn up to 30,000 points with minimal spending and you can transfer your points to Aeroplan.

You forgot Revolut. Which is now available in Canada. It is amazing for travel. No fees.

Thanks again for all this great info. I used it to do a spreadsheet comparison between my HSBC Travel Elite MC and the Scotiabank Gold Amex/Amex Cobalt. Really interesting. Based on my actual spending for 2021 and factoring in that not all the retailers I use take Amex, the higher earn rate on food and dining added enough points to cover the cost of the Amex card but that was about it. It finally dawned on me that these point levels are really designed to pay off if you are buying for two or more, in other words, these rates aren’t that effective for single users unless you’re a really big spender. Has this ever been a factor in your analysis? Just wondering:-) Stay safe and have a peaceful holiday season.

You also have a great analysis. Here are my two cents. I personally think the best credit card / points are the ones that naturally line up with your spending. So yeah, if most of the merchants where you shop accept Amex, then Amex is the way to go. I also personally value one Amex point at 2 cents each since I can transfer them to Aeroplan. That’s double the value of Scotiabank and even HSBC. SO even though Amex may not be accepted in as many places, the points are still worth more even if I’m earning less. It’s also worth noting that the Amex welcome bonuses are usually more valuable compared to others.

Hi Barry, I get what you’re saying about the Aeroplan points. I like the point value I get on the HSBC card for travel expenses and for everyday expenses it’s not bad either. Think I will aim for Aeroplan points on my second, one year cards. Laura

If you’re happy with the HSBC as your main card, then stick with it. You’re definitely on the right track about using Aeroplan cards as your secondary/one year cards. Get the bonus, and then cancel at the end of the year / repeat.

Thanks Barry for great read with very helpful tips. I have a few questions regarding these travel cards. Say, I book a flight through a travel agent instead of me directly on the airline’s website, will I still get all these benefits of WestJet dollars, sign-up bonus, and rewards like the annual companion voucher, etc with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard which I have? The reason I want to book with the travel agent is that there is no direct flight between Canada and the destination country I want to fly to. The agent can book all the connecting flights on one single ticket which is a big plus. So, if I pay with my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, but book the flights with the travel agent, will I get all these rewards, etc? Or I have to book the flights myself on their airline’s website to get all these rewards, etc??

I guess it’s the same rule if I book my flights with Air Canada and use my Aeroplan points program that I have with Air Canada, ie. will I get all these rewards, etc with Air Canada if I book the flights with the travel agent, instead of me booking the flights directly on Air Canada’s website???

Thank you Barry and thanks a lot for your valuable advice.

Yes, if you’re booking through a travel agent, the benefits that come with your WestJet Mastercard apply. That said, if you book directly with WestJet, you would get a slightly higher earn rate (2% vs. 1.5%). The rewards are you get are based on your spending, so it doesn’t really matter how you pay for it.

As for the other benefits like free checked bags, it would apply to WestJet flights and potentially their partners.

Just be sure to provide the travel agent with your WestJet Rewards #.

Hi Barry, As always, thanks for putting this information together. HSBC will soon be defunct so I’m looking for a new primary card. Since I tend to travel via tours, I’m looking for a card with a higher earn rate for actual travel expenses, one of the HSBC features I liked. Can’t seem to find that feature in other cards but perhaps I’m missing something. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

It sort of depends on what you’re looking for. A good daily card is the Amex Cobalt Card since it earns you 5X the points on eats and drinks, 3 X on streaming services, 2 X on travel and transit, and 1X on everything else. Amex Membership Rewards are highly flexible and can be redeemed for any type of travel. That said, the card does charge FX fees on foreign transactions.

https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-cobalt-review/ https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-membership-rewards/

If no FX is important, consider the EQ Bank Card. You need an EQ Bank account, but it’s a prepaid card that uses the Mastercard network. There are no FX fees for purchases or ATM withdrawals.

Thanks for the pointers.

Sorry, one more question. RBC is offering to waive the foreign transaction fee on the Visa Avion Infinite as part of the transition from HSBC. Have you heard any rumours about how long they will do this? I’m assuming they’ll revert at some point. Thanks.

Based on the terms and conditions, it’s a permanent benefit. However, the $100 travel credit is only good for one year.

Thanks I wasn’t sure about that.

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Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards in Canada for 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.

Have you ever looked at your credit card bills after returning home from a trip abroad and been shocked at how much each purchase actually cost you? Or ordered something online from an American retailer that turned out to be more expensive than you expected? It’s not that the exchange rate is worse than you thought — your credit card issuer likely added a foreign transaction fee, or FX fee, to the purchase.

‘No foreign transaction fee’ credit cards, sometimes referred to as international credit cards , don’t charge you extra when you shop abroad. If you travel often or make frequent foreign transactions online, one of these credit cards could help you save some cash.

Here are the best ‘no foreign transaction fee’ credit cards, according to NerdWallet’s analysis. 

Best ‘no foreign transaction fee’ credit cards in Canada

• Methodology

Summary of the best ‘no FX fee’ credit cards

What to know about credits card with no foreign transaction fee.

Best for: Rewards points

Scotiabank gold american express® card.

• Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends July 1, 2024.
• You will not pay 2.5% foreign transaction fees on any foreign currency purchases, including online shopping and when travelling abroad. Only the exchange rate applies.
• Earn 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
• Earn 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies.
• Earn 3X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more.
• Earn 1X Scene+ point for every $1 spent on every other purchase.
• You’ll earn 6X Scene+ points for each $1 CAD charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Discounted Priority Pass™ membership, which grants you access to over 1200 VIP lounges around the world.
• Score deals on shopping, dining, travel and more with Amex Offers®, and experience special events and discounts with American Express Invites®.
• Access to Amex Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets.
• To be eligible, $12,000 (individual) annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
• Terms and Conditions Apply. Click ‘Apply Now’ for complete details.

Best for: Premium perks and low interest rate

Scotiabank platinum american express® card.

• Earn up to $2,100* in value in your first 14 months, including up to 60,000* bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
• Earn 2X Scene+™ points for every $1 CAD you spend on all your eligible purchases.
• Scene+ points can be redeemed for travel purchase, merchandise and other non-travel rewards such as gift cards and prepaid cards.
• You must redeem a minimum of 5,000 points per travel-related rewards redemption, equivalent to $50 in travel savings. Points must be redeemed within 12 months of the purchase date.
• $399 annual fee.
• Redeem points for any flight, any time through Scene+ Travel, a full-service travel agency. Plus, take advantage of a best price guarantee on airfare.
• Get a Hertz #1 Club Gold membership for special privileges and rental car benefits at over 8,500 locations in 147 countries.
• Enjoy culinary events and experiences, entertainment, luxury fashion, tours, and more through American Express benefits, including American Express Invites, Platinum VIP offers and access to 24/7 premium concierge services for restaurant reservations, show tickets, and gift purchases.
• Lounge access at over 600 VIP airport lounges around the world with a complimentary Priority Pass membership, which includes 10 free visits per year.
• 12 types of insurance provided, including 31-day travel medical benefits — up to $2 million in coverage — for you, your spouse and any dependent children under the age of 65. 10-day coverage available for those over the age of 65.
• Preferred rates: 9.99% for purchases, 9.99% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Best for: Businesses

Scotiabank passport™ visa infinite business* card.

• $199 annual fee.
• Earn 1.5X the Scene+™* points for every $1 spent on purchases for your business.
• Enjoy no Foreign Transaction Fees whether you make purchases online or outside of Canada.
• Get access to airport lounges with your complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership when you fly for your business.
• Use your points for travel, merchandise, gift cards for your business and more.
• $10,000 credit limit minimum, up to $150,000 unsecured.
• Most items purchased with your Card are insured against theft, loss or damage for 90 days from the purchase date and the manufacturer’s warranty is doubled for up to one year.
• Turn business purchases into business savings with Visa SavingsEdge.
• Visa Infinite Benefits with your Card which include Visa Infinite Concierge and the Luxury Hotel Collection.
• Travel Emergency Medical Insurance – Breathe easy with comprehensive coverage Coverage is provided for eligible persons under age 65 for up to 25 consecutive days and for eligible persons age 65 and older for up to 10 consecutive days.

Best for: Airport lounge access

Scotiabank passport™ visa infinite* card.

• Earn up to $1,100+ in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card. Offer Ends January 3, 2024.
• The only major bank credit card offering you no foreign transaction fees, including for shopping online or abroad.
• Your Award Winning Card For Travel.
• Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more).
• Earn 1 Scene+ point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.
• You’ll earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés TradItIon, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Airport lounge access through complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership, plus six complimentary lounge visits per year from the date of enrollment, providing you with access to 1,200+ airport lounges globally, including participating Plaza Premium Lounges.
• Visa Infinite* benefits including Visa Infinite Concierge, Visa Infinite* Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Infinite* Dining Series, and Entertainment & Lifestyle Offers.
• Access to Scotia SelectPay™.
• To be eligible, $60,000 (individual) or $100,000 (household) annual income is required, or a minimum assets under management of $250,000. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Best for: Prepaid cards

Wealthsimple card.

• General fees and features: Wealthsimple does not charge any fees to use the Wealthsimple Card.
• Currency conversion fee: Mastercard will determine the applicable exchange rate from the range of rates available in wholesale currency markets for the applicable processing date, which may vary from the rate Mastercard itself receives.
• ATM withdrawals: Wealthsimple does not charge any fees for withdrawing cash, but you may see a standard ATM withdrawal fee (usually about $3.00) when you make a withdrawal at an ATM. ATM Withdrawal limits are $500 per transaction and $1,000 per day.
• Reload methods: Add funds to your card by making a deposit via a linked bank account, a wire transfer, your Visa or Mastercard debit card, or an institutional transfer to move an account from another institution.
• Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases. Cash back rewards can go directly into your Spend account, be added to the cash balance of a stock trading or crypto trading account, or be used to auto-purchase the cryptocurrency of your choice in your crypto trading account. Use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted — in-store, in apps, or online. Pay bills, use direct deposit, and e-Transfer.
• The Wealthsimple Card is available as part of the everyday spending account, which comes with both a digital and physical card that you can manage right from the Wealthsimple app.
• Use the app to manage your rewards and spending preferences, or lock your card if something happens to it. Your balances are all updated in real-time, too — even if you’re using the physical card
• Add your Wealthsimple Card to Apple, Samsung or Google Pay digital wallet.
• Use the Wealthsimple Cash app to send and receive payments to anyone else who uses the Cash app without paying fees. You can also send money to people who don’t have the Cash app yet. They will receive a prompt to download the app and claim the money you sent them.
• Your money is protected for up to $100,000 through CDIC.
• To be eligible, you must be a Canadian resident with a Social Insurance Number of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Methodology: How we evaluate cards

