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Best Loyalty Programs for Newcomers to Canada

Best Loyalty Programs for Newcomers to Canada
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In Canada, there are lots of loyalty programs to choose from, each one letting you earn points that can save you money on travel, groceries, your credit card bill, and more!

This guide gives you our picks for the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada to help you navigate your options and set you on a money-saving loyalty program path.

What Are the Best Loyalty Programs for Newcomers to Canada

The best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada are:

  • American Express Membership Rewards
  • Aeroplan
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Scene+
  • TD Rewards
  • Avion
  • NBC Rewards
  • BMO Rewards
  • CIBC Aventura
  • PC Optimum

Of course, choosing which loyalty programs to sign up for will depend on your personal priorities and desires in terms of what type of rewards are most helpful and valuable to you.

To help you choose a loyalty program or two that fit your financial and travel goals, we give you an overview of each program in the sections below and connect you with additional guides for more in-depth details.

How to Choose the Best Loyalty Program as a Newcomer to Canada

When choosing your first loyalty program or two, you’ll want to consider the following:

  • what rewards does the program earn?
  • what rewards do you prefer to earn?
  • how does the program work? (i.e., how do you earn points?)
  • do you need to earn with a credit card or can you just scan a membership card?

In our list of the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada, we’ve included a range of programs, some focusing on free/discount flights, some on free hotel stays, and many offering flexible rewards that can be redeemed in lots of different ways.

With all of the programs, the fastest way to earn points is usually with a co-branded credit card. In fact, in many cases, spending on a credit card is the only way to earn points.

However, there are programs like Scene+ and PC Optimum that let you earn points through eligible purchases by simply signing up for a free membership and scanning your card.

Additionally, with Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy, you can earn points when you purchase eligible flights and hotel stays, respectively.

This means that you’ll want to consider your loyalty program preferences when selecting your first credit card so that you can earn a loyalty currency that’s valuable to you.

Luckily, though, you don’t have to only pick one loyalty program — you’re very welcome to earn points with multiple programs by having multiple credit cards and by using the right combination of credit cards and program membership cards.

With all this in mind, every loyalty program is a little bit different, so let’s take a look at each of the 10 on our list:

Best Loyalty Programs for Newcomers to Canada - Loyalty program newcomers card machine with hands tapping card

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express’ Membership Rewards program is one of the most valuable loyalty programs in Canada.

As a member, you earn membership rewards (MR) points, which are accumulated by making purchases on a handful of American Express credit cards. The number of points you earn is based on the specific card’s earning rate and the type of purchase you made.

For newcomers to Canada, we recommend starting with either the American Express® Green Card or the American Express Cobalt® Card, as these are the most accessible of the American Express credit cards that earn MR points.

A big part of what makes this program so excellent is that MR points can be redeemed many different ways. Not only can you use your MR points for merchandise and gift cards, but you can also use your points for travel and to offset the cost of any purchase made on the card.

Additionally, and possibly most importantly (depending on your travel desires), MR points can also be transferred to a handful of other loyalty programs, like the popular Aeroplan program and the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$170
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
10,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply 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”).

Do you want a cash back credit card with no annual fee that earns travel points? Here’s an option for you: American Express® Green Card.

By signing up for the American Express® Green Card, you can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards Welcome Bonus Points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. This is a $100 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.

You can also transfer your points to airline partners (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue, etc.) 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:

  • 10,000 Aeroplan points
  • 10,000 Avios points
  • 10,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

That’s a nice welcome bonus for a credit card with no annual fee.

You’ll also have access to online promotional offers to earn points or rebates on your purchases with this no annual fee credit card.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$629
2nd Year Value$408

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia 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.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply 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.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
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

Aeroplan

Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada, and as a member of the program, you earn Aeroplan points.

The best ways to earn Aeroplan points are by flying with Air Canada and partner airlines, transferring American Express MR points, and by spending on co-branded credit cards like TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card and the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card.

To help you dig deeper into this valuable program, check out our great guides about choosing the best Aeroplan credit card for you and comparing the American Express card options that earn Aeroplan points.

This loyalty program can be quite valuable when you redeem your Aeroplan points for free or discounted flights with Air Canada or their airline partners. These flights can also potentially include a bonus city thanks to Aeroplan’s generous stopover rules.

