Building a good credit history is important to your financial success in Canada.
Whether you’re a younger person just starting out on your credit journey or a newcomer to Canada, it’s a good idea to learn about how the Canadian financial system works and the best ways to build a good financial foundation for your life.
In this article, we share the best credit cards to help you build your credit history and get yourself going on your credit journey.
What Is Credit History and Why Does It Matter?
Your credit history is a record of how well you’ve managed your credit over time. This information is based on the credit accounts you have (credit cards, lines of credit, mortgages, etc.), and details information such as:
Your credit history and credit score are both important as this information is what’s used when you apply for credit cards, personal and business loans, mortgages, and more. It tells the story of your ability to pay your bills on time and responsibly handle your finances.
Getting your first credit card in Canada is an important step in building up your credit history. Luckily, there are some credit cards that are structured to be more accessible, and these can support your first steps toward building a strong financial foundation.
What To Look For in a Credit Card
When choosing the best credit card to build credit history, there are a few characteristics to look for:
Low minimum income requirement: This makes the card accessible even if you don’t currently have much income.
Credit history requirement: There are many cards that are designed specifically for people with zero credit history in Canada, so if this is your situation, you’ll want to look for these options.
Annual fees: Credit card annual fees range from $0 all the way up to $799+.
Credit score requirements: Many credit cards will check your credit score to see if they want to approve your application. If you’re just starting to build your credit history in Canada, you’ll likely want to focus on cards that don’t have a credit score requirement.
Now, with all this in mind, let’s explore our picks for the best credit cards to build your credit history.
Best Credit Cards to Build Credit History
Neo Secured Credit Card
The first credit card on our list that can help you build credit history is the Neo Secured Credit Card.
This card has no annual fee, no minimum income requirements, and offers credit limits of up to $10,000. It also earns 1% cash back on gas and groceries, and up to 15% cash back with Neo’s partnered merchants.
As a secured credit card, you will need to provide a security deposit to get started, and this deposit determines what credit limit you’re able to access.
This card is great for building credit history since its accessible to anyone who lives in Canada, has a Canadian ID, and is the age of majority in their province. This means that it is accessible even if you don’t currently have foreign worker, international student, or permanent residency status.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$25Total$25Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
This credit card comes with a monthly fee is $12.99, and stands as one of the most popular credit cards in Canada thanks to its ability to earn up to 5 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent.
These valuable and flexible points are not only redeemable for travel, merchandise, and more, but you can choose to transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs like Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy, giving you the opportunity to maximize the value of your points and enjoy free travel.
What makes the American Express Cobalt® Card a good choice for those looking to build credit history is that American Express cards issued directly by American Express Canada have no minimum income requirements, and they often have require a lower credit score than Mastercard or Visa.
These factors combined with the relatively low monthly fee makes the American Express Cobalt® Card accessible to many people, and for this reason we’ve highlighted it on our list.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a credit card with no annual or monthly fee, consider the American Express® Green Card.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
$255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is a versatile American Express card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer valued at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
American Express Cobalt® Card benefits
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, and home food delivery. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
The 5X categories and where they apply
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three kinds of merchants:
Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores (Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
Category
Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)
5
Home food delivery
5
Restaurants and bars
5
Convenience stores
1
Streaming services
3
Service station
2
Transport
2
Travel
1
Other
1
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.
American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,675
2nd Year Value$799
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
With a low minimum income requirement of only $15,000 and an annual fee of $120, this card is stands out for multiple reasons.
It’s one of the few credit cards in Canada that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, which makes it great for when you’re spending abroad. It also earns up to 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent. These points can redeemed for free groceries, meals out, entertainment, travel, and more, making the card very good at saving you money.
As a mid-range credit card, you will likely need to have a reasonable credit score already in order to qualify, but if that’s not available to you the Scotiabank StartRight program can be another way to access this card.
This program is designed to support newcomers to Canada in the first steps of setting up their financial portfolio, so if you don’t qualify for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card on your own, a program representative can certainly help you find an option that suits your situation.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.
Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:
30,000 Scene+ points by charging $2,000 in purchases to 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 $500 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.