NerdWallet Canada selects the best credit cards based on overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation methodology include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points. Charge cards are not included on this list.

Credit card fees can be confusing to untangle, and foreign transaction fees are no different. Learn how and when they’re applied so the bill from your next international adventure doesn’t include any surprises.  

What is a foreign transaction fee?

When you buy something that’s not in Canadian dollars using your credit card, the issuer typically charges a fee — such as 2.5% of the purchase price. This fee is called a foreign transaction fee.  You may not have noticed it before, since it’s rolled into the total charge that shows up on your statement .

It doesn’t matter if you’re making an online purchase in U.S. dollars from your Canadian living room or paying for dinner out in Istanbul. If the product or service is being sold in a foreign currency, it’s typically subject to fees. Fortunately, there are credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees. However, the card’s network may markup the exchange rate by a small amount.

Visa and Mastercard exchange rate markups

In addition to the transaction fee charged by the issuer, credit card networks typically markup the cost of converting money. For example, the Bank of Canada may list the exchange rate from USD to CAD as 1.35 (for every $1 USD you spend abroad, you’re spending $1.35 CAD). But when you use your credit card, the network (e.g., Visa) may be using a slightly marked up rate of 1.36, meaning for every $1 USD you spend, you’re actually spending $1.36 CAD. So, the conversion is costing you slightly more.     

You can use the below calculators from Visa and Mastercard to estimate your total transaction costs. American Express does not post conversion markups for Canada publicly.

Dynamic currency conversion

It’s worth noting that some merchants allow you to choose between the local currency or your home currency, which is known as dynamic currency conversion, or DCC. If you choose to pay in CAD, you’ll pay the exchange rate set by the merchant at that moment, which can be considerably higher than the standard rate. Therefore, it’s often advisable to pay in the local currency. 

How to calculate foreign transaction fees

While most credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of around 2.5%, some can be higher. You’ll have to check your credit card terms and conditions for the specific fee you’ll be charged. 

To calculate how much you’re paying in FX fees, follow the below steps: 

• Convert the amount you’re spending to Canadian dollars using the most up-to-date exchange rate. (If you want a more accurate calculation, you can use the currency exchange rate issued by your credit card network).  
• Divide that figure by 100. 
• Then multiply it by the transaction fee.

Let’s do the math

Let’s say you’re visiting the United States and you want to pay for a meal that costs $50 USD, and your card’s foreign transaction fee is 2.5%. Assuming your credit card’s network’s current exchange rate for USD to CAD is 1.35, here is how the calculation works out:

• $50.00 USD x 1.35 = $67.50 CAD
• $67.50 / 100 = $0.675
• $0.675 x 2.5 = $1.69

The foreign transaction fee for this purchase would be $1.69. And your total would be $69.19 CAD.

Should I use a U.S. dollar credit card?

If the majority of your purchases are in American dollars, credit cards like the BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard or Roger’s World Elite Mastercard can be handy, as U.S. purchases earn a higher reward rate. However, a foreign transaction fee will still apply. 

You also need to consider how you’ll pay your monthly credit card bills . A U.S. dollar credit card may require you to pay your bill in USD. If you don’t have a steady stream of U.S. income, you’ll need to convert your Canadian dollars to USD before you can pay your bills — which also comes with fees.

Although paying a 2.5% conversion fee may not seem like a lot, it can add up over time. If you travel frequently and plan to make more than a few sporadic purchases in foreign currencies, consider getting a ‘no foreign transaction fee’ credit card to help you keep costs down.

About the Author

Georgia Rose is a lead writer on the international team at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Independent and The Associated…

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AERO Rewards Terms and Conditions.

Last updated: November 2023

Definitions

"You", "your" and "Cardholder" mean the Primary Cardholder to whom a Scotiabank Visa or Mastercard Aero Card is issued.

"We," "our," "us," "Scotiabank" and "the Bank" mean, as applicable, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited.

"Annual" means the calendar year (January – December of any year).

"Business days" means any day (other than Sundays and statutory holidays) on which the supplier is open for business.

"Cap" means the maximum number of ScotiaPoints you can earn in any consecutive twelve-month period based on the total net monthly purchases made by you and any Additional and Supplemental Cardholder when using a Card.

"Card" means a Scotiabank Visa or Mastercard Aero Card we issue in connection with a Scotiabank Card Account and all renewals and replacements of that card which participates in the Scotiabank Aero Rewards Program.

