Canada’s top 5 credit cards for international travelers

Traveling abroad can be expensive, but the right credit card can make your trip more affordable. A good travel credit card will offer rewards that can help cover some of the costs of international trips.

Many Canadian cards are available to suit every type of traveller - including credit card alternatives like the Wise card. In this article, we’ll help you find the best Canadian credit card for international travel.

Table of contents
Top 5 Credit Cards for Canadian Travelers American Express Platinum American Express Gold BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Enjoy Card Advantages Now With The International Wise Card Conclusion

Top 5 Credit Cards for Canadian Travelers

American Express Platinum

Credit Limit: No Information Available

Travel Rewards and Cashback¹:

• CA$ 200 Annual Travel Credit (for single travel booking with services through Amex or charged to your card)
• CA$ 100 NEXUS Statement Credit (once every 4 years when charged to your card)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport Discounts and Complimentary Services
  • Priority Security Lane
  • Valet Services
  • Park and Daily Park
  • 15% Off Car Care
• Discounted International Airline Fares (when booking through Amex or charged to your card)
• Access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection
• Discounts and Complimentary Benefits on Amex-selected Hotels & Resorts
• Hilton Honors Gold Status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
• Avis Preferred and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star
• Premium Airport Transfers (for eligible bookings with your card or Amex Travel)
• Book Through American Express Travel Online and Earn 1 Point/CA$ 1

Fees/Interest Rate²:

• Annual Fee: CA$ 799
• Additional Cards: CA$ 0, CA$ 50, or CA$ 250/card/year
• Interest Rate: 20.99% or 30%

Exchange Rate³: Determined by Affiliate, AEEML

Qualifying Conditions²:

• Canadian Residency
• Have a Canadian Credit File
• Age of Majority in your Province or Territory

American Express Gold

Credit Limit: No Information Available

Travel Rewards and Cashback⁴:

• CA$ 100 Annual Travel Credit (for single travel booking with services through Amex or charged to your card)
• Complimentary Priority Pass Access to Airport Lounges
• NEXUS Card Statement Credit (when application is charged to your card)
• Access to American Express Travel Online (for bookings and rewards)
• Rewards and Credits on Hotel Bookings (within the Amex Hotel Collection)
• Rental Car Discounts, Upgrades, and Waived Fees
• Travel Insurance

Fees/Interest Rate⁵:

• Annual Fee: CA$ 250
• Additional Cards: CA$ 0 or CA$ 50/year/card
• Interest Rate: 20.99% or 21.99%

Exchange Rate⁶: Determined by Affiliate, AEEML

Qualifying Conditions⁵:

• Canadian Residency
• Have a Canadian Credit File
• Age of Majority in your Province or Territory

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

Credit Limit: No Information Available

Travel Rewards and Cashback⁷:

• 1 Mile/CA$ 12 Spent on Your Card
• 3x Miles (at Participating Partners)
• 25% Discount on One AIR MILES Flight/Year and Certain Rental Car Locations
• Use Rewards for Over 1,000 Merchandise Options and Experiences
• Concierge Services
• Mastercard Travel Pass Access to Select Lounges
• Emergency Travel and Medical Protection
• Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection

Fees/Interest Rate⁸:

• Annual Fee: CA$ 120
• Interest Rate: 20.99%, 21.99%, or 23.99%

Exchange Rate⁹: Payment Network Rate + 2.50%

Qualifying Conditions⁸:

• CA$ 80,000 Annual Income for Individuals; CA$ 150,000 Annual Income for Households
• Candian Citizenship or Permanent Residency
• No Bankruptcy Declarations in the Past 7 Years
• Age of Majority in your Province or Territory

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Credit Limit¹⁰: Minimum CA$ 5,000

Travel Rewards and Cashback¹⁰:

• Visa Airport Companion Program Membership (6 complimentary visits/year)
• Use Scene+ Travel or Scene+ Points on Booking
• Avis Preferred Plus Membership
• Visa Infinite Concierge Service
• Visa Infinite Hotel Collection Access (with automatic upgrades and free WiFi)
• Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country Program
• Travel and Medical Insurance

Fees/Interest Rate¹⁰:

• Annual Fee: CA$ 150
• Additional Cards: CA$ 0 or CA$ 50/year/card
• Interest Rates: 20.99% or 22.99%

Exchange Rate¹²: Scotiabank has no foreign transaction fees, and has varying exchange rates.

