No, Costco doesn't accept Visa in its Canadian warehouses, but you can still put your Visa to work: buy Costco Shop Cards with it on costco.ca, then pay with those cards in the warehouse. You keep earning points or cash back, and a new card can earn you $300 in the first few months.
Costco's Canadian warehouses accept Mastercard (credit and debit), debit cards, cash, Shop Cards, personal cheques and Apple Pay. Visa and American Express are not on the list.
In the United States, it's the other way around: Costco warehouses accept Visa. That's handy if you winter down south or shop across the border.
In Canada, your Visa therefore only works online, on costco.ca, as the checkout page below shows.
Paying with a Visa on costco.ca
On costco.ca, you can pay with a Mastercard, a Visa, most debit cards or a Shop Card, according to Costco Canada's list of accepted payment methods. It is the only Costco channel in Canada where your Visa is accepted.
Your Visa therefore works for the whole online catalogue, such as an appliance delivered to your home. Do compare with the warehouse, though: the same item often costs less there.
The real value lies elsewhere: with your Visa, you buy Shop Cards on costco.ca, then spend them in the warehouse just like cash.
Costco Shop Cards
The Shop Card is Costco's gift card. It turns a Visa purchase on costco.ca into a balance you can then spend:
In the warehouse, in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico
Online, on costco.ca and costcobusinesscentre.ca
At gas stations and the food court, with a physical card only
You buy Shop Cards on costco.ca in amounts from $50 to $2,000, up to $10,000 per day. They never expire, but Costco does not refund them.
You then choose a format at checkout, and that choice decides where you can pay with the card:
Digital Shop Card: it arrives by email, normally within 24 hours, and works in the warehouse and on costco.ca. It is not accepted at gas stations or at the food court, and it cannot be reloaded.
Physical Shop Card: mailed to you in 7 to 10 business days, it also works at the pump and the food court, and you can reload it in the warehouse.
Only members can buy a Shop Card, but a non-member can use one in the warehouse: they show it at the entrance, then pay any difference with cash, debit or Mastercard.
Are you a member and a friend or relative isn't? Buy them a Shop Card with your credit card and let them pay you back by Interac e-Transfer. You earn the points or cash back, and they shop in the warehouse without a membership.
Which Visa card to use for Costco
The best Visa card for your Shop Cards is one that is starting a welcome offer. Costco.ca is not coded as a grocery store, so you earn your card's base rate there, but every dollar counts toward the bonus minimum spend. We recommend two cards, depending on whether you want cash back or travel:
For cash back: the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card pays you 15% on the first $2,000 of purchases in your first 3 months, for accounts opened between July 2 and November 1, 2026. Its $120 annual fee is waived in the first year.
For travel points: the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card gives you 20,000 TD Rewards Points on your first purchase, then 140,000 points once you spend $7,500 within 180 days. TD rebates the $139 annual fee in year one if you make your first purchase within 3 months.
Here is your net gain in year one if you swap your usual Costco spending for Shop Cards paid with these cards:
Scotia Momentum: $2,000 of Shop Cards × 15% = $300 cash back, with no annual fee in the first year, so $300 net.
TD First Class Travel: 20,000 + 140,000 bonus points, plus 15,000 base points (2 points per dollar on $7,500) = 175,000 TD Rewards Points. At 200 points per dollar on Expedia For TD, that is $875 in travel, and TD rebates the $139 annual fee in the first year.
Once you have the bonus, these cards drop back to about 1% at Costco: 1% cash back with the Momentum, or 2 TD Rewards Points per dollar with First Class Travel, which is 1% in travel. At that point the CIBC Costco Mastercard does just as well in the warehouse, with no annual fee and no Shop Cards to buy.
The CIBC Costco Mastercard doubles as your credit card and your Costco membership card. Your cash back builds up from January to December, and CIBC pays it out as a Costco cash back gift certificate with your January statement:
3%: at restaurants and Costco gas stations
2%: at other gas stations, EV charging stations and on costco.ca
1%: on all other purchases, including in the warehouse, and on gas and costco.ca spending beyond CIBC's annual caps
Annual fee: $0, with a minimum personal income of $15,000
Our advice: keep this Mastercard for Costco gas, where it earns you 3%, and for warehouse purchases once your welcome bonus period is over. During the first months of a new Visa card, however, your Shop Cards earn you far more than the 1% you get in the warehouse.
