How to temporarily increase your credit limit?

We occasionally read on the milesopedia Facebook group that members run up against their credit limit when they want to undertake certain projects. One example is home improvements. Some will successfully ask lending institutions, by phone or even online, to increase this limit. This is the ideal way to proceed. Be aware, however, that this request may lower your credit score.
However, in case of refusal, there are other ways to increase the credit limit on your credit card. But continue to be good payers and refrain from paying interest on monthly statements. Otherwise, this would not be worth the effort.
This is called artificially increasing your credit limit.

What is an artificial credit increase?
When the amount on your credit account is greater than what is owed, you make the financial institution owe you money rather than the other way around. Your balance becomes negative and you will see it preceded by a minus sign or put in brackets. This is especially true for returns and cancellations.
In the example shown on my HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, two flight cancellations with Air Canada caused my credit limit to increase.


- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuation
- $350ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
on Scotiabank's website
With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.
Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.
With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.
These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:
- No fees for foreign currency transactions
- 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
- Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
- Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Legal
* 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, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:
$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;
$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;
$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;
$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);
$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;
$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.
Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)
The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.
In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.
Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.
Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.
Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.
Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible 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 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus 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 $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.
Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in 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, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.
Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
0%
Earning rate
- 2xGroceries
- 2xRestaurants
- 2xTransit
- 2xEntertainment
- 1xAll spending
Value
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Why and when should I do a credit limit increase?
You want to change your appliances? Need more credit when you travel without asking for a cash advance? Or you want to take advantage of the latest iPhone during an Aeroplan X5 promotion but your new American Express Cobalt™ Card only came with a $1,000 credit limit (which is rare, but can happen)?
Artificially increasing your credit could be the solution in the short term and on an ad hoc basis.

For example, you make home improvements and charge your purchases to the SimplyCash™ Preferred from American Express to earn 2% cash back on all purchases (and 10% for the first 4 months).
A credit limit of $5,000 or $10,000 may not be enough during a billing cycle. By prepaying your credit card, you artificially increase your limit!
- Annual fee
- $119.88
- Our valuation
- $250ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$250Total$250Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$250Total$250Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to $250
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘ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 SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is the only credit card in Canada that offers 2% cash back on all purchases. In addition, you can get:
- 4% cash back at gas stations
- 4% cash back at grocery stores
With this welcome offer, you can get 10% cash back on all your purchases (up to $2,000) during the first 3 months, for a total of up to $200. Plus, receive a $50 credit on your account after making a purchase in the 13th month.
The SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is particularly popular with those who have significant purchases to make: renovations, furniture or appliance purchases, as it offers 2% at all merchants.
This Card stands out for the numerous insurances offered: car rental theft and damage, $100,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (outside the province or country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delay and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Buyer’s Assurance.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and up-to-date 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
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 4xGroceries
- 4xGas & EV
- 2xAll spending
Value
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
4 strategies for artificially increasing your credit limit
The volunteer
The easiest strategy to do. You pay more than your statement shows and by targeting the excess amount you need.
For example, your statement shows $1,000 due. You have purchased $300 worth of goods following the issuance of the statement and have $200 worth of expenses pending. So you need $500 more credit than usual. So you deposit $1000 + $300 + $200 + $500 for a total of $2000. You are then ready to purchase the desired item.
This strategy is used by those who are careful to stay below the 30% utilization ratio of their available credit in order to have a good credit score. Remember: the information reported to Transunion and Equifax credit bureaus is not necessarily synchronized with your credit card billing statement! You may be surprised to find that the balance on your credit report is much higher than what appears on your credit card statement.
To avoid getting caught, prepay your credit card before or right after a major purchase.
The generous
You have pleaded your case with the bank officer who has agreed to refund your annual fee. It’s a small amount, but you’ll see it as a negative on your statement, which will temporarily inflate your credit limit.

