The 7 best travel credit cards in Canada [2024]

Live in Canada but travel regularly? Perhaps you divide your time between Canada and the US, or frequently need to go overseas for work.

Whichever is the case, you’ll need a cost-effective way to spend - and a credit card could be the ideal solution.

Read on for a guide to the best travel credit cards in Canada, with no foreign transaction fees and plenty of travel-related perks.

We’ll also show you a potentially money-saving alternative, the Wise debit card.

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Can a tourist get a credit card in Canada?

If you’re not a resident of Canada but visit regularly, it may be possible to get a credit card there. It all depends on the provider. Some banks require applicants to be residents, while others only offer newcomer packages for people who’ve just moved to Canada. You’ll need to shop around to see if you’ll be eligible.

Is it better to use a US credit card in Canada?

If you don’t live in Canada, you might find it tricky to get a Canadian credit card. But don’t worry, you can use your US credit card countrywide - as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted.

The only thing to check is whether the card has foreign transaction and/or ATM withdrawal fees. And what exchange rate you’ll get for converting your USD to CAD when spending.

Wise debit card

It’s not a credit card, but the Wise debit card could be the ideal solution for spending in Canada and worldwide.

It’s tailor-made for tourists, travelers, international students and expats, as it offers the following features:

• Spend and withdraw cash in 174 countries, wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• Automatically converts your dollars to Canadian dollars (CAD) or the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. There’s just a small conversion fee, or no charge if you already have the currency in your Wise account.
• Withdraw $100 a month from overseas ATMs for free, with a tiny fee of just 2% after that.

This means you can dine, shop and travel across Canada, confident that you’re always getting a great exchange rate. There’s no need to change any money or carry cash around unless you want to.

Open a Wise Account online, and you can order a Wise debit card for a one-time fee of just $9.

Get a Wise Account today

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

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

7 of the best credit cards in Canada for travel

Now, let’s find out which are the best credit cards for travel in Canada.

We’ve included cards on our list that offer travel rewards like points, discounts and air miles. Plus, those that have no foreign transaction fees, although you’ll still need to watch out for charges for ATM withdrawals in some cases.

Card	Fee	APR on purchases	Features
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard¹	$150 CAD a year (free for 1st year)	20.99%	- Up to 60,000 welcome points - 5x points for every $1 CAD spent on travel - Free Mastercard Travel Pass membership - Travel and medical protection
BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard³	$120 CAD a year (free for 1st year)	20.99%	- Bonus air miles for everyday spending - 25% discount on flights - Discounted airport lounge access - 24/7 concierge service
American Express Cobalt Card⁴	$12.99 CAD a month	20.99%	- Bonus points for first year - 5x points on dining, 2x points on travel - Up to $100 hotel credit
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card⁵	$139 CAD a year	20.99%	- Up to 70,000 Aeroplan points - Free enrollment for NEXUS - Free Visa Infinite Concierge service.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card⁶	$150 CAD a year	20.99%	- No foreign transaction fees - 3x points on grocery, dining + entertainment purchases - Bonus points - Airport lounge access - Avis Preferred Plus membership
Home Trust Preferred Visa credit card⁷	None	21.99%⁸	- No foreign exchange fees - 1% cashback rewards - Purchase security - Guaranteed hotel reservations
CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card⁹	$35 (waived in 1st year for CIBC customers)	20.99%	- No currency conversion fees when spending in USD - Up to 2,500 Aventura points

1: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard¹

The Ascend World Elite Mastercard from the Bank of Montreal (BMO) is a decent pick for travel. It offers a number of perks, including

• Up to 60,000 welcome points, redeemable on other eligible travel purchases like flights, hotels and car rental
• 5x points for every $1 CAD spent on travel
• 3x points for entertainment and dining purchases, plus bill payments
• Free Mastercard Travel Pass membership and airport lounge access
• Travel and medical protection
• 25% off rental at selected National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car locations.
• 24/7 concierge service.

There’s an annual fee of $150 CAD (waived in the first year) and an interest rate of 20.99%.

A couple of other important things to know - firstly, there’s a 2.50% fee for currency conversions when you spend overseas.²

You’ll also need a minimum income of $80,000 CAD to apply for this card. Only Canadian residents are eligible.

2: BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard³

Another good offer from BMO is its AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard. This is ideal for frequent flyers, as it gives you the chance to earn air miles on spending.

The full list of rewards and benefits includes:

• 2,000 bonus miles as a welcome offer
• 3x miles for every $12 CAD spend on everyday purchases with AIR MILES partners
• 2x miles on grocery purchases
• 4x miles on eligible fuel purchases with Shell Go+
• 25% off flights
• Discounted airport lounge access with Mastercard Travel Pass membership
• 24/7 concierge service.

The annual fee for the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard is $120, but it’s free for the first year. The 2.50% fee on currency conversions also applies to this card. The interest rate for purchases is 20.99%.