The CIBC Costco Mastercard is a no-annual-fee cash back card, reserved for Costco members and especially rewarding on restaurant meals and gas.
What the card gives you:
3% cash back on restaurant purchases
3% cash back on gas purchased at Costco and 2% at other gas stations, on the first $5,000 in net annual purchases, then 1%
2% cash back at Costco.ca, on the first $8,000 in net annual purchases, then 1%
1% cash back on all other purchases, including those made at Costco
No annual fee and free additional cards
The $5,000 and $8,000 limits reset to zero every year on January 1. The annual interest rate is 21.75% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances. A 2.5% conversion fee applies to foreign currency transactions.
Annual fee
Primary card$0
Additional card$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
3xGas
3xRestaurants
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$414
2nd Year Value$350
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costco accept Visa in Canada?
Not in Canadian warehouses or at Costco gas stations. On costco.ca, however, you can pay with a Visa, a Mastercard, a debit card or a Costco Shop Card. That is what lets you buy Shop Cards with your Visa and then spend them in the warehouse.
Which payment methods do Costco warehouses accept in Canada?
Canadian warehouses accept Mastercard (credit and debit), debit cards, cash, Costco Shop Cards, personal cheques and Apple Pay. Visa and American Express are not on the list published by Costco customer service.
Does Costco take American Express?
No. Costco Canada does not accept American Express in its warehouses, on costco.ca or at its gas stations. You also cannot use an Amex to buy Shop Cards.
Can you pay for Costco gas with a Shop Card?
Yes, but only with a physical Shop Card. Costco gas stations accept Mastercard, debit cards and physical Shop Cards; digital Shop Cards are not accepted at the pump or at the food court.
Does a Costco Shop Card expire?
No, a Costco Shop Card has no expiry date. It is non-refundable, though, and its balance cannot be redeemed for cash or used to pay a credit card bill unless required by law.
Can a non-member use a Costco Shop Card?
Yes, but only in the warehouse. The non-member shows the Shop Card at the entrance and, if the purchase exceeds the balance, pays the difference with cash, debit or Mastercard. Only a member can buy a Shop Card.
Do Costco warehouses in the United States accept Visa?
Yes. In the United States, Costco accepts Visa, Costco credit cards (including the CIBC Costco Mastercard), most debit cards and Shop Cards. Your Canadian Shop Card balance can also be used there, which spares you your credit card's foreign transaction fee on those purchases.
Does the 2% Executive Member Reward apply to Shop Cards?
No. Costco's terms state that the 2% Executive Member Reward does not apply to Shop Card activation or reloads. Your rewards on Shop Cards therefore come from the credit card that pays for them, not from your membership.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.
Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.
With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:
5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
2 points per dollar on recurring bills
2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
1 point per dollar for all other purchases
And since it’s a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.
With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:
Airport parking
Baggage fees
Seat selection
Access to airport lounges
Airline ticket upgrades
What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.
Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Legal
® Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.
® The À LA CARTE REWARDS logo is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA LOUNGE is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Inc. is not a sponsor of or participant in National Bank Mobile Banking Solutions.
® Google Pay is a registered trademark of Google LLC. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Inc. Permissions.
TM À LA CARTE TRAVEL is a trademark of National Bank of Canada. The À la carte Travel agency is owned by Transat Distribution Canada Inc. and holds a Quebec permit (No. 753141).
TM À LA CARTE REWARDS is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED and NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.
* Mastercard® World Elite®
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best Mastercard credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best travel credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
Every year, Milesopedia reviews credit card offers from major financial institutions and establishes its Ranking based on over 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offer, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.
Certain restrictions apply. For more information, see the Rewards Plan section or the Plan Rules applicable to point accumulation.
Grace period: No interest is charged on purchases made during the month if the cardholder pays the full balance of their account within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances and balance transfers. Minimum payment: if your account balance is less than $10, you must pay the balance in full. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is 5% of your account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. If you reside outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. Account statement: an account statement is sent monthly.
Table of examples of credit fees calculated over a 30-day period
Annual interest rate
$500
$3,000
22.49%
$9.24
$55.45
20.99%
$8.63
$51.76
13.2%
$5.53
$33.16
9.2%
$3.78
$22.68
*Variable interest rate in effect as of September 1, 2021.
