Best Credit Cards for Newcomers to Canada 2024
Aug 1, 2024Newcomers to Canada with little to no credit history may be eligible for a credit card. Check out the best credit cards for newcomers to help narrow down your options.
If you’re a newcomer to Canada, building your credit is likely top of mind, and credit cards can be an effective way to do this. The snag? You typically need a healthy credit history to get a credit card. This is where credit cards for newcomers come in.
Some lenders offer secured and unsecured credit cards to newcomers with little to no credit history, allowing them to get their foot on the credit ladder.
To help you better understand your options, NerdWallet looked at hundreds of credit cards to determine the best options for newcomers. Keep reading to see which cards made the cut.
Best credit cards for newcomers to Canada
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's take
Card details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card detailsBest secured credit cards for newcomers to Canada
The following cards are some of the best secured cards on the market. Instead of relying on your credit history to determine eligibility, they require a cash deposit. The deposit is typically the credit limit for the card. So, if your deposit is $1,000, for example, your credit limit will likely be $1,000.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card detailsMethodology
BACK TO TOPNerdWallet 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.
What to know about newcomer credit cards
Regardless of whether you had good or bad credit in your previous country, you can’t typically transfer your credit history to Canada. So, if you’re a newcomer, you’ll need to build up your credit from scratch. Getting a credit card for newcomers is one way to do this.
A good credit score in Canada can help you rent a property, secure a loan (e.g., a mortgage, get credit cards with top-tier perks and even gain employment.
How do credit cards for newcomers work?
Credit cards for newcomers are either directly marketed as newcomer cards or cards that don’t require credit checks, such as secured cards.
In many cases, you cannot apply for a credit card until you have moved to Canada and can provide a valid residential address.
Account requirements
You may be required to open a newcomers bank account with an issuer before you can apply for one of its credit cards. This is particularly true with unsecured credit cards that do not require a deposit.
Credit limit
Credit cards for newcomers typically have low credit limits, such as $5,000. But limits can go as high as $15,000 depending on the issuer. Secured credit card limits are based on the amount you put down as a deposit, but the issuer may set a maximum deposit, such as $10,000.
Newcomer eligibility
You typically have to prove that you are new to the country to qualify for a newcomer credit card. This may mean submitting documents that reflect a landed immigrant status within the last five years. Or, as a foreign worker, you may need to provide a work permit that’s valid for at least 12 months.
Additional eligibility factors
Issuers may use income, employment status, rental or mortgage information, age and other criteria to determine eligibility. You may need to provide a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to get a credit card, so if you don’t already have one, you can learn how to apply here.
Check that you meet all of the issuer’s requirements before you submit a credit card application. Knowing if you are eligible can help you avoid any unnecessary credit denials to your Canadian credit history.
How to build credit with a newcomers credit card
Here are a few quick tips for building your credit with a credit card:
Pay your credit card bill on time and in full. While you may only be required to pay the minimum balance due at the end of the month, any interest that accrues on the remaining balance can snowball quickly. By keeping your credit usage below 30%, lenders can see that you’re responsible with your finances and do not rely too heavily on credit.
Don’t open too many credit card accounts at once. Multiple credit applications can give the impression that you are in desperate need of credit or living beyond your means. Consider starting out with just one card to cover your bills and ongoing expenses as you get settled in Canada.
Take advantage of other newcomer products. Some banks require you to open a chequing account before you can apply for a credit card as a newcomer. You can use these accounts to demonstrate responsible spending. For example, some phone companies report your payment activity to credit bureaus. So, by paying your phone bill on time through your bank account, you can improve your credit.
DIVE EVEN DEEPER
Georgia Rose
Shannon Terrell