Qualifying Conditions:

• Minimum Individual Annual Income of $60,000; Minimum Household Income of CA$ 100,000; or Minimum Assets Under Management of CA$ 250,000

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Credit Limit¹¹: No Information Available

Travel Rewards and Cashback¹¹:

• First Checked Bag Free on Air Canada (for up to 8 passengers)
• Upgrade to Avis Preferred Plus
• Use Aeroplan Points (use for Air Canada flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, and more)
• Visa Infinite Concierge
• Exclusive Hotel Benefits (when booking through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection)
• Visa Infinite Dining Services and Visa Infinite Wine Country Program Access
• Visa Infinite Entertainment Access
• Travel and Medical Insurance
• Savings on Avis and Budget Rent A Car
• 50% More Aeroplan Points and Starbucks Stars (when using your card)

Fees/Interest Rate¹¹:

• Annual Fee: CA$ 139
• Additional Cardholders: CA$ 75
• Interest Rates: 20.99% or 22.99%

Exchange Rate: You can use TD Bank Canada’s currency converter¹³ to get an idea of transaction rates in your currency of choice

Qualifying Conditions:

• CA$ 60,000 Annual Personal Income; CA$ 100,000 Annual Household Income
• Canadian Residency
• Age of Majority in your Province or Territory

Enjoy Card Advantages Now With The International Wise Card

Not sure if any of those options are right for you? Whether you don’t qualify or don’t want to deal with the hassles of dealing with banks and credit, it may be a good idea to explore alternatives. That’s where Wise comes in.

The Wise card is an international payment solution that offers huge advantages to travellers. With the Wise card, customers can enjoy a mid-market exchange rate when exchanging money in any supported currencies - meaning you’ll always get the best possible rate.

There are minimal fees associated with using the Wise card. You’ll have access to multilingual customer support should you need it while abroad. The Wise card also comes with physical and virtual cards that customers can use online or in person wherever the card is accepted.

The Wise card is easy to use.

1. Add Canadian dollars to your Wise account.
2. Order the physical or virtual card via your account.
3. Choose from over 40 different currencies and convert a portion or all of your money into the local currency used wherever you are. Money will be deducted automatically from that local currency when you use the card.

If you run out of money in the local currency, your remaining funds held on your account in Canadian dollars will still be available at the mid-market rate.

Let’s imagine you’re travelling to a country that uses the Euro and want to use a Canadian dollar credit card at a store or restaurant. Such places will likely use their exchange rate. This could be an expensive affair with costs adding up.

Many banks and other providers may add additional fees on top of the currency conversion fee, like “markup rates” or other hidden fees. With the Wise card, however, customers are always guaranteed the mid-market exchange rate with no added costs - making it one of the best solutions for international travellers.

The Wise card is usable anywhere that accepts Visa, so you’ll have no trouble finding a place to use it. It’s also beneficial because there are no ATM fees associated with withdrawing money from an ATM.

Note: Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Plus, you get access to the mid-market rate when exchanging currency - much better than what banks offer - and minimal fees for using your card abroad. The Wise card also works with Google Wallet and Apple Pay for added convenience.

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a card with no foreign transaction fees, travel rewards, or access to exclusive benefits at hotels and airports globally, there are many great options. These five are great options, but you can’t go wrong with an alternative like Wise.

You can get started with your Wise card today for just a few small, transparent, and one-time fees. So what are you waiting for? Prepare for your next adventure with Wise.

Explore the world with Wise 🌎

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Sources:

1. Amex
2. Amex
3. Amex
4. Amex
5. Amex
6. Amex
7. BMO
8. BMO
9. BMO
10. Scotiabank
11. TD
12. Scotiabank Exchange rates
13. TD Bank currency converter
    Sourcer verified on 12 December 2023