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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year and the value of foreign transaction fee savings as of May 22, 2026:
$300 in travel rewards (30,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Gold American Express Cardholders who make purchases totaling $2,000 in the first 3 months
$200 in travel rewards (20,000 bonus Scene+ points) for making purchases totaling $7,500 in the first 12 months
$59 in foreign transaction fee savings based on the average annual amount of foreign currency purchases made per account over the last 24 months (saving on the 2.5% foreign transaction fee typically charged by other credit card issuers);
$398 corresponding to the potential value of points earned in the first year (38,500 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made, per account, over the last 24 months, assuming an average spend of 28% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 6X, 5X and 3X points.
Maximum potential value after the first year = $957 (rounded to $950)
The actual value of offers, savings realized and rewards earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for offers. Conditions apply.
1 Offer Description and Conditions: The 50,000 Scene+ points offer (the « Offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card accounts (the « Accounts ») opened between July 2, 2026, and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account), subject to the conditions below. All other program terms and conditions continue to apply during the Offer period. The Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer.
To qualify for the 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the « 30,000 Bonus Points Offer »), you must make eligible purchases totaling at least $2,000 within three months of the account opening date. To qualify for the 20,000 additional bonus Scene+ points (the « 20,000 Additional Bonus Points Offer »), you must make $7,500 in eligible purchases on your new account during the first year (twelve months). Eligible purchases mean purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and exclude payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, card fees and other fees.
Fulfillment of the Annual Bonus: Bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account within approximately eight weeks after you qualify for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 30,000 bonus points and the 20,000 additional bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000 or $7,500) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months or the first 12 months). If a supplementary cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 30,000 bonus points or the 20,000 additional bonus points, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. Points can be transferred between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, co-borrower or supplementary cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not delinquent, the credit limit is not exceeded, and the holder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement applicable to the account. All other program terms and conditions continue to apply during the Offer period. The Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer.
Eligibility and exclusions: You are not eligible for the Offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or if you have been within the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are eligible for this Offer.
Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $120 for the primary card and $29 for each additional card (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates currently applicable to the account are: 21.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). Rates, fees, features and benefits, which are described in the application statement, are subject to change.
Savings at Shell
Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 5 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with a Scotiabank Gold American Express Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:
Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power® gasoline, or V-Power® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 5 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 5 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.
Note: Highest value of 12 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Gold American Express Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.
Additional 3¢/L at Shell (limited time)
Additional 3¢/L Fuel Discount Offer: Offer valid from October 5, 2026 to December 31, 2026 (“Promotional Period”), eligible Scotiabank credit and debit cardholders enrolled in the Shell Fuel Benefits Program who have linked an eligible Scotiabank payment card (an “Eligible Card”) to their Shell Go+ account will receive an additional instant fuel discount of 3 cents per litre on eligible fuel purchases at participating Shell-branded retail locations in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories (the “Eligible Provinces”) excluding Shell Flying J locations. Fuel purchases made outside the Eligible Provinces are not eligible for this offer.
To receive the additional fuel discount, customers must pay with their linked Eligible Card at the time of purchase.
The additional fuel discount is in addition to the fuel savings available through the Shell Fuel Benefits Program and may be combined with other eligible fuel discounts, rewards programs, and promotional fuel offers unless otherwise stated in the applicable offer terms and conditions.
The additional fuel discount is available on up to 1,000 litres of eligible fuel purchases per calendar month for each Eligible Card. The 1,000-litre limit resets at the beginning of each calendar month.
The additional fuel discount is non-transferable, is not redeemable for cash, and cannot be substituted or exchanged.
The one we’ll highlight here is the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Cardsince it comes with a $0 annual fee, a low minimum income requirement of $15,000, and earns CIBC Aventura travel points.
CIBC also has special offers for international students, people who are new to Canada, and others looking to build their credit history, so if the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card doesn’t feel quite right, the bank may still have a card that fits your credit priorities.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card is one of the best no-fee Visa credit cards with travel rewards in Canada.
With this offer, get up to $200 in value, with no annual fee:
Get up to 12,500 Aventura points (a value of up to $125 toward travel†):
2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* account approval.†
10,000 Aventura points after making your first purchase during the period covered by your first 4 monthly statements†
A free Skip+ membership as an eligible CIBC cardholder (a $110 first-year value)†
With this no annual fee CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:
1 point for every dollar spent at gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and eligible grocery and drug stores†
1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases
And this no-annual-fee CIBC Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:
$100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance
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This is an exclusive digital offer†. To be eligible for this offer: 1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner or affiliate; 2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you†.