Balance transfers and cash advances are subject to National Bank credit approval. Each amount transferred cannot be less than $250.
Exclusive to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Presentation of the physical credit card and boarding pass is required to access the lounge. The National Bank® Lounge is accessible to customers traveling on international flights only (excluding flights to Canada and the United States). You benefit from free and unlimited access with one guest and two children aged 12 and under. Until October 4, 2026 (date subject to change), customers can enter the National Bank Lounge three hours before their flight departure time. From October 5, 2026 (date subject to change), access will be authorized for a maximum duration of 2 hours (3 hours for customers who hold a Private Banking 1859® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card). National Bank customers who are not World Elite ® Mastercard ® cardholders can also access the current lounge based on current rates and benefit from a 25 % discount on these rates : 63,24 $ taxes included for adults (excluding discount) $40.24 taxes included for children aged 2 to 12 (excluding discount) free for children under 2 (excluding discount) The entry fee is subject to change without notice and is the responsibility of the lounge operator.
Subject to providing the required supporting documents in the manner and within the prescribed timeframe. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard (Cardholder) whose account is in good standing can request a « Travel Fee Reimbursement ». « Account in good standing » means an account linked to the credit card that does not violate the Credit Card Agreement in any way and on which no restrictions apply. For example, and without limitation, the associated annual fees must have been paid in full. The maximum reimbursement of $150 can be requested from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Eligible expenses are: airport parking baggage fees seat selection airport lounge access worldwide airline ticket upgrades A reimbursement request must be made within 60 days of the purchase date. Travel expenses must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card account. The maximum reimbursement of $150 is applicable per account. Please allow up to 7 business days for the reimbursement to be processed from the date your request is submitted. National Bank reserves the right to request additional supporting documents for validation purposes (e.g., invoices). You must keep all receipts and supporting documents for a period of 12 months from the date you made your reimbursement request. An unused reimbursement in one year cannot be carried over to the next year. You can make your request online at rewards.nbc.ca or by calling 1-800-341-8083 (toll-free) for an agent to assist you with your travel fee reimbursement request.
Point accumulation on grocery and restaurant spending depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, across all categories. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The 5 points per dollar accumulation is valid for the first $2,500 of gross monthly purchases charged to the account. Beyond this amount, eligible grocery and restaurant spending will earn 2 points per dollar. The calculation of the gross monthly purchase amount is based on monthly billing. A grocery purchase means a purchase made at a merchant whose primary business is selling food, such as a grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, fruit store, or specialty food store. Meal kit subscriptions and meal delivery services are eligible. Therefore, this definition excludes, among others, retail stores and big-box stores whose primary business is selling non-food items. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. A restaurant purchase means a purchase made at a restaurant, including quick-service restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs, and taverns. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
These protections apply if the purchases or rental are paid for in part with the card before departure, except, if applicable, for out-of-province medical-hospital insurance for which it is not necessary to charge the purchase of an à la carte trip and for baggage delay protection where the full cost of transport must have been charged to the card. All these protections apply to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or their dependent children when they (spouse and dependent children) travel with the cardholder. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, provided the manufacturer’s warranty exists and is valid in Canada. Certain conditions, limitations and restrictions apply. For more information and details regarding your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. See all credit card terms and conditions.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your gas or electric charging purchases at a gas station or certain big-box stores. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
Recurring bill payments are defined as payments made monthly or regularly that are automatically charged by the merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard. Not all merchants offer recurring payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Therefore, some payments may not qualify for accelerated reward points.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your eligible purchases through the À la carte TravelTM agency section of our À la carte RewardsTM site.
For example, if you spend $400 monthly on groceries, $200 on gas, $100 on recurring bills and $150 on other purchases, the $850 spent will generate 2,750 points, broken down as follows: 2,000 points for grocery spending (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, which is less than $2,500), 400 points for gas spending, 200 points for recurring bills and 150 points for other purchases.
Insurance up to $1,000 in case of breakage, loss or theft of mobile devices for a maximum period of 2 years following the date of purchase. Subject to purchasing the device with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or a phone service subscription paid by recurring payments from your National Bank Platinum Mastercard starting September 1, 2022. For all conditions, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Annual fee
Primary card$150
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$80,000
Household$150,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
2xGas
2xBills & recurring payments
2xTravel
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923
Card benefits
Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 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.