"Card Account" means the Scotiabank Visa or Mastercard Aero Card account opened in your name.

"Card Agreement" means the Scotiabank Credit Card Cardholder Agreement between you and us.

"Local Time" means the local time in the Country where card is issued.

"Net Monthly Purchases" means Qualifying Purchases performed during a month less refunds, merchandise returns, and disputed charges posted to the account during the same period.

"Primary Cardholder" and "Additional Cardholder" mean, respectively, the person who signed or submitted the Card Application as a Primary Cardholder or Additional Cardholder, as the case may be, and whose name is on the Account or to whom a Card on the Card Account has been issued, other than a Supplemental Cardholder.

"Program" means the Scotiabank Aero Rewards Program.

"Qualifying Purchase" means any retail, signature-based or Chip & Pin purchases, internet purchase, phone or mail order purchase, or automatic bill payment made with a Card for personal, household or family purposes. Payments of existing Card balances, balance transfers, cash advances, ATM transactions, convenience and credit card cheques, finance charges, insurance premiums, annual fees or other fees, credits, disputed transactions, fraudulent transactions or penalties, payments made for traveller’s cheques, money orders, wire transfers and similar products and services are not Qualifying Purchases. We reserve the right to determine in our sole discretion whether a particular Card transaction is a Qualifying Purchase.

"ScotiaPoints" and "points" mean the points credited to your ScotiaPoints Account.

"Scotiabank Aero Rewards" means airline or other travel rewards and Travel Expense Credits redeemed as part of the Scotiabank Aero Rewards Program as set out herein.

"ScotiaPoints Account" means the Scotiabank Aero Rewards Account opened in your name for crediting and debiting of ScotiaPoints earned or redeemed in connection with the Program.

A "Supplemental Cardholder" is a person to whom we have issued a Card on your Card Account at your request.

"Travel Expense Credit" means the credit for the amount of your travel purchase(s) made using your Card that is applied to your Card Account as a result of having redeemed sufficient and available points from your ScotiaPoints Account.

By signing, activating, or using your Card, you agree that you have received and read these Program Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by them.

The Program is a promotional incentive program offered by the Bank. Under the Program, you earn points every time you make a Qualifying Purchase with a valid Card. In addition to these Program Terms and Conditions, your Card Agreement with us shall continue to govern your use of your Card and the Program. In the event of a conflict between the Card Agreement and these Program Terms and Conditions, the Card Agreement will govern, except Program Terms and Conditions shall govern in any matter relating to the Program.

Participation Requirements

The Program is automatically available to all Scotiabank Visa or Mastercard Aero Primary Cardholders with Card Accounts in good standing. We reserve the right to determine, in our sole discretion, whether a particular Card or Cardholder is eligible to participate in the Program. Membership in the Program is limited to natural persons and no corporation, trust, partnership or other entity is eligible for membership in the Program.

• In order to redeem your points, your Card Account must remain in good standing during the operation of the Program. In order for your Card Account to be considered to be in good standing, your Card Account must not be (i) delinquent, charged off, in credit revoked status (credit card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the Bank) or otherwise in default of the Card Agreement or (ii) cancelled or closed by you or us.
• ScotiaPoints may only be redeemed during the operation of the Program.
• We may, in our sole discretion, without notice, suspend or terminate your participation in the Program, cancel your ScotiaPoints Account and your ScotiaPoints if you (i) violate any of these Program Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time, (ii) declare personal bankruptcy (iii) misrepresent any information to us or (iv) engage in fraud or abuse relating to the Program.
• You will forfeit all of your unredeemed ScotiaPoints that have accumulated in your ScotiaPoints Account if your Card Account is delinquent for 90 days or more.
• ScotiaPoints or Scotiabank Aero Rewards are personal to you and cannot be assigned, traded, willed or otherwise transferred except with our express written permission and in accordance with the terms of these Program Terms and Conditions and any assignment or transfer in violation of these Program Terms and Conditions will be considered to be null and void and may, in our sole discretion, result in the cancellation of your ScotiaPoints or the applicable Scotiabank Aero Reward(s) or the termination of your membership in the Program.