This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.†
† Conditions apply. To learn more, select the Apply Now option.
Annual fee
Primary card$0
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$15,000
Household$15,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
1xPharmacy
1xGroceries
1xGas
0.5xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$338
2nd Year Value$194
Travel insurance
Travel AccidentUp to $100,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Capital One Smarts Rewards
The Capital One Smart Rewards™ Mastercard® is quite a unique option on this list as this is the only card that rewards you for making payments to your card balance rather than for making purchases.
This card earns 5 points for every $1 you pay towards your credit card balance, incentivizing you to make consistent payments and helping you build good financial habits.
This card also comes with no annual fee and no minimum income requirement, making it incredibly accessible. In fact, the Capital One Smart Rewards™ Mastercard® lets you check online to see if you’ll be approved prior to applying, so you don’t have to go through the full application process and credit check for nothing.
The Capital One Smart Rewards™ Mastercard® is the first Canadian card to reward you for paying down your balance. You earn 5 points per dollar paid towards your balance, making it an attractive option for building good credit habits while accumulating rewards, with no annual fee.
Your points never expire and are easily redeemed online, with no minimum amount, for gift cards or account credits. For example, 10,000 points accumulated over two months allow you to get a $25 gift card. You can track the number of points accumulated directly from online banking and from the mobile app.
Before applying, you can check if this card is pre-approved for you using the QuickCheck tool, with no impact on your credit score.
The card includes all Mastercard benefits, including Zero Liability and Mastercard Global Services, as well as a range of everyday protections, such as Purchase Assurance, Extended Warranty and Price Protection, plus certain travel coverage. You can also add an authorized user for free.
The annual interest rate ranges from 21.9% to 29.9% for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.
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*Conditions apply.
Capital One is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply Now link for the most up to date information.
This card, like the Capital One Smart Rewards™ Mastercard® above, has no annual fee and no minimum income requirement; however, this card also provides prospective cardholders tremendous peace of mind thanks to the fact that it offers guaranteed approval.
As long as you meet some basic conditions, you’re guaranteed a credit card that can help you build your credit history and solidify your financial path forward.
It’s also worth noting that this card doesn’t offer anything in terms of loyalty rewards; however, it does give you some travel insurance and purchase protection coverage to help make sure you and your purchases are well looked after.
The Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard is designed for those looking to build or rebuild their credit score without paying annual fees. Approval is guaranteed if you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and you can check your pre-approval without affecting your credit score using the Quick Check tool.
By using your card responsibly and making your payments on time, you demonstrate your ability to manage credit to credit reporting agencies, which helps gradually improve your credit history. Capital One regularly reports your file to the credit bureaus.
You get a credit limit of $300 to $7,000 (security funds may be required) along with all Mastercard benefits: Zero Liability, Mastercard Global Services, and 24/7 customer service. The card also includes a range of everyday protections, such as purchase assurance, extended warranty, and price protection service, as well as some travel coverage.
You can add an authorized user for free. The annual interest rate is 29.9% (21.9% for Quebec residents) for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
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* You’re guaranteed to be approved for a Capital One Mastercard as long as you:
Are at least the age of majority in your province or territory of residence;
Don’t have a frozen credit profile and your eligibility for credit is not prohibited for legal or regulatory reasons;
Don’t have an existing Capital One account or a pending application for one; and
Haven’t applied for a Capital One account more than once in the last 30 days, haven’t had a Capital One account that was not in good standing in the last year, and aren’t in legal recoveries with Capital One.
Capital One is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply Now link for the most up to date information.
The Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard is the secured version of Capital One’s guaranteed-approval card: it is designed for people who want to build or rebuild their credit score, with approval guaranteed as long as you meet the basic eligibility criteria. Unlike the standard version, security funds are required to open this account.
By using your card responsibly and making your payments on time, you show the credit bureaus that you can manage credit, which helps gradually improve your credit history. You can check whether you are pre-approved using the QuickCheck tool, with no impact on your credit score.
The card has no annual fee and gives you access to Mastercard benefits along with everyday protections such as Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty. You can add an authorized user for free. The annual interest rate is 29.9% (21.9% for Quebec residents) on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.
