This roundup of the best credit cards for newcomers to Canada was last verified in August 2026. Fees, credit limits, and offers change periodically — confirm current details on the issuer’s official page before applying.
Moving to Canada usually means starting your credit history from zero — the credit history you built in another country doesn’t transfer. The good news is several Canadian banks have built specific programs for newcomers that skip the usual “you need credit to get credit” catch-22, either by using your immigration documents in place of a credit history, or by offering a secured card that requires no credit check at all.
Short answer: Several Canadian banks run newcomer programs that skip the credit-history requirement, most notably Scotiabank StartRight, and a secured card from Capital One, Home Trust or Neo is a reliable fallback because it reports to the credit bureaus like any other card. Neo’s Mastercard, which has a secured option, doesn’t require a minimum income or credit score. Whichever card you start with, 6 to 12 months of on-time payments is what builds your score.Key points from this guide · last reviewed Sep 11, 2026
Best Newcomer Credit Cards: Quick Comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | How It Works for Newcomers |
|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card | $150 (waived yr 1) | Credit limit up to $15,000 with no Canadian credit history, for new permanent residents (via Scotiabank StartRight®) |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | Accessible to newcomers with no Canadian credit history |
| Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard | $0 | Guaranteed approval with a refundable deposit starting at $75 |
| Home Trust Secured Visa | $0 | Guaranteed approval with a refundable deposit starting at $500 |
| Neo Mastercard (secured option) | $0 card fee; Build membership up to $9.99/mo | No minimum income or credit score; deposit from $50 |
1. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ (via StartRight)
This is the strongest newcomer offer on the market: through Scotiabank®’s StartRight program, new permanent residents can qualify for a credit limit of up to $15,000 with no Canadian credit history required — a rare exception for a premium travel card that normally targets Very Good to Excellent credit scores. The $150 annual fee is waived in year one, and the card carries no foreign transaction fee, which is genuinely useful while you’re still making purchases tied to your move.
2. BMO CashBack Mastercard
A no-fee option that BMO makes accessible to newcomers without an existing Canadian credit history, earning 3% cash back on groceries. It’s a lower-risk starting point than a premium card if you’d rather not commit to an annual fee while you’re still settling in.
3. Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard & Home Trust Secured Visa
If neither of the above work out, a secured card is the fallback that essentially guarantees approval. You put down a refundable deposit (starting around $75 for Capital One, $500 for Home Trust) that becomes your credit limit, and the issuer reports your payment history to Equifax and TransUnion just like an unsecured card — the deposit is what makes approval close to automatic.
4. Neo Mastercard (secured option)
If you don’t qualify for a regular card, Neo offers its Neo Mastercard with a secured limit. There’s no minimum income or credit score, and deposits start at $50. The card has no annual fee, but the secured version requires Neo’s Build membership, which costs up to $9.99 a month. To apply, Neo says you need to live in Canada, have Canadian photo ID and be the age of majority in your province.
How to Choose as a Newcomer
- Check if you qualify for a newcomer program first. Programs like Scotiabank StartRight can get you a premium card with a real credit limit despite zero Canadian history — that’s usually a better outcome than starting with a secured card.
- A secured card is a reliable fallback, not a failure. Every major secured card reports to the credit bureaus the same way an unsecured card does — the deposit doesn’t show up on your credit report, only your payment behaviour does.
- Keep your first card for at least 6–12 months before applying for anything else — a track record of on-time payments is what actually builds your score.
Frequently Asked Questions for Newcomers to Canada
Does my credit history from another country transfer to Canada? No — Canadian credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) don’t import foreign credit history, so most newcomers genuinely start at zero regardless of their credit history abroad.
Do I need a Canadian bank account before I can get a credit card? Not always, but most newcomer programs (like Scotiabank StartRight) work more smoothly if you open an account with the same bank, since it lets them verify your identity and immigration documents in one place.
How long does it take to build a usable credit score in Canada? Many newcomers see a usable score within 6–12 months of consistent, on-time card use, though it can take longer to reach the “Good” or “Very Good” range needed for premium products.
Key Takeaways
- Several Canadian banks run dedicated newcomer programs that skip the usual credit-history requirement, most notably Scotiabank’s StartRight program.
- A secured card (Capital One, Home Trust, or Neo) is a reliable fallback if you don’t qualify for a newcomer program, since it reports to the credit bureaus the same way an unsecured card does.
- Neo’s Mastercard has a secured option with no minimum income or credit score, but budget for the Build membership it requires.
- Building 6–12 months of on-time payment history is what actually improves your score — the specific card you start with matters less than using it consistently and responsibly.