Earning ScotiaPoints

• Subject to any applicable annual cap amount, you will earn one (1) ScotiaPoint for the equivalent value in local currency of US$1 (or such other dollar amount as we may in our sole discretion determine) in Net Monthly Purchases charged to your Card Account. Net Monthly Purchases will be rounded down to the nearest whole dollar to determine the number of ScotiaPoints to be posted to your ScotiaPoints Account.
• Unless we otherwise authorise in writing no ScotiaPoints will be awarded for any purchases made for non-personal or commercial purposes.
• ScotiaPoints have no cash value and do not constitute your property for any purpose. ScotiaPoints may be used for Scotiabank Aero Rewards only in accordance with these Program Terms and Conditions.
• Every month, your Card statement will set out the ScotiaPoints balance brought forward from your previous statement, the number of ScotiaPoints earned since your previous statement, the number of ScotiaPoints redeemed or adjusted and your new ScotiaPoints balance. ScotiaPoints information is also available by registering and logging on to www.scotiabankaerorewards.com , local online banking or by calling the Scotiabank Call Centre at the number provided to you in the Welcome Kit or indicated on the back of your Card.
• Qualifying Purchases made while the Card is not in good standing will not accrue any ScotiaPoints
• ScotiaPoints will be deducted for any returns, credits or chargebacks made for previously billed Qualifying Purchases and in respect of which ScotiaPoints were previously awarded. Should the number of ScotiaPoints to be deducted in respect of such returns, credits or chargebacks exceed your available ScotiaPoints balances, ScotiaPoints awarded in respect of subsequent Qualifying Purchases will be applied to reduce the negative balance in your ScotiaPoints Account.
• Qualifying Purchases made with authorized Additional and Supplementary cards will earn ScotiaPoints for the ScotiaPoints Account of the Primary Cardholder only. There will be one set of ScotiaPoints for Qualifying Purchases made with all Cards issued on any given Card Account. Authorized Additional (secondary/co-applicant) and Supplementary Cardholders are not participants in the Program and have no rights against us.
• Welcome bonus points may be issued by us to customers who apply for a new Card as a Primary Cardholder at such times and on such conditions as we may, in our sole discretion, determine. Bonus points will not be issued to Additional or Supplementary Cardholders or for Card replacements.
• ScotiaPoints are not transferable from one ScotiaPoints Account to another. However, if you are the Primary Cardholder on more than one Card Account, you may combine the accumulated ScotiaPoints on these Card Accounts at redemption.
• Upon the Bank receiving notice of the death of a Primary Cardholder, the Bank will close the ScotiaPoints Account within 8 months (248 days) of the receipt of the notice. The Cardholder's estate may redeem the outstanding ScotiaPoints within sixty (60) days of closure of the Card Account, after which the unredeemed ScotiaPoints will be forfeited. For joint Card Accounts, where the Primary Cardholder has died and the Card Account is closed, the Additional Cardholder may redeem the ScotiaPoints within sixty (60) days of the closure of the Card Account or request the transfer of ScotiaPoints to a new ScotiaPoints Account in the Additional Cardholder’s name. ScotiaPoints cannot be exchanged for cash where the Card Account is closed by reason of the death of the Primary Cardholder.
• Any obligation to report the accrual or redemption of ScotiaPoints and any liability for taxes arising therefrom is your responsibility.
• All Scotiabank Aero Rewards and travel tickets and other travel documentation will only be delivered to the Cardholder and only to an address in the country in which the Card is issued.
• There is an Annual cap of US$200,000, and no ScotiaPoints will be awarded on any net Qualifying Purchases made beyond the US$200,000 yearly amount. This Annual cap applies to the total ScotiaPoints earned on your account regardless of the number of additional and/or supplementary cardholders on the account.
• AERO Mastercard Black Credit Cards are excluded from this Annual Cap. There is no limit to the yearly number of ScotiaPoints that can be awarded to AERO Mastercard Black credit card cardholders.

Redemption of ScotiaPoints

• ScotiaPoints may be redeemed for Scotiabank Aero Rewards or cash back only, and in accordance with the terms as set out herein. Scotiabank Aero Rewards are not exchangeable or transferable.
• To redeem ScotiaPoints for a travel package, reservations must be made by calling Scotiabank at the number provided to you in the Welcome kit or indicated on the back of the Card, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time). You may not redeem your ScotiaPoints through any other travel agencies or airline companies.
• A minimum of 20,000 ScotiaPoints must be redeemed in connection with each travel package, except when promotional offers are made.
• TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ONLY: You may buy additional ScotiaPoints in order to get the desired travel package. Additional ScotiaPoints may be purchased at a rate of TT$0.20 per ScotiaPoint. You may purchase up to a maximum of 10% of the total ScotiaPoints required for any desired travel package.

ALL CARIBBEAN AERO COUNTRIES OTHER THAN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: You may buy additional ScotiaPoints in order to get the desired travel package. Additional ScotiaPoints may be purchased at a rate of $.03 USD per ScotiaPoint. You may purchase up to a maximum of 20% of the total ScotiaPoints required for any desired travel package.

