Can I get a credit card in Canada without any credit history?

Yes. Several Canadian financial institutions offer credit cards specifically designed for newcomers with no Canadian credit history at all. Scotiabank StartRight and CIBC Newcomer Visa are the two most well-known programs at major banks. Neo Financial and KOHO also approve newcomers without a Canadian credit score. You will generally need a valid Canadian SIN or ITN, a Canadian bank account, and proof of immigration status (work permit, study permit, or PR card). You do not need to have filed Canadian taxes yet.

What is the Scotiabank StartRight program?

Scotiabank StartRight is a banking bundle for newcomers that includes access to a no-fee chequing account and unsecured credit cards without requiring a Canadian credit history. Eligible newcomers (within their first 3 years in Canada) can apply for the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa or Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite without a credit check based on Canadian history. The Passport Visa Infinite (no FX fees, lounge access) is especially strong for newcomers who travel between Canada and their home country frequently.

Can I transfer my credit score from another country to Canada?

Nova Credit (novacredit.com) is a service that translates credit history from select countries — India, Mexico, Australia, the UK, South Korea, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and the Philippines — into a Canadian-equivalent report. Some Canadian lenders, including American Express Canada, accept Nova Credit reports to approve newcomers for credit cards without Canadian history. This is the fastest path to a premium card if your home country credit is strong. Not all lenders accept Nova Credit; check directly with the issuer.

Is a secured credit card better than an unsecured newcomer card?

It depends on your situation. Unsecured newcomer cards (Scotiabank StartRight, CIBC Newcomer Visa, Neo) require no deposit and are generally preferable because they do not tie up your cash. A secured card (Home Trust Secured Visa, Capital One Secured Mastercard) requires a deposit equal to your credit limit but is available to almost anyone regardless of credit history or immigration status. If you cannot qualify for an unsecured newcomer card — for example if your study permit is very new or your application is declined — a secured card is the reliable fallback. Both types build Canadian credit equally well when used responsibly.

How soon after using my first Canadian credit card will I have a credit score?

You typically need at least one account open for 3–6 months before Equifax and TransUnion generate an initial credit score for you. Once your first statement closes and is reported to the bureaus (usually monthly), you will start accumulating a credit history. After 6 months of on-time payments and low utilization, most newcomers have a credit score in the 650–700 range — sufficient to qualify for standard credit cards. After 12–18 months of responsible use, scores of 720+ are common, which unlocks most premium travel cards.

Best First Credit Cards for Newcomers to Canada in 2026

Getting your first credit card within weeks of arriving in Canada is not only possible — it’s the single most important financial step you can take. Without Canadian credit history, you won’t qualify for a mortgage, car loan, or even some rental apartments. The fastest path is through a Big Five bank newcomer program: Scotiabank StartRight, CIBC Newcomer, TD New to Canada, BMO NewStart, or RBC Newcomer Program. These programs issue unsecured credit cards to newcomers without requiring any Canadian credit history — just your SIN, immigration documents, and a Canadian bank account. If you have strong credit from your home country, Nova Credit can translate it for Amex Canada, potentially giving you access to premium cards on day one. See our full building credit newcomer guide for the step-by-step process.

Best First Credit Cards for Newcomers to Canada (2026)

Card	Annual Fee	Requires Canadian Credit History	Deposit Required	Best For
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa	$0	No (StartRight program)	No	Best overall no-fee newcomer card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite	$150	No (StartRight program)	No	Best newcomer travel card (no FX fees)
CIBC Newcomer Visa	$0	No	No	Best for CIBC banking customers
Neo Mastercard	$0	No	No	Best for cashback at partner stores
KOHO Prepaid Mastercard	$0	No	No	Best for budgeting and spending control
Home Trust Secured Visa	$0	No	Yes (min $500)	Best secured fallback option
Capital One Secured Mastercard	$59	No	Yes ($75–$300)	Readily available to almost everyone
American Express (via Nova Credit)	Varies	Via Nova Credit only	No	Best if you have strong home-country credit

Scotiabank StartRight Program

Scotiabank StartRight is the strongest newcomer program among the Big Five because it gives you access to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — a premium travel card with no foreign transaction fees and lounge access — without any Canadian credit history. That’s a card most Canadians need a 700+ score to qualify for. If you travel between Canada and your home country frequently, the 0% FX fee alone saves hundreds of dollars per year. The no-fee Scene+ Visa is also available if you want to start without an annual fee.