Aeroplan points can also be redeemed for car rentals, hotel stays, gift cards, merchandise, and more — though the best value is almost always going to be found in award flight redemptions.

Check out our Aeroplan redemption tips, which will help you find the best deals so that you can travel to all of the fantastic destinations you’re dreaming of.

Make sure to read our Aeroplan Program Guide for Newcomers to Canada to start off the right way with this program.

Annual fee
$0 $89
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$489
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$400Annual fee rebated$89Total$489Rewards 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 20,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

Terms of the offer

  • Apply by December 1, 2019 to get an Annual Fee Rebate¹ for the Primary Cardholder for the first year and earn up to 25,000 Aeroplan Miles (equivalent to 1 long-haul roundtrip flight reward)¹ as follows:
    • Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan Miles when you make your first Purchase with your card¹.
    • + Earn 2x Aeroplan Miles on eligible Purchases in the first three months up to a total of 10,000 Aeroplan Miles¹.
    • + Earn 5,000 Aeroplan Miles when you add an Authorized User to your Account by December 1, 2019. Annual Fees for Authorized Users continue to apply¹.
  • This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here
  • Earn Aeroplan Miles with every Purchase made on your Card and arrive at your dream destination sooner
  • The protection of valuable insurance
  Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on this TD credit card, please click the Apply Now button.

Fees / Rates / Eligibility

 
Type Details
Personal annual income N/A
Household annual income N/A
Purchase APR 19.99%
Cash Advance APR 22.99%
Interest Grace Period 21 days on all new purchases
Balance Transfer Rate 22.99%
Foreign Transaction Rate
Annual Fee $89
Authorized User Cards $35
Balance Transfer Fee Promotional Balance Transfer/ Cheque Fee: 3% of the amount of each Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque that we may offer to you at a promotional interest rate which is an interest rate that is lower than the regular annual interest rate that applies to Cash Advances on your Account. The Bank may waive or lower this 3% fee at the time the promotional interest rate offer is made to you. You will be advised of the exact fee that applies at the time the offer is made.
Cash Advance Fee 1% of the amount of the transaction (minimum fee of $3.50 up to a maximum fee of $10.00) (in Canada) or $5.00 (outside Canada), plus $3.00 at a PLUS* network ATM. (Fee does not apply to a Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque)
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee 2.50%
Over Credit Limit Fee $29
 