Just like with the previous BMO credit card, you’ll need to be a Canadian resident with a minimum income of $80,000 CAD to apply.

3: American Express Cobalt Card⁴

For a $12.99 CAD monthly fee, you’ll get your own Amex Cobal Credit Card with a whole heap of rewards and bonuses. These aren’t just good for travel, but everyday life too.

This includes:

• 30,000 Membership Rewards points (worth $300) in your first year when you spend $500 a month.
• 5x points on food and drink purchases in Canada
• 3x points on streaming subscriptions
• 2x points on travel and transit
• Up to $100 hotel credit with The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel when you stay two participation nights
• Travel and mobile coverage.

The APR on this card is 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% for cash advance. You may also be charged a commission on foreign currency conversion when you spend overseas. So, check with your card provider before traveling.

You’ll need to be a Canadian resident to apply for this card.

4: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card⁵

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is one of the best airline credit cards in Canada. In return for a $139 CAD annual fee, it claims to offer up to $1,600 CAD in rewards. This includes:

• Up to 70,000 Aeroplan points. This includes a welcome bonus of 10,000 points and an additional 40,000 when you spend $5,000 in the first 180 days.
• Double points when spending at participating Aeroplan retail brands and online stores
• First checked bag free for you and your travel companions on Air Canada flights.
• Free enrollment for NEXUS
• Free Visa Infinite Concierge service.

Aeroplan points are redeemable on Air Canada flights with no restrictions, as well as on hotel room bookings, car rentals and experiences.

The card has an APR on purchases of 20.99%. You can only apply if you’re a Canadian resident with an annual income of $60,000, or a combined household income of $100,000.

5: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card⁶

Don’t want to be charged for spending overseas? The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is one of the few cards on our list with no foreign transaction fees. It does however have an annual fee of $150 and an interest rate of 20.99% on purchases.

In return, you’ll get the following features and rewards:

• 3x points on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases
• 35,000 extra points as a welcome bonus
• 6 free airport lounge visits a year
• Save on car rental with free Avis Preferred Plus membership
• 24/7 Visa Infinite Concierge Service.

To be eligible for this card, you’ll need to have an annual income of $60,000 or a total household income of $100,000.

6: Home Trust Preferred Visa credit card⁷

The Home Trust Preferred Visa credit card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. However, there is a 1% ATM withdrawal fee.⁸

It does have some perks, but not as many travel rewards as other providers. Sign up for this card and you’ll get:

• 1% cashback rewards
• Purchase security
• Guaranteed hotel reservations - your room will be held for you, even if you arrive late.

The interest rate on spending and cash advances is 21.99%.⁸

To apply for this card, you’ll need to be a Canadian resident with an annual income of at least $15,000 CAD.

7: CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card⁹

If you mainly need a credit card for hopping between Canada and the US, this can be an interesting option.

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card aims to help you save on US currency conversion fees. This means you can spend in the US, as well as on online US retailers, for less. However, it doesn’t offer this same benefit when you spend in other countries and currencies.

The card also offers up to 2,500 Aventura points (when you jump through a few hoops). It has an annual fee of just $35 CAD, but this is waived in the first year if you’re a CIBC banking customer.

The interest rate on purchases is 20.99%. You’ll need an annual income of $15,000 to be eligible to apply.

Bottom line

So, which is the best travel credit card in Canada? It’s a tough one to call.

Some of the cards on our list offer great travel rewards and benefits, while others have no foreign currency conversion fees - a feature that could save you a bundle when spending overseas. It’s up to you to work out which matters most.

Don’t forget though that a credit card isn’t your only option. You can spend worldwide with the Wise debit card, for low fees and great exchange rates. It’s convenient, low cost and accepted almost everywhere.

Learn more about Wise

💡 Need more help managing your money in Canada? Read our useful guides to the cost of living in Canada, how to open a Canadian bank account, and how to send money internationally..

Frequently asked questions

Which credit card is the best to use when traveling?

Generally speaking, you’ll want to look for credit cards which have no foreign transaction fees for spending overseas. You may also want extra benefits, such as the chance to earn rewards, points or air miles on spending.

What is the best credit card for traveling to Canada?

If you’re using a US-issued credit card for a trip or vacation to Canada, just make sure it has no foreign transaction fees. Visa, Mastercard and Amex are all widely accepted in Canada.

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Sources used for this article:

1. BMO - BMO Ascent World Elite Mastercard
2. BMO - Important information about BMO Credit Cards
3. BMO - BMO AIR MILES Elite Mastercard
4. American Express - Cobalt Card
5. TD - Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
6. Scotiabank - Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
7. Home Trust - Preferred Visa Card
8. Home Trust - Preferred Visa Disclosure Statement
9. CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card

Sources checked on 07-Jul-2023.