• For air travel, ScotiaPoints will be converted using the Aero Rewards Program Air Travel Redemption Chart below (which forms part of these Program Terms and Conditions), as amended from time to time. For travel packages (for example: hotel, car rentals, cruises, and other related packages) other than air travel, ScotiaPoints will be converted to dollars at a rate of 100 ScotiaPoints to US$1.50 and the amount so determined is subtracted from the total cost of the travel package.
• Travel arrangements must be booked at least 14 business days in advance of travel. Should you need to make a booking for air travel less than 14 business days in advance of travel, your ScotiaPoints will be redeemed at a rate of 100 ScotiaPoints to US$1.50. For example if the cost of the travel is the equivalent (in your local currency) of US$1,500, you will need 100,000 ScotiaPoints to redeem this Scotiabank Aero Reward.
• Rewards are valid for travel between two cities using the most direct route as we or the airline issuing the ticket or other applicable travel provider may determine. Travel is subject to the conditions of carriage and other specified conditions of the applicable travel provider. One stopover is permitted en route to the final destination as long as your flight connection is on the next immediate flight to the final destination and subject to the conditions of carriage and other specified conditions of the airline issuing the ticket or other applicable travel provider.
• All advertised Scotiabank Aero Rewards are subject to availability by the travel suppliers, hotels or any other applicable supplier. All information related to Scotiabank Aero Rewards can be found on our website at  www.scotiabankaerorewards.com .
• The Cardholder will receive written confirmation of the reservations within two weeks of the date reservations were made and verbally confirmed by the Primary Cardholder. E-mail communications will be considered to be written confirmation for the purposes of this paragraph.
• You are responsible for payment of all taxes, fees, levies, surcharges and service fees including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, income tax, sales and value added tax, departure and transportation taxes and fees, airport improvement fees, excess baggage charges, immigration fees, fuel surcharges, landing fees, security charges, insurance, customs duties and charges, governmental fees and levies and passenger facilities charges, and other non-ticket costs or any other taxes, fees and charges which may be imposed. You may redeem ScotiaPoints to pay taxes and other related costs incurred by the agency during the booking process at a rate of 100 ScotiaPoint to US$1.50.
• You authorize us to charge to your Card any program-related purchases you make when you call Scotiabank.
• Subject to the cancellation policies of the travel supplier, you may cancel any portion or your entire Scotiabank Aero Rewards reservation. In some cases, such as non-refundable tickets, CANCELLATIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED OR MAY BE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION FEES. All such fees will be charged to the Card Account and are non-refundable.
• If the cancellation of a Scotiabank Aero Reward is allowed, the portion of ScotiaPoints refunded by the travel carrier for the Travel Reward will be credited back to your ScotiaPoints Account at a rate of 100 ScotiaPoints per US$1.50 of refund credit.
• We may send electronic communications to you, including electronic mail and/or postings to the Program website. If you provide an e-mail address to us, you authorize us to send any e-tickets and other travel information to this address. All e-mail communications from us to you shall be deemed delivered to you when sent or and other electronic communications shall be deemed delivered to you when posted on our Program website. You release us from any liability or claim as a result of your non-receipt of such documentation sent to you through these means. You are responsible for advising us of any change of your mailing or e-mail address.
• If you do not provide an e-mail address, all relevant travel documentation will be sent to you by ordinary mail, provided sufficient advance notice has been given (i.e. at least 14 business days prior to the departure time). When travel is within two weeks of confirmation, all relevant documentation will be delivered, if possible by courier at your expense. Since most courier services do not guarantee weekend deliveries or may require more than 24 hours delivery time for some areas, alternative arrangements may be made at your expense. ScotiaPoints cannot be used to cover these charges.
• Paper tickets and other travel documentation cannot be delivered to addresses outside of the country in which your Card is issued. Shipments cannot be made to a post office box. You are required to pay all shipping and handling fees for delivery. ScotiaPoints cannot be used to cover these charges.
• To redeem ScotiaPoints for a travel package, reservations must be made only by primary cardholders by calling Scotiabank at the number provided to you in the Welcome kit or indicated on the back of the Card, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time). You may not redeem your ScotiaPoints through any other travel agencies or airline companies.
• We may send electronic communications to you, including electronic mail and/or postings to the Program website. By providing an e-mail address to us, you authorize us to send any e-tickets and other travel information to this address. All e-mail communications from us to you shall be deemed delivered to you when sent. All other electronic communications shall be deemed delivered to you when posted on our Program website. You release us from any liability or claim as a result of your non-receipt of such documentation sent to you through these means. You are responsible for advising us of any change of your mailing or e-mail address.
• The option to redeem your ScotiaPoints for cash (“Cashback Credit”) is available for Cards that are open on the Bank’s system. Cashback Credit is not available for Cards which are closed on the Bank’s system.
• The minimum number of ScotiaPoints that you can redeem at any one time is 500. This means that you may only redeem 500 ScotiaPoints or more.
• If you redeemed once and the remaining point balance falls below 500 ScotiaPoints the minimum redemption threshold will still apply, you will not be able to redeem those points.
• Cashback Credit will be credited in local currency to the Primary Cardholder Account only.  
• Cancellation of request for redemption can only be done on the same day the request was made.
• You are required to make the minimum payment due as indicated in your Card statement by the payment due date even if the amount of the Cashback Credit from redemption of your ScotiaPoints is sufficient to cover the minimum payment due or the entire outstanding balance of the Card Account.
• To redeem your ScotiaPoints for Cashback Credit, you must call Scotiabank at the number provided to you in the Welcome Kit or indicated on the back of your Card, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Local Time).
• Cashback Credit will usually be posted to your Card Account within 7 to 15 business days after redemption.

(i) Cash Back Credit Currency Redemption Table

(ii) scotiapoints to cashback credit redemption chart (to be used for cash back only). the dollar value amounts shown below represent cash back that will be credited to your credit card., travel expense credits.