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* You’re guaranteed to be approved for a Capital One Mastercard as long as:
You have reached the age of majority in your province or territory of residence
You don’t have a frozen credit profile and your eligibility for credit is not prohibited for legal or regulatory reasons
You don’t have an existing Capital One account or a pending application for one; and
You haven’t applied for a Capital One account more than once in the last 30 days, haven’t had a Capital One account that was not in good standing in the last year, and aren’t in legal recoveries with Capital One.
Capital One is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply Now link for the most up to date information.
Annual fee
Primary card$0
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
0xAll spending
Value
2nd Year Value$0
Travel insurance
Delayed BaggageUp to $300
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 31 days
Price protectionIncluded
Koho Prepaid Mastercard
The last card on our list is the KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card, which won the Milesopedia award for best card for newcomers. However, it’s important to immediately note that the card itself will not help you build your credit history.
This is because the KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card is a prepaid credit card, so you actually load money onto the card and can then spend up to this amount. This style of card can be very helpful for budgeting and for having an accessible way to make online purchases and spend in situations where a credit card is needed.
This card comes with a low annual fee of $48, no minimum income requirement, and it earns up to 2% cash back on purchases. Additionally, you can get the KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card even if you don’t currently have foreign worker or permanent residency status.
In particular, the product that will help you build your credit history is Koho’s 6-month Credit Enhancement Program. This program gives you access to a special no-fee, no-interest line of credit. When you make payments to this account each month, Koho will report this positive credit building activity to the credit bureaus, helping you get financially established faster.
Whether you’re brand new to Canada and just starting your credit journey or looking for the best way build up a lower credit score, there’s lots of great cards to choose from.
With so many fantastic credit card rewards options in Canada, as long you make sure you pay off your balance each month and spend within your means, a strong credit history and credit score can literally help take you around the world.
A credit history is a record of how well you’ve managed your credit over time. The information is based on the credit accounts you have (credit cards, lines of credits, mortgages, etc.), and details things like how much you owe, whether you make payments on time, whether you’ve ever declared bankruptcy, and more.
Can I get a credit card with no credit history?
Yes! There are a number of credit cards available even if you don’t have any Canadian credit history.
You can look at secured or prepaid credit cards like the Neo Secured Credit Card or the KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card, or you find a credit card using the newcomer to Canada programs offered by banks like CIBC, Scotiabank, RBC, BMO, and TD.
Can I get a credit card without a credit check?
Rarely. A credit card application normally triggers a check of your file: the FCAC lists it as a hard inquiry. With no credit history, or after a bankruptcy or other credit problems, a secured credit card is the most accessible option. According to the FCAC, the deposit ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and the credit limit is normally equal to or higher than the deposit. Before applying, check your credit report with Equifax and TransUnion, since an error can explain a refusal.
Is paying off small purchases in full enough?
Yes, that is the foundation. Your payment history is the most important part of your credit score. When you pay the full balance by the due date, you pay no interest: as of September 2026, federally regulated financial institutions must provide an interest-free grace period of at least 21 days. Unlike a debit card, a credit card reports your activity to the credit bureaus. Still, keep your utilization under 30% of your limit, even if you pay in full every month, and avoid cash advances, which charge interest from day one.
How long does it take to build a good score?
There is no fixed timeline, because credit bureaus do not share the exact details of their formulas (FCAC). Your credit report is created when you first borrow or apply for credit, and it is updated at least once a month. Your score rises as on-time payments add up, and length of history matters: lenders want to see a long and stable credit history. That is why the FCAC suggests keeping your oldest accounts open, especially if they have no annual fee.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$469Annual fee rebated$120Total$589Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa Infinite rewards credit cards in Canada. Its welcome offer lets you earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,150*.
It also includes a monthly statement credit for streaming services, an annual $50 lifestyle credit, and no annual fee for the first year (a $120 value)*.
With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you also get:
5x BMO Rewards points for every dollar spent on groceries, meal delivery or takeout, rideshare, public transit, and gas*
1 BMO Rewards point for every dollar spent on all other purchases*
10% more points when you add an authorized user to your account*
Mobile device insurance offering coverage up to $1,000*
The Pay with Points feature, which allows you to redeem your points on recent purchases starting at $1*
Six months of Instacart+ membership plus a monthly $10 Instacart credit with an eligible card*
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Annual fee
Primary card$120
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$60,000
Household$100,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xTransit
5xGas
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,128
2nd Year Value$365
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Our editorial integrity
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.