Feature	Detail
Eligibility	Newcomers within their first 3 years in Canada (PR, work permit, study permit)
Bank account	No-fee chequing account included
Credit cards available	Scene+ Visa (no fee), Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite ($150/yr), Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite ($120/yr)
No Canadian credit history needed	Yes — Scotiabank makes an exception under this program
No FX fees card	Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite has no foreign transaction fees — ideal for travel home
Apply at	Any Scotiabank branch with your immigration documents, SIN, and bank account

CIBC Newcomer Banking Program

Feature	Detail
Eligibility	PR holders and immigrants within their first 3 years; some products available to work permit holders
No-fee banking period	First year free chequing account
Credit card	CIBC Simplii Visa (no fee) or CIBC Dividend Visa (with income of $15K+)
Credit history required	No — issued on immigration status and bank relationship
RESP and mortgage access	Program includes guidance on RESP registration and mortgage with limited credit history

Neo Financial Mastercard — No Credit History Needed

Feature	Detail
Annual fee	$0
Approval	Based on income and bank account, not credit score
Cashback	Guaranteed 0.5% everywhere; up to 4–5% at Neo partner stores
Credit limit	Starts low ($500 typical); increases with on-time payments
SIN required	Yes
Builds credit	Yes — reports to Equifax and TransUnion

KOHO Prepaid Mastercard

Feature	Detail
Type	Prepaid (loaded from bank account) — not a true credit card
Builds credit	Yes, via KOHO Credit Building subscription ($7/month) — a secured product in the background
Annual fee	$0 (base plan); $9/month for premium cashback
FX fees	No foreign transaction fee on the Essential and Extra plans
Why newcomers use it	Instant approval, budgeting tools, optional credit building with no hard pull
Limitation	Does not provide a revolving credit limit — cannot be used as emergency credit

Secured Credit Cards: The Fallback Option

If you’re declined for an unsecured newcomer card (which can happen with very new study permits or limited documentation), a secured card is the guaranteed backup. You deposit $300–$500, which becomes your credit limit, and the card reports to the credit bureaus exactly like a regular card. After 6–12 months of on-time payments, most issuers will return your deposit and convert you to an unsecured card. The Home Trust Secured Visa ($0 annual fee) is the most commonly recommended secured card in Canada.

Card	Annual Fee	Minimum Deposit	Why Choose It
Home Trust Secured Visa	$0	$500	No annual fee; widely recommended; refundable deposit
Capital One Secured Mastercard	$59	$75–$300	Easiest to get; very low deposit; accepted for rental applications
Refresh Financial Secured Visa	$12.95/month	$200	Reports to both bureaus; no credit check; suited for all situations

Nova Credit — Transferring Your Foreign Credit Score

Supported Country	Credit Bureau Used
India	CIBIL
Mexico	Buró de Crédito
Australia	Experian AU
United Kingdom	Experian UK
South Korea	Nice Information Service
Brazil	Serasa Experian
Dominican Republic	TransUnion DR
Philippines	CIBI

How it works: Nova Credit translates your home-country credit report into a “Credit Passport” equivalent. American Express Canada accepts this. Apply through Nova Credit’s website before applying to Amex Canada. This can give you access to Amex Cobalt, Amex Platinum, or Amex Aeroplan Reserve on day one — bypassing years of credit building.

Documents You Need to Apply

Document	Where to Get It
SIN (Social Insurance Number)	Service Canada office or online at canada.ca/sin
Immigration document	PR card, work permit (PGWP, LMIA), study permit, or Confirmation of PR
Passport	Current home country or Canadian passport
Proof of address	Lease agreement, utility bill, or bank statement with Canadian address
Canadian bank account number	Required by most issuers to verify identity and set up payments

Credit-Building Timeline for Newcomers

Month	Milestone	Target Score Range
0	Arrive; open bank account; apply for first card	No score yet
3–4	First 3 months of on-time payments; first credit score generated	580–640
6	6 months of consistent low utilization	640–690
12	1 year of history; consider second card to diversify	690–730
18–24	Strong history; eligible for most premium cards	730–780+

The Bottom Line

Apply for a newcomer credit card within your first week in Canada through any Big Five bank’s newcomer program. Use it for small purchases, pay the full balance every month, and keep utilization under 30%. Within 6 months you’ll have a credit score; within 12–18 months you’ll qualify for mainstream credit cards and competitive mortgage rates. Don’t wait — every month without credit is a month of history you can’t get back.