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Looking for an easy-to-get credit card in Canada? Several options exist for people who want to get their first card, establish their credit history, or access rewards without meeting high requirements.
However, an easy-to-get card does not mean automatic approval. Financial institutions generally assess your credit file, income, financial situation, and ability to repay your purchases.
Fortunately, some cards are more accessible than others. This is particularly the case for no-annual-fee cards, student cards, cards with no published minimum income, and secured cards.
In this guide, you’ll discover which credit cards are the easiest to get in Canada. You’ll also understand the eligibility criteria, elements to check before applying, and strategies to increase your chances of approval.
An easy-to-get credit card is a card whose approval criteria are generally more accessible than those of premium cards. It is often suitable for people who are starting their credit journey or who want to rebuild their file.
These cards may require fewer income-related requirements. Some do not even display any specific minimum income in their public criteria.
However, the issuer still checks several elements before approving your application. Among these are:
Thus, even a credit card with no minimum income required may necessitate an analysis of your profile.
An accessible card can also represent a first step toward more advantageous products. By using your card responsibly, you can gradually improve your file and access higher credit limits.
Several types of cards may be accessible depending on your situation. The best choice depends on your credit history, income, and goals.
Some people are looking for a no-annual-fee card. Others prefer to accumulate rewards, get cash back, or build their credit file.
Here are the main card categories to consider.
The American Express cards represent an interesting option for many Canadian consumers. Unlike some premium cards offered by banks, several cards issued directly by American Express Canada do not indicate a required minimum income.
For example, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card and the American Express Platinum Card® do not require a minimum income.
Here is a more complete selection:
However, this does not mean that all applications are automatically accepted. As with any credit card, American Express analyzes your financial profile before making a decision.
Accessible American Express cards allow you to earn different types of rewards, depending on the card chosen.
Some cards may also offer a welcome bonus after reaching an amount of eligible purchases within days of opening the account.
On the Scotiabank side, some American Express cards may have different requirements. For example, the Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card* requires a minimum income of $12,000.
Before applying, always check the criteria specific to the issuer.
The Mastercard and Visa cards are offered by several Canadian financial institutions. Among these are BMO, the National Bank of Canada, Capital One, Desjardins, MBNA, RBC, Scotia, and Tangerine.
To find an easy-to-get credit card, it is often preferable to start with no-annual-fee cards or cards designed for students.
For example, the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for Students can be a good option for someone who wants to start building their credit history.
National Bank also offers several cards accessible with no specific minimum income and no annual fee, such as the NBC mycredit Mastercard (cash back), the National Bank Allure Mastercard® and the National Bank’s MC1 Mastercard.
Here is a selection of Mastercard and Visa cards requiring no minimum income:
These cards generally offer a more modest credit limit. However, they allow you to learn how to manage a credit card account while establishing good financial habits.
Depending on the card chosen, you could also get cash back and benefits related to eligible purchases.
If you have little or no credit history, a secured card can be an interesting solution. This type of card is often easier to get than a traditional card.
The operation is simple: you generally provide a security deposit that serves as a guarantee to the issuer. This amount can then determine your available credit limit.
Unlike a prepaid card, a secured card works like a real credit card. Your payments and usage are generally reported to the credit bureaus, which can help you build your history.
Secured cards may be suitable for:
For example, the Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard® is among the accessible options for several profiles.
This card does not require any specific minimum income. Approval is instead based on certain basic criteria, such as the age of majority in your province, the absence of an existing Capital One account, and certain conditions related to your file.
This card does not offer rewards. However, it can represent a first step to develop good habits and eventually access other credit products.
Even if some cards do not display any minimum income, others become accessible with a relatively modest annual income.
A personal income of $15,000 and above can open the door to more cards offering enhanced rewards, better insurance, or a higher credit limit.
These cards often represent an intermediate step between basic cards and premium cards.
Among the accessible options with a lower income, we find:
Some cash back cards may also be accessible with lower income requirements.
For example:
These cards often allow you to earn more interesting rewards than a basic card. However, it remains important to compare the interest rate, annual fees, and benefits according to your profile.
Some credit cards offer more significant benefits, a higher credit limit, or more comprehensive insurance. Financial institutions therefore use minimum income as an element of risk assessment.
However, income is not the only factor analyzed. Your credit history, payment capacity, and financial habits also play an important role.
Income requirements may also come from the card networks themselves, such as Mastercard and Visa.
High-end cards, such as Mastercard World Elite cards or Visa Infinite, generally target consumers with a more established financial profile.
These cards often require:
These criteria allow institutions to offer premium benefits, such as:
Consequently, these cards are generally not among the easiest options to get.
However, not being eligible for a premium card does not mean you do not have access to good options. Several accessible cards already allow you to accumulate rewards and build a solid credit history.
Even with an easy-to-get credit card, certain best practices can improve your chances of approval.
Financial institutions always assess your profile before accepting an application. Here are the main elements to consider.
Before applying for a new card, it can be useful to know your credit score and history.
A file with late payments, high balances, or errors can influence the issuer’s decision.
Additionally, checking your file allows you to quickly identify any incorrect information that could affect your ability to obtain credit.
Each full credit card application can result in a credit check.
Even if the effect is generally temporary, several applications in quick succession can give the impression that you are trying to obtain a lot of credit quickly.
It is therefore preferable to compare cards before submitting an application.
Choose a card suited to your situation rather than several cards at the same time.
Your credit utilization represents the proportion of your credit limit used.
For example, if your card has a limit of $1,000 and your balance is $500, your utilization is 50%.
Generally, maintaining a utilization rate below 30% can help demonstrate good credit management.
Thus, even a card with a small limit can help you build a positive file when you use it correctly.
Finally, the best way to get approval is to choose a card that truly corresponds to your situation.
A person with no credit history will often have more success with:
Conversely, a person who already has a good file can aim for cards offering more rewards, such as travel points or cash back.
Before applying, compare the available options according to your goals.
The best easy-to-get credit card depends primarily on your financial profile and goals.
A person who is starting to use credit will not necessarily have the same needs as a consumer who wants to maximize their rewards or rebuild their file.
Here are some common situations and the options to consider.
In all cases, the goal should be to choose a card you can manage easily.
A high credit limit or an interesting welcome bonus does not compensate for late payments or poor credit usage.
For many consumers, a simple card used regularly is often the best starting point. Tracking is easier, and you will be more confident moving forward.
An easy-to-get credit card can be an excellent first step to access credit, establish a financial history, or rebuild your file. Take it one step at a time.
However, accessibility should not be the only criterion to consider. Before applying, take the time to compare annual fees, interest rate, rewards, and benefits offered.
Some cards with no minimum income may be suitable for students, self-employed workers, newcomers, or people with variable income. Other options, such as secured cards, may be better suited to people with no credit history.
Finally, good management remains essential. It cannot be said enough:
Before choosing a card, we also encourage you to use our credit card comparison tool to identify the offers that best match your profile.
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