Guide: The 4 Best No-Fx Fee Credit Cards

Q: How much do I really save with a no-FX-fee credit card?

The standard Canadian foreign transaction fee is 2.5%. A traveller spending $5,000 in foreign currency per year on a regular card pays $125 in invisible FX fees; spending $15,000 abroad costs $375. A no-FX card such as the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card or the Scotiabank® Platinum American Express® Card erases that surcharge entirely, which usually outweighs the annual fee in the first year of frequent travel.

Q: Which no-FX card is best if I want airport lounge access too?

The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is the top-tier choice: 10 free airport lounge visits per year via Visa Airport Companion, a $250 annual travel credit, and a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 Scene+ points ($1,000 value). For a less expensive option, the Scotiabank® Platinum American Express® Card includes 10 free Priority Pass lounge accesses and earns 2X Scene+ points on every dollar.

Q: Are these no-FX cards still useful when I am not travelling?

Yes. They also save the 2.5% surcharge on online purchases billed in USD, which includes most SaaS subscriptions, Steam games, Apple App Store purchases that bill in US dollars, US-based Etsy or eBay vendors, and many international airline websites. Members who shop online frequently in foreign currencies often save more than the annual fee just from streaming, cloud storage and software subscriptions, even if they never leave Canada.

Credit Cards Guide: The 4 Best No-Fx Fee Credit Cards

To the point Are you looking for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee? Here are the four best credit cards in Canada!

Milesopedia recommends this card from Scotiabank

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card

Up to 60,000 Scene+ Points Ends Jul 1, 2026

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Most Canadian credit cards charge a conversion fee for foreign currency transactions. This conversion fee is generally 2.5%.

If you frequently travel outside Canada – or regularly make purchases in currencies other than the Canadian dollar – it can be particularly attractive to have a credit card that doesn’t charge conversion fees for foreign currency transactions!

Here are the four no-conversion-fee credit cards available in Canada, all issued by Scotiabank and part of the Scene+ program:

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Visa Infinite ^+* Passport^MC Card, you get up to 60,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus (a value of $600):

40,000 points after $2,000 in purchases within the first three months
10,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first six months
10,000 points after $40,000 in purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 points, which represents a $100 value.

With the Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You also earn 2 points per dollar spent, including on foreign purchases, in the following categories:

Grocery shopping
Restaurants
Entertainment centers
Transit

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card is an excellent Visa credit card for these types of purchases.

These points can be used for any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusive packages, and even Airbnb). You can also redeem your points as cash back with Scene+, for example, at your grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 access to VIP airport lounges
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Concierge service
Travel with confidence with 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, plus access to GigSky Travel Essentials for essential apps on the go.
Cardholders also receive a free 1 GB/15-day GigSky global mobile data package annually, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until July 1, 2026, you can get up to 45,000 Scene+ points as a bonus, distributed as follows:

25,000 Scene+ points by spending $2,000 on the card within the first 3 months
20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $450 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

Grocery stores
Restaurants
Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

Scotiabank^®* Platinum American Express^® Card

For a limited time, by subscribing to Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card, you can earn up to 80,000 points. That’s a value of $800 for trips including Airbnb.

With Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card, you earn 2 points per dollar spent on all your purchases. You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). And you can also use them for other rewards in the Scene+ program, such as cash back.

What’s more, with this card you pay no fees for foreign currency transactions, and you get 10 free accesses to airport VIP lounges like Priority Pass and Premium Plaza.

And you get excellent insurance for your travels or purchases, concierge service, and exclusive American Express Offers (American Express Invites Program).

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you can earn up to 100,000 bonus Scene+ points (a $1,000 value):

30,000 points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
45,000 points after $20,000 in purchases in the first six months
25,000 points by making an eligible purchase in the 14th month after account opening

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you earn:

3X Scene+ points for every $1 in eligible travel purchases
2X Scene+ points for every $1 in eligible purchases at dining and entertainment establishments
1X Scene+ points for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Including on foreign purchases, with no foreign transaction fees.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

These points can be used against any travel purchase at the rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb). You can also redeem your points for cash back at Scene+, for example, at your local grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
$250 annual travel credit
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Concierge service

Bottom Line

These four no-conversion-fee credit cards are all excellent choices for travelers: they offer you travel points as well as numerous benefits and insurances.

It’s up to you to choose from these no-conversion-fee credit cards!

Frequently Asked Questions about the best no-FX-fee credit cards in Canada

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.

How much do I really save with a no-FX-fee credit card?

The standard Canadian foreign transaction fee is 2.5%. A traveller spending $5,000 in foreign currency per year on a regular card pays $125 in invisible FX fees; spending $15,000 abroad costs $375. A no-FX card such as the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card, the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card or the Scotiabank^® Platinum American Express^® Card erases that surcharge entirely, which usually outweighs the annual fee in the first year of frequent travel.

Which no-FX card is best if I want airport lounge access too?

The Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is the top-tier choice: 10 free airport lounge visits per year via Visa Airport Companion, a $250 annual travel credit, and a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 Scene+ points ($1,000 value). For a less expensive option, the Scotiabank^® Platinum American Express^® Card includes 10 free Priority Pass lounge accesses and earns 2X Scene+ points on every dollar.

Are these no-FX cards still useful when I am not travelling?

Yes. They also save the 2.5% surcharge on online purchases billed in USD, which includes most SaaS subscriptions, Steam games, Apple App Store purchases that bill in US dollars, US-based Etsy or eBay vendors, and many international airline websites. Members who shop online frequently in foreign currencies often save more than the annual fee just from streaming, cloud storage and software subscriptions, even if they never leave Canada.

Can I use a no-FX-fee card for ATM withdrawals abroad?

Technically yes, but it is rarely a good idea. Withdrawing cash with a credit card — even a no-FX one — counts as a cash advance, which carries an upfront fee of $5 or so plus immediate interest at 22%+ APR from day one with no grace period. For overseas cash, use a no-FX debit card like the Scotiabank Passport™ debit or a multi-currency account such as Wise or EQ Bank instead.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!

Marie-Ève Leclerc

Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.

All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc

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Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions about the best no-FX-fee credit cards in Canada

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