Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards in Canada
A strong welcome bonus can offset a card’s annual fee for years — if you can hit the minimum spend naturally. These are our best-documented bonuses, ranked by total disclosed dollar value against the fee and spend required, using terms published directly by each issuer.
Short answer: The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard currently has the most valuable welcome offer we track, worth up to $650 in year one: $40 in bonus cash back in each month you spend $2,000 or more (up to $480), plus the $139 annual fee waived. The catch is the income requirement — $80,000 individual or $150,000 household. Without that, the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite (#2, up to $600) is the next-strongest bonus. For every live offer on all 100+ cards we review, including the ones that expire soon, see our welcome offers tracker, updated weekly. Figures checked September 14, 2026 against issuer pages.
Our Picks, Ranked
among cash-back cards
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Why it’s #1: Highest total first-year value. Up to $650 in value: $40 bonus cash back per month (up to $480/year) when you spend $2,000+ in that billing cycle, plus the $139 first-year annual fee waived
Good for
- ✓Tiered cash back up to 5% on groceries, with no cap on the 1% base rate
- ✓Cash back can be redeemed anytime for as little as $1
Worth knowing
- !High income requirement: $80,000 individual or $150,000 household
- !$139 annual fee after year one
among cash-back cards
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
Why it’s here: Up to $600 combined bonus. Up to $600 in total value: 10% Cash Back Dollars in the first 3 months on up to $3,500 in Bonus Eligible Purchases (up to $350 in bonus cash back)…
Good for
- ✓Travel medical insurance up to $2 million, 10 days per trip for cardholders under 65…
- ✓Delayed and lost baggage insurance up to $1,000 per covered person per trip
Worth knowing
- !Two unresolved data conflicts on TD’s own official sources: purchase APR (20.99% vs.
- !21.99%) and minimum cash-back redemption amount ($1 vs.
among cash-back cards
Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card
Why it’s here: Best bonus + grocery rewards. 15% cash back on purchases for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 spend (max $300 bonus), plus first-year annual fee waiver.
Good for
- ✓Travel medical insurance up to $1,000,000
- ✓Trip cancellation ~$1,500/person
Worth knowing
- !$120/yr fee returns after the first year
- !4%/2% bonus rates cap at $25,000 per category per year, then drop to 1%
among cash-back cards
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
Why it’s here: Up to $850 if bundled. 10% cash back bonus (up to $200) on the first 4 statement periods, on up to $2,000 in purchases, plus $50 for setting up a pre-authorized payment…
Good for
- ✓Out-of-province/out-of-country emergency travel medical insurance up to $5,000,000…
- ✓Rental car collision/loss damage insurance, covering vehicles up to $85,000 MSRP for…
Worth knowing
- !$120 annual fee applies from year two onward, once the first-year rebate ends
- !2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, with no waiver available
among no-fee cards
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard
Why it’s here: The biggest bonus among the no-fee cards here, and it takes less spending to earn than SimplyCash’s $100. $120 cash back after at least $1,500 in total Net Purchases within the 90-day promotional period following activation.
Good for
- ✓2% cash back in up to 2-3 chosen categories
- ✓0.5% cash back on everything else, no annual fee
Worth knowing
- !Higher eligibility bar than the base Money-Back card ($50,000 personal/$80,000 household income or $250,000…
- !Only 2 bonus categories by default; 3rd requires redirecting rewards to a Tangerine Savings Account
among no-fee cards
American Express SimplyCash Card
Why it’s here: Easiest approval, no annual fee. 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in purchases (up to $100 in bonus cash back)
Good for
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓Uncapped 1.25% base cash back on all other purchases
Worth knowing
- !Bonus cash back on gas and groceries is capped at a combined $300 per year
- !Lower earn rates than the fee-based SimplyCash Preferred Card and many competing no-fee cash back cards
All 6 at a Glance
Compare any cards side by side →| # | Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus (est.) | Rewards | Credit needed | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $139 (yr 1 waived) | $650 | ~5% groceries | Very good | 4.8 ★ | Apply |
| 2 | TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card | $139 | $600 | ~3% groceries | Very good | 4.4 ★ | Apply |
| 3 | Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card | $120 (yr 1 waived) | $300 | ~4% groceries | Very good | 4.1 ★ | Apply |
| 4 | CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | $120 | $200 | ~4% groceries | Very good | 4.1 ★ | Apply |
| 5 | Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard | $0 | $120 | 2% in picked categories | Very good | 4.0 ★ | Apply |
| 6 | American Express SimplyCash Card | $0 | $100 | ~2% groceries | Good | 4.0 ★ | Apply |
Welcome bonus values use MoneyMint’s points valuations, not the issuer’s advertised “up to” figure. Rewards rates are estimated cash-equivalent values. Score = MoneyMint Score out of 100. Methodology
What’s the Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus in Canada Right Now?
By total disclosed value, BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard’s up to $650 offer is the largest on this list, combining bonus cash back, a waived first-year fee, and a roadside assistance credit. If you want a simpler, fixed amount with no annual fee at all, Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard’s flat $120 (after $1,500 in purchases within 90 days of activation) is the more predictable pick.
Do I Have to Spend a Certain Amount to Get the Bonus?
Yes — every card here requires hitting a minimum spend within a set window (commonly 3 months) to unlock the full bonus, and some pay it out in stages. Read the specific spend threshold and deadline for each card before applying, and only apply if that spend matches money you’d be spending anyway.
Are Annual Fee Waivers Part of the Sign-Up Bonus?
Often, yes. Several cards on this list bundle a first-year annual fee waiver or rebate into their advertised "total value," alongside cash back. That waiver only offsets the fee once — remember the fee returns (and needs to be worth it on its own) starting in year two.
Is It Worth Applying for a Card Just for the Bonus?
It can be, if you’d naturally hit the minimum spend anyway and you don’t mind a hard credit inquiry. It’s generally not worth overspending to chase a bonus, and applying for multiple cards in a short window can affect your approval odds and credit score.
Do These Bonuses Expire or Change Often?
Yes, frequently. Welcome offers are promotional and issuers adjust the amount, spend requirement, or expiry date without much notice — several of the offers on this list have specific date windows. Always confirm the live offer on the issuer’s official page immediately before applying.
Rates, fees and offers are as last verified by MoneyMint and may have changed — always confirm current terms on the issuer’s official page before applying. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning MoneyMint could earn a commission if you apply through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which cards we feature or how we rank them. This is general information, not personalized financial advice. Where a card earns points, “estimated value” figures convert points to dollars using MoneyMint’s own point valuations — see our points value calculator.