Best Student Credit Cards in Canada
A first credit card matters most for what it doesn’t do wrong: low fees, low income requirements, and realistic approval odds. This list mixes BMO’s dedicated student card with strong no-fee cash-back and rewards cards, plus a secured option if you’re starting from zero credit history.
Short answer: For students, the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card is our top pick: no annual fee, 4% cash back at restaurants and bars, 1.5% on gas, groceries and drugstores, and a welcome bonus worth about $100. It has no travel insurance. If you’d rather have a card built specifically for students, the BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students (#2) is the dedicated option; the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa for students (#3) is worth a look if you shop at Sobeys-family grocers; and the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa for students (#4) is a no-fee cash-back alternative. Figures checked September 14, 2026 against issuer pages.
Our Picks, Ranked
among no-fee cards
Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card
Why it’s #1: Strong dining cash back, no fee. 4% cash back on restaurants and bars, up to $5,000 in eligible annual spend (max $200/year from this category); 1.5% on gas, groceries, drugstore purchases…
Good for
- ✓No annual fee for the primary cardholder or for up to 3 authorized users
- ✓Purchase security and extended protection insurance…
Worth knowing
- !No complimentary travel insurance of any kind — travel medical coverage is a paid add-on only
- !No mobile device insurance or rental car insurance included
among no-fee cards
BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students
Why it’s here: Best overall pick for students. 3% cash back on groceries; 1% cash back on recurring bill payments; 0.5% cash back on all other purchases including gas, dining, and travel.
Good for
- ✓No annual fee, no stated minimum income requirement
- ✓3% cash back on groceries (a per-statement cap is referenced by some sources but not…
Worth knowing
- !Only 0.5% cash back on gas, dining, travel, and all other non-bonus purchases
- !Only available to applicants aged 18-24
among no-fee cards
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)
Why it’s here: A $0 student card that earns 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, IGA and other Sobeys-family stores, up to 4 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel, and 1 point per $1 on everything else. Points can go toward groceries, travel and movies.
Good for
- ✓$0 annual fee
- ✓2x Scene+ points at Sobeys-family grocery stores, a strong rate for a no-fee card if that’s where you shop
- ✓Low $500 minimum credit limit, which suits a first card
Worth knowing
- !Only 1 point per $1 (about 1%) at other grocers and on most purchases
- !2.5% foreign transaction fee
- !21.99% purchase interest rate if you carry a balance
among no-fee cards
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card (for students)
Why it’s here: No-fee cash back, nationwide. 1% cash back on groceries, gas/EV charging, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores, recurring bill payments (combined $15,000/yr cap); 0.5% on all other purchases
Good for
- ✓$0 annual fee for primary and supplementary cardholders
- ✓1% cash back on everyday categories up to $15,000/yr combined spend
Worth knowing
- !0.5% base rate outside bonus categories is low relative to competitors
- !2.5% estimated foreign transaction fee with no waiver
All 4 at a Glance
Compare any cards side by side →| # | Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus (est.) | Rewards | Credit needed | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card | $0 | $100 | ~4% dining | Good | 3.8 ★ | Apply |
| 2 | BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students | $0 | $125 | ~3% groceries | Fair | 3.7 ★ | Apply |
| 3 | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students) | $0 | $50 | ~2% Sobeys-family groceries | Good | 3.4 ★ | Apply |
| 4 | Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card (for students) | $0 | $100 | ~1% groceries | Fair | 2.8 ★ | 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
Can I Get a Credit Card as a Student With No Income?
Student cards are built for thin credit files, and the BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students publishes no minimum income requirement at all. Issuers still ask what you earn on the application — part-time work, scholarships and grants can count — but you are not expected to show a full-time salary.
Which Student Card Earns the Most?
It depends what you buy. The Simplii Cash Back Visa pays 4% on restaurants and bars, which suits students who eat out. The BMO student card pays 3% on groceries, better if you mostly cook. Both are no-fee, so there is no cost to being wrong.
Do Student Credit Cards Actually Help Build Credit?
Yes — they report to Equifax and TransUnion exactly like any other card. What builds the score is paying on time every month and keeping your balance well below the limit, not the card being labelled “student”. A no-fee card you keep open for years is more useful to your credit history than a premium card you cancel.
Should a Student Ever Pay an Annual Fee?
Rarely, and none of the cards on this page charge one. An annual fee only pays for itself at a level of spending most students do not reach. Start with a no-fee card, and revisit once your spending and income have grown.
What Happens to a Student Card After I Graduate?
Nothing automatic — it stays open on the same terms. Once you are earning, you can usually upgrade to a card in the same family without a new application, which keeps the account’s age on your credit file. That matters more than it sounds: length of credit history is one of the things scoring models reward.
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.