• ScotiaPoints can be redeemed in exchange for a Travel Expense Credit.
• You must redeem a minimum of 10,000 points and in increments of 10,000 points thereafter at a pre-determined conversion rate of US$0.015 for every 1 ScotiaPoint. For example, redemption of 20,000 ScotiaPoints would result in the equivalent of a US$300 Travel Expense Credit being applied to your Card Account. Redemption of 30,000 ScotiaPoints would result in the equivalent of a US$450 Travel Expense Credit being applied to your Card Account.
• In order to redeem for previous travel purchases, you must have sufficient points in your ScotiaPoints Account to cover the full redemption cost of the selected ticket or travel purchase. Partial redemptions are available to the extent you have points available in your ScotiaPoints Account, subject to the minimum initial redemption requirement of 10,000 points and in increments of 10,000 points thereafter. For example, if the cost of the travel purchase is US$300 and you have 20,000 ScotiaPoints, you can redeem 20,000 points for the equivalent of a US$300 Travel Expense Credit.
• Travel Expense Credits cannot be used and/or applied towards the minimum payment amount due on your Card Account. You must pay the minimum amount due indicated in your credit card statement by the payment due date even if the amount of the Travel Expense Credit is sufficient to cover the minimum payment due or the entire outstanding balance of your Card Account.
• Redemptions of ScotiaPoints can be made for a Travel Expense Credit within 90 days of the transaction date (i.e. 90 days from the date the transaction was made) to your Card Account.
• To redeem your ScotiaPoints for a Travel Expense Credit, you must call Scotiabank at the number provided to you in the Welcome Kit or indicated on the back of your Card, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Local Time).
• Travel Expense Credits will usually be posted to your Card Account within 7 to 10 business days after redemption.

General Information

• Any accident, loss, damage or injury you or those travelling with or without you suffer while travelling on a Scotiabank Aero Reward which may be caused or contributed to by travel or other suppliers or by any other cause, condition or event whatsoever beyond the direct control of Scotiabank or Visa Inc. or Mastercard International Inc., their respective affiliated companies and their directors, officers, employees and agents.
• Any loss or damage you suffer by reason of the loss or theft of your Scotiabank Aero Rewards or paper or electronic tickets or other travel documentation delivered to you through any means.
• Loss or theft of any Travel Reward.
• Suspension or termination of the Program for any reason.
• Suspension or termination of your membership in the Program, the closing of your ScotiaPoints Account, or the cancellation, forfeiture or invalidation of any or all of your ScotiaPoints.
• Cancellation of any Travel Reward.
• Limitation on availability, delay or cancellation of flights or other form of travel or cancellation or unavailability of any accommodation or service in connection with any travel package.
• Changes to airlines' black-out dates or any changes to Travel Reward levels.
• Non-availability of any requested award.
• Correspondence which is lost or delayed in the mail or otherwise or misdirected communications such as mail or e-mail or any consequences thereof.
• Non-delivery by a travel supplier of any travel package or failure to provide a travel package as described.
• Our failure to provide you with a ScotiaPoints statement.
• Any errors or omissions in any catalogue and other sources.
• Claims resulting from performance or failure to perform by a supplier.
• Scotiabank makes no warranties or representations of any kind regarding the Program, which is provided on an as-is basis. The Bank expressly disclaims any warranty and conditions including implied warranties and conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, and those arising by statute or otherwise in law or from a course of dealing or usage of trade of any travel package.
• In no event will Scotiabank or Visa Inc or Mastercard International Inc. be liable to you for any consequential, incidental, exemplary or punitive damages. ScotiaPoints cannot under any circumstances form the basis of a monetary claim against Scotiabank, Visa Inc., MasterCard International Inc. or any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, agents or employees.
• All documentation, including tickets are issued subject to the general rules, regulations, tariffs and terms of transportation established by the supplier of such products and services. None, of the Bank, Visa Inc. or Mastercard International Inc are agents for any supplier of such products and services.
• Should you decide to cancel the Card and close your Card Account, you may redeem any unused ScotiaPoints within 60 days of closing your Card Account, provided the Card Account is in good standing, and you are not in breach of the Scotia Aero Platinum Visa Cardholder Agreement and/or the Scotia Aero Platinum Mastercard Cardholder Agreement at the time of closure. After 60 days, all unredeemed ScotiaPoints will be forfeited. If we cancel or revoke your Card for any reason, you will not be eligible to redeem your accumulated ScotiaPoints and all accumulated points on the cancelled Card Account will be forfeited.
• Cancelled Card Accounts will be ineligible to earn ScotiaPoints after the cancellation date. If the Card has been lost or stolen, all applicable ScotiaPoints will be transferred to a new ScotiaPoints Account.
• Customers should examine all Card Account statements including ScotiaPoints Account balances and entries carefully. In case of errors, you should notify us, in writing, within 30 days from the statement date. After 90 days from the statement date, our records of your ScotiaPoints Account and the details of any transactions will be considered correct and binding upon you. Thereafter, we will be released from any claim with regard to your ScotiaPoints Account.
• You are responsible to advise us in writing of any changes of address or contact information.
• You must have ScotiaPoints earning or redemption activity at least once every 36 months (calculated on from the anniversary date of the first ScotiaPoints accrual and every 36 months thereafter) in order to retain your ScotiaPoints. ScotiaPoints expire after 36 months of accrual.
• We may share, exchange and disclose such information about you with other parties, such as participating partners, merchants or service providers, as required to administer the Program or to fulfil the redemption requests under the Program or pursuant to a court order or pursuant to a governmental agency holding legislative power to compel such disclosure. All collection use and disclosure of your personal information shall be in accordance with the Scotiabank Group Privacy Agreement.
• We may change, modify or delete any aspect of the Program and these Program Terms and Conditions, regulations, Scotiabank Aero Travel Rewards and special offers at any time without prior notice to you. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Program changes may include, but are not limited to, (i) changes to the restrictions, benefits or features in whole or in part applicable to the Program; (ii) changes to any Reward(s), (iii) changes to the ScotiaPoints required to be redeemed for any Rewards, or (iv) changes to the formula upon which ScotiaPoints are earned. In addition, we may place additional conditions and restrictions on ScotiaPoints collection, consolidation, conversion, exchange, redemption, combination or transfer, including caps on the number of ScotiaPoints you can collect each year, minimum and maximum ScotiaPoint limits and restrictions on types of benefits that may be obtained.