The smart one
You have paid for hotel nights or refundable flights that you have cancelled.
You will therefore receive negative refunds but the credit limit will only be increased if the transactions do not appear on the same statement. Otherwise they will be absorbed by ongoing expenses.
The discount
For those with annual cash back credit cards, purchases below the cash back amount will result in a negative balance for the month.
In all cases, you use your negative balance to continue making purchases without affecting your credit limit.
Payment cards
Unlike conventional credit cards, the payment card has no credit limit. Therefore, it does not require the use of artificial credit limit increase strategies. American Express offers several payment cards:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee$199 | Welcome offer Up to 70,000 points | ||
| Annual fee$250 | Welcome offer Up to 60,000 points | ||
| Annual fee$799 | Welcome offer Up to 120,000 points | ||
| Annual fee$799 | Welcome offer Up to 100,000 points | ||
| Annual fee$120 | Welcome offer Up to 45,000 points |
You can simulate what American Express is prepared to grant you via the« Check purchasing power » function on the website.

But the payment card must be paid in full at the end of the month. This in itself should not bother the point hunters, since they pay their debts monthly anyway.
One of the best American Express payment cards is the American Express® Gold Rewards Card. With this card, you can earn 2 points per dollar on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, pharmacy or travel.
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuation
- $1,020ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 60,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘ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”).
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of
- 5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).
You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :
- 60,000 Aeroplan points
- 60,000 Avios
- 60,000 Flying Blue Miles
- 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With this Card, you get many benefits like:
- $100 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
- $50 NEXUS credit
You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:
- gas stations
- grocery stores
- drugstores
And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 2xPharmacy
- 2xGas & EV
- 2xTravel
- 2xGroceries
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Prepaid cards
Finally, prepaid cards can also be a good way to increase your ability to pay, especially since some of them offer a 0.5% discount on purchases.
The KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card is one of them and allows you to deposit up to $20,000. Plus, it’s reloadable. Read all about the KOHO Mastercard prepaid card.
- Annual fee
- $48
- Our valuation
- $20ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- $20
on KOHO's website
Special Offer:
- Enter the code MILESOPEDIA when you apply for your card
- Get $20 when you open a KOHO account and make your first purchase within 30 days of signing up.
The features of the KOHO Prepaid Mastercard with the Essential Plan are as follows:
- Earn 1% cash back on on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation
- Accepted at Costco
- Get 2% interest on your spending and savings account. Your funds will also be eligible for CDIC insurance. Interest rates are annual, calculated daily, paid monthly and may be changed at any time without notice.
- Automate your savings with Goals and RoundUps. Rounding off every purchase allows you to set aside savings, while goals make it easier to save for the things that make you happy.
- Lock in savings with Vault that keeps the funds you don’t want to spend separate from your spendable balance
- Create custom budgets and track your spending habits. Know where you’re at in real time with instant notifications every time you spend.
- Strengthen your credit rating with our 6-month Credit Enhancement Program for only $10/month
- Get access to a cash advance of up to $250 at 0% interest with KOHO Cover
Legal
Only users who have successfully opened a new KOHO account and made their first KOHO card purchase within 30 days of signing up are eligible for the offer and can claim the one-time $20 bonus in their KOHO account. This offer is non-transferable and may only be used once per person. Offer does not apply to other KOHO offers or promotions. KOHO may, at its sole discretion, suspend, terminate or change the terms and requirements of the offer.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
1.5%
Earning rate
- 1xTransit
- 1xGroceries
- 0xAll spending
Value
Bottom Line
At some point, we may all need more credit than our current limits allow. A face-to-face, telephone or even online consultation with our banking institution is the first solution to turn to.
There are also strategies we can use on an ad hoc basis that involve artificially increasing the credit limit. Next are payment and pre-paid cards.
So there are many ways to be able to pay for our projects! As long as you don’t go into debt by paying off your credit cards every month.
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuation
- $255ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-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.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-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.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 15,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘ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 the best credit card from American Express, 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 we value 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
If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.
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, home food delivery and convenience stores. 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.
To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.
The 5X categories and where they apply
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four 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.
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 | 5 |
| 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.
Legal
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
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 5xRestaurants
- 5xGroceries
- 5xConvenience
- 3xStreaming
- 2xTransit
- 2xGas & EV
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Our featured card
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuation
- $990ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 110,000 points
- Ends Sep 22, 2026
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘ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 Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.
New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
- Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.
This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.
Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.
To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.
The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.
You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.
Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.
Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.
You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.
The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.
Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
Legal
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
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2xAll spending
Value
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
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.












