A starter card that earns like a premium one: 3x Avion points on most everyday spending for $48 a year. The Avion Visa Infinite adds a bigger bonus and travel insurance, not a better everyday earn rate.
Ranking basis: $1,236 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Younger or newer-to-credit applicants who want an entry point into the Avion points ecosystem for a low fee.
Skip if: Most of your spending falls outside groceries, dining, gas, transit and streaming, or you want the Avion Visa Infinite's bigger bonus and travel insurance.
$48 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $730 · RBC Avion · See offer
The cleanest free on-ramp to RBC Avion. Upgrade to the ION+ once your spend justifies the fee.
Ranking basis: $704 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants to start earning transferable Avion points with zero annual fee.
Skip if: You spend enough to justify the ION+'s $48 fee; its higher earn rate and added perks pay for themselves quickly.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $464 · RBC Avion · See offer
Not a serious earner on its own, but a legitimate zero-cost way to start accumulating transferable MR points, especially for applicants who don't yet qualify for the paid Amex cards.
Ranking basis: $646 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants a free foot in the door to Amex Membership Rewards (including eventual Aeroplan transfers) without any income bar or fee.
Skip if: You already qualify for the Cobalt or Gold Rewards; those cards earn dramatically more MR points for a modest monthly or annual cost.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $418 · Amex Membership Rewards · See offer
A strong no-fee Scene+ grocery card for Empire-banner shoppers. The 3x grocery rate is genuinely good; Amex acceptance is the only real friction.
Ranking basis: $592 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Shoppers at Sobeys-family grocers who want a no-fee Scene+ earner and can work around Amex acceptance.
Skip if: Your grocery store doesn't take Amex, or you want travel insurance built in.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $346 · Scene+ · See offer
A serviceable free on-ramp to Aeroplan. Most frequent flyers should graduate to the Visa Infinite tier.
Ranking basis: $578 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Occasional Air Canada flyers who want to start earning Aeroplan points without an annual fee.
Skip if: You check bags on Air Canada often; the Visa Infinite's bag perk alone covers its $139 fee.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $289 · Aeroplan · See offer
A capable no-fee entry into Scene+. Fine on its own, and a natural stepping stone toward the Passport once travel and lounge access matter.
Ranking basis: $422 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Free-card users who want simple points on food and entertainment spend with an easy upgrade path to the Passport later.
Skip if: You want cash back with no redemption thinking at all; a flat cash-back card is simpler for the same $0 fee.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $236 · Scene+ · See offer
A solid no-fee grocery earner up to $500 a month. Straightforward and fee-free, with an upgrade path once spend outgrows the cap.
Ranking basis: $360 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Free-card shoppers whose grocery bill is the biggest line item in the budget.
Skip if: Your grocery bill runs well past $500 a month; past the cap it earns 0.5%, and the World Elite version's 5% grocery and 1% base rates pay for its fee.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $180 · Cash back · See offer
A solid, unglamorous free cash-back card. The 2% grocery rate is its best feature; everything else is average.
Ranking basis: $300 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Grocery-heavy households who want a simple, genuinely free cash-back card.
Skip if: You spend heavily outside groceries/gas/dining; a flat-rate card likely earns more overall.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $150 · Cash back · See offer
A narrow but real niche winner: the only genuinely free, no-FX card in Canada. Skip it for domestic spend, keep it in the wallet for anything priced in USD.
Ranking basis: $240 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Frequent US/international spenders who want to skip both the annual fee and the 2.5% FX markup on a simple card.
Skip if: You spend mostly in CAD; a category cash-back card earns more for the same $0 fee.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $120 · Cash back · See offer
An unremarkable but genuinely free card. Its low intro interest rate is the real draw, not the cash-back rate.
Ranking basis: $180 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Scotiabank clients who want a simple free cash-back card and may carry an introductory-rate balance.
Skip if: You want the best possible free cash-back rate; Tangerine, BMO CashBack, or CIBC Dividend all out-earn this card in their bonus categories.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $90 · Cash back · See offer
The most flexible free cash-back card in Canada: you build your own earn categories. Modest ongoing value, but there's no fee to justify.
Ranking basis: $120 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: No-fee shoppers who want to pick their own 2% categories and never think about a renewal fee.
Skip if: Your spend doesn't concentrate in 2-3 categories; a flat-rate card like the Rogers Red World Elite beats it on unchosen spend.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $60 · Cash back · See offer
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Benchmark monthly spend: $400 groceries, $150 dining, $50 travel, $100 gas/transit and $300 other. Values use expected informed point valuations, structured caps, modelled welcome conditions and two annual fees where applicable; unstructured perks and benefits are excluded. Use the Card Finder for your own spending.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best credit cards for newcomers to canada?
RBC ION+ Visa leads this ranking on its category-specific modelled value over 24 months of $1,236. RBC ION Visa is the closest runner-up. See the full comparison table above for how every card in this category scores.
How is this ranking put together?
24-month value on the newcomer benchmark. The Standard Score remains visible as editorial context, but it does not override the category's decisive job.
Can I get a credit card in Canada with no credit history?
Yes. Each of the big five banks runs a newcomer program that issues entry-level cards without Canadian credit history, typically requiring proof of permanent residence or a valid work/study permit. Limits start modest and grow with a few months of on-time payments. American Express can also use your credit relationship from an Amex in your home country.
Should a newcomer start with a no-fee card?
Usually, yes. Your first Canadian card's main job is building a credit file, and a no-fee card does that without a carrying cost you can't yet offset with rewards. Once you have six to twelve months of history, the premium cards on our other rankings open up, and your welcome-bonus eligibility is still intact.
Do secured cards belong on this list?
We rank standard (unsecured) cards here, because bank newcomer programs make them attainable for most new permanent residents and workers. If you're declined for these, a secured card (where a deposit sets your limit) is the reliable fallback, and issuers like Home Trust serve that market.