8 points per $1
Travel (Airlines, Hotels, Motels, Car Rentals)
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Updated Jul 2026
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Compare The Best Cards for Newcomers
Comparing results based on your preferences.
Auto-updates
Annual Fee
$120
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
20.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
ATB Financial
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Premium
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $569
1st Yr Free
ATB My Rewards
Welcome Bonus: 40,000 points ($200 value) + First-year fee waived
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Mobile Device Insurance
•
Purchase Security Insurance
+1 more
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$120
Foreign Tx Fee
2.90%
Personal Income
$80,000
Household Income
$150,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$35
No credit score required. Instant approval and access to virtual card to start using immediately
Annual Fee
$89
Purchase
19.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
Neo Financial
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Secured Cards
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $448
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 25,000 MileagePlus miles (5,000 miles on card activation and first transaction and 15,000 miles when you spend $3,000 net of refunds within 3 months of application)
A premium Canadian airline co-brand credit card that helps everyday Canadians turn their daily spending into real travel rewards, backed by the global reach of the United MileagePlus program and the Star Alliance network.
Highlights:
Travel Medical Insurance
•
World Elite Mastercard Benefits
•
Free Checked bag
•
NEXUS Application Fee Rebate
+2 more
Earn Up to 25,000 MileagePlus miles
Secure provider site
ELIGIBILITY
Rec. Score:
300 - 574
Personal Inc:
$80,000
Household Inc:
$150,000
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$89
Foreign Tx Fee
3%
Personal Income
$80,000
Household Income
$150,000
Credit Score
Poor
Add. Card Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
Simplii Financial
Best For
[
Cash Back
]
[
No Annual Fee
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $447
Cash Back
Welcome Bonus: Up to $100 Cash Back + $50 PRESTO Voucher
Highlights:
No Annual Fee
•
Extended Warranty Insurance
•
Purchase Security Insurance
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
$15,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase
21.74%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
MBNA Canada
Best For
[
No Annual Fee
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $411
Welcome Bonus: 5% back for 6 months (up to $3,000 spend)
Highlights:
No Annual Fee
•
Extended Warranty Insurance
•
Purchase Security Insurance
•
Higher Earning on Business Categories
Purchase APR
21.74%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Balance Transfer
22.99%
Add. Card Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase
20.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
ATB Financial
Best For
[
Cash Back
]
[
No Annual Fee
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $348
Cash Back
Welcome Bonus: 5% cash back for the first 3 months
Highlights:
No Annual Fee
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
•
Extended Warranty Insurance
•
Purchase Security Insurance
+1 more
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Tx Fee
2.90%
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$0
No credit score requirement. Instant approval and access to virtual card to start using immediately
Annual Fee
$149
Purchase
19.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
Neo Financial
Best For
[
Cash Back
]
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Secured Cards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $310
Cash Back
The Secured Neo World Elite® Mastercard lets you grow your credit history while unlocking premium perks and elevated cashback on your everyday spend.
Highlights:
Good for building or rebuilding credit
•
Newcomer Friendly
•
Everyday Cash Back
•
Travel Medical Insurance
+6 more
View Offer
Secure provider site
ELIGIBILITY
Rec. Score:
300 - 574
Personal Inc:
$80,000
Household Inc:
$150,000
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$149
Foreign Tx Fee
3%
Personal Income
$80,000
Household Income
$150,000
Credit Score
Poor
Add. Card Fee
$49
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase
19.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
ATB Financial
Best For
[
No Annual Fee
]
[
Newcomer
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $246
ATB My Rewards
Welcome Bonus: 10,000 points ($50 value)
Highlights:
No Annual Fee
•
Mobile Device Insurance
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
•
Extended Warranty Insurance
+2 more
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Tx Fee
2.90%
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$0
featured
Open and fund your KOHO account for a chance to win $60,000 toward groceries.
Annual Fee
$177
Purchase
0%
KOHO
Best For
[
Cash Back
]
[
Low Interest
]
[
Secured Cards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $183
Cash Back
Highlights:
Good for building or rebuilding credit
•
Earn cash back on every purchase
•
High savings interest
Purchase APR
0%
Cash Advance APR
—
Annual Fee
$177
Foreign Tx Fee
0%
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
Poor
Annual Fee
$9.99
Purchase
0%
Cash Adv.
0%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best For
[
Student
]
[
Secured Cards
]
[
Newcomer
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $170
Welcome Bonus: Enjoy a reloadable and secure card for your day-to-day transactions.
Highlights:
Bad Credit & Rebuilding
•
Extended Warranty Insurance
•
Purchase Security Insurance
Purchase APR
0%
Cash Advance APR
0%
Annual Fee
$9.99
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
No credit score needed to apply. Guaranteed, instant approval*
Annual Fee
$96
Purchase
19.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
Neo Financial
Best For
[
Cash Back
]
[
Student
]
[
Secured Cards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $116
Cash Back
The Secured Neo World Mastercard® is designed to help you grow your credit history and reward you with elevated cashback on every purchase.
Highlights:
Good for building or rebuilding credit
•
Student Friendly
•
Newcomer Friendly
•
World Mastercard Benefits
View Offer
Secure provider site
ELIGIBILITY
Rec. Score:
300 - 574
Personal Inc:
$50,000
Household Inc:
$80,000
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$96
Foreign Tx Fee
3%
Personal Income
$50,000
Household Income
$80,000
Credit Score
Poor
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Cash Back
Earn money on daily spend.
Travel Rewards
Best for frequent flyers.
SPEC SHEET
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Filter our database by the specific perks and coverages that matter to you.
ISSUERS
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Filter our database to see offers from specific Canadian financial institutions.
PAYMENT NETWORKS
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CARD LEVELS
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From entry-level options to exclusive black cards. Find the eligibility level that fits you.
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Compare The Best Cards for Newcomers Cards and financial strategy.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Terms subject to change by issuers.
An authorized user is someone you add to your account (like a spouse or child) who gets their own card. The primary cardholder is fully responsible for all debt incurred by the authorized user. It can be a way to help someone build credit habits, but legal liability remains with the primary account holder.
You should contact your card issuer immediately to lock or cancel the card. Many issuers also offer a 'Lock Card' feature in their mobile app which can prevent new transactions instantly. Once reported, the issuer will typically send a replacement card with a new number.
It might. Cancelling an older card reduces your 'Average Age of Accounts,' which is a factor in your credit score. It also reduces your total available credit, which could increase your utilization ratio. If the card has no annual fee, it is often better to keep it open and use it occasionally to keep the history active.
A hard inquiry (from a credit application) typically remains on your credit report for up to 36 months, though its impact on your credit score generally diminishes significantly after the first 12 months.
Yes, many major banks offer specific programs for newcomers that do not require a Canadian credit history. You may need to visit a branch in person and provide immigration documents (such as a Permanent Resident card or Work Permit) to be approved.
Still have questions?
Visit our Financial Education Hub
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