·       The program rates are set by the Bank and may be modified at any time, according to the Bank's rules and policies that are dictated from time to time and that apply to this matter. The Bank has the right to modify the equivalences, fixed rates and policies of the Program. Any modification of the rates will be previously communicated to primary cardholders in accordance with applicable law as protection of their rights.

• We will notify you of any changes to the Program or the Program Terms and Conditions in accordance with applicable law and in any of the following ways: a notice on our website at  www.scotiabankaerorewards.com , a notice in our branches, a notice in your monthly statement, a notice prominently displayed on our ATMs, or a notice addressed to you at your last address in our records. We will post the revised Program Terms and Conditions on our website at www.scotiabankaerorewards.com. Your continued use of the Card Account means that you agree to and accept the new Program Terms and Conditions as amended. If you do not agree with any of the changes made or with the revised Program Terms and Conditions, you must immediately stop using the Card Account and notify us that you are terminating your participation in the Program.
• You may view the current Program Terms and Conditions by visiting  www.scotiabankaerorewards.com  or you may call Scotiabank Call Centre at the telephone number provided to you in the Welcome Package you receive with your Card to pick up a paper copy or you may inquire at your local Scotiabank branch.
• As of April 1st, 2008 the Program has no predetermined termination date and may continue until Scotiabank decides, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Program. We may suspend or terminate the Program at any time without prior notice to you. Cardholders will have 60 days from the date Scotiabank announces the termination of the Program to redeem ScotiaPoints. The Bank must receive requests for redemption of ScotiaPoints within 60 days from the date the Bank announces the termination of the Program. Any suspension or termination of this Program may result in the forfeiture of all accrued ScotiaPoints.
• Program membership is a privilege, which can be revoked or limited by us at our sole discretion at any time and without compensation.
• Fraud or abuse of ScotiaPoints use may be subject to immediate administrative or even legal action.
• All interpretations of the Scotiabank Aero Rewards Program Terms and Conditions as well as all questions or disputes regarding eligibility for the Program, the availability of any offers or travel packages or of a Cardholders compliance with the Program Terms and Conditions shall be resolved by the Bank in its sole discretion. Questions or disputes concerning ScotiaPoints will be determined according to the terms of the Program Terms and Conditions in effect when the subject Qualifying Purchases are posted to your Card Account.
• You agree that any and all disputes, claims or causes of action arising out of or connected with the Program or any travel package provided pursuant to this Program, to the extent the same is not within Scotiabank's sole discretion as provided in these Program Terms and Conditions and is not governed by the terms and conditions established by the supplier of that travel package, shall be exclusively governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Card was issued, to the exclusion of the courts of any other state, territory or country. You hereby waive any venue or other objection that you may have to any such action or proceeding being brought in any court other than in the territory where the Card was issued.

(ii) Travel redemption chart to be used for flight travel only starting September 30 2023.

(ii) Any flights from the originating regions mentioned on the chart above would be priced for redemption as per the points mentioned in the table. However, where the cost of the ticket exceeds the covered maximum shown in the table, it is the sole responsibility of the Cardholder to cover the excess in ticket price above the maximum amount covered by the number of ScotiaPoints required.

(iii) Any flights from the originating regions mentioned "Variable" will be priced at US$0.015 per point. For example, if a ticket costs US$1,500, you would need 100,000 points to be able to use the variable rate.

(iv) Any flights from or between regions outside of the regions mentioned on the chart will be priced at US$0.015 per point.

(v) For other travel benefits like hotels, car rentals, cruises and other travel related packages, ScotiaPoints are converted to dollars off the cost of any hotel, tour package or cruise reservations for any destination at a rate of 100 ScotiaPoints to US$1.50.

(vi) Any travel demands with less than 14 days from the date of travel would be priced at US$0.015 per point.

(vii) All flights need to originate from the country of Cardholder domicile.

Conversion to local currency◊ (Average conversion rate):

US$1 = Trinidadian dollar $6.60 TT ◊ Conversion rates are subject to change in the Bank's sole and absolute discretion without prior notice to you.

Local OnLine Banking wesbite: tt.scotiabank.com