Disclaimer

  The Aeroplan Program is a coalition loyalty marketing program owned and operated by Aeroplan Inc. Visit aeroplan.com for complete terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates are not responsible for the Aeroplan Program. 1 Must apply by December 1, 2019. Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan Miles will be awarded to the Aeroplan Member account associated with the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum* Card Account (“Account”) only after the first Purchase is made on the Account. Rebate of the Annual Fee is for the first year for the Primary Cardholder only and will occur when you have applied for an Account by December 1, 2019. Rebate will be applied within 2 monthly statements from the date of Account opening. The Annual Fee for any Authorized User Cards added to the Account continues to apply. Welcome Earn Bonus of 2x in Aeroplan Miles ("Welcome Earn Bonus") applies to new Account in the first 3 months of Account opening ("First 3 Months") to a maximum total collective miles of 10,000 ("Welcome Earn Bonus Cap") on all purchases charged to your ("Account"). During the Welcome Earn Bonus promotional period, 2 Aeroplan Miles are earned for each $1.00 in Purchases of eligible gas, groceries and drugstore charged to your Account and 2 Aeroplan Miles are earned for each $1.50 for all other Purchases charged to your Account. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits on any Purchases made during the First 3 Months will reduce or cancel the Aeroplan Miles earned at the Welcome Earn Bonus on the original Purchase, as applicable. Welcome Earn Bonus Cap: Once the Welcome Earn Bonus Cap is reached, any further Purchases made in the First 3 Months will earn Aeroplan Miles at the regular 1 Bonus Aeroplan Miles that applies to each $1.00 in Purchases of eligible gas, groceries and drugstore and 1 Aeroplan Mile to each $1.50 to all other eligible Purchases. To receive the additional 5,000 Aeroplan Miles for adding an Authorized User to your Account ("Authorized User Bonus"), you must: (a) apply for an Account and add an Authorized User between September 4, 2019, and December 1, 2019; and (b) Authorized User must call and activate their Card by January 31, 2020. You can have a maximum of three (3) Authorized Users on your Account but you will only receive 1 (one) 5,000 Authorized User Bonus Aeroplan Miles offer. Annual Fee for each Authorized User Card added to the Account will apply. The Primary Cardholder is responsible for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. Other conditions apply. Offers may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise specified. Welcome Bonus and 2x miles earned through Welcome Earn Bonus are not eligible for Aeroplan status. Your Account must be in good standing at the time bonus miles are awarded. Please allow 8 weeks after the conditions for each offer are fulfilled for the miles to be credited to your Aeroplan Member account. The number of Aeroplan Miles required for the destination is accurate as of September 4, 2019  and is subject to change at any time by Aeroplan Inc. According to Aeroplan's current reward chart, destinations reflect one long-haul Fixed Mileage Flight Reward® in Economy Class departing from within Canada or the continental US (plus applicable fees and taxes). Fixed Mileage Flight Reward availability is capacity controlled and is subject to availability at time of booking as well as seasonality of demand. Aeroplan Flight Rewards are subject to taxes, landing and departure fees, and other charges and surcharges may apply. Aeroplan Partners, rules and regulations are subject to change without notice. For full details on Aeroplan's current reward chart, please visit aeroplan.com. 2 Primary Cardholder remains liable for all charges to the Account, including those made by an Authorized User. 3 One (1) Bonus Aeroplan Mile (“Bonus Rate”) is earned on each $1.00 in Purchases of gas, groceries or drugstore products/services charged to your TD Aeroplan Credit Card Account (“Account”). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the Aeroplan Miles earned on the original Purchase. To earn this Bonus Rate, Purchases of gas, groceries and drugstore products/services must be made at merchants classified through the Visa network with a Merchant Category Code (“MCC”) that identifies them in the “gas”, “grocery” or “drugstore” category. Some merchants may sell gas, groceries or drugstore products/services, or have separate merchants located on their premises that also sell gas, groceries or drugstore products/services, but may not be classified with a gas, grocery or drugstore MCC and such Purchases will not earn this Bonus Rate. If you have questions about the MCC that applies to a Purchase, contact TD at 1-800-983-8472. Bonus Rate is only available on the first $80,000 in net annual Purchases of gas, groceries or drugstore products/services. Once the maximum net annual amount has been reached, Purchases of gas, groceries and drugstore products/services on the Account will not earn the Bonus Rate but will only earn Aeroplan Miles at the standard rate that applies to all other Purchases on the Account. This Bonus Rate offer is in place of, and not in addition to, the standard rate earned on all other Purchases made on your Account. Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 4 One (1) Aeroplan Mile is earned on each $1.50 in Purchases charged to your TD Aeroplan Credit Card Account (“Account”). Credit for returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the Aeroplan Miles earned by the amount originally charged to your Account. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional services, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn Aeroplan Miles. Please see the Aeroplan Terms for Your TD Credit Card section of the Cardholder Agreement for complete details on Aeroplan Miles earned on Purchases (a copy of your Cardholder Agreement is available at tdcanadatrust.com/td/agreements). 5 This feature is available at over 150 Aeroplan Partner brands and 100 online retailers through Aeroplan’s eStore. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is not responsible for any Aeroplan Miles under this “earn miles twice” feature of the Aeroplan Program when the Aeroplan Membership Card is presented. See your Aeroplan Program for full details. Feature may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. * Trademark of Visa Int., used under license. ® Air Canada is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license. Aeroplan® and the Aeroplan logo are registered trademarks of Aeroplan Inc. The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card, you can earn up to 20,000 Aeroplan points and get a Annual Fee rebate for the first year:

  • 10,000 Aeroplan points for the first purchase made with your card
  • 10,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days of opening your account
  • First-year Annual Fee waived for primary cardholder (instead of $89).
  • To receive the first-year Annual Fee rebate for the Primary Cardholder, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the Additional Cardholder(s) first-year Annual Fee rebate, you must add your Additional Cardholder(s) while the offer is in effect.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card, you earn 1 point per dollar spent on eligible purchases for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Eligible purchases of gas or electric vehicle charging
  • Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations

This TD Aeroplan credit card requires no minimum income.

Annual fee

Primary card$89
Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1xGas & EV
  • 1xAir Canada flights
  • 1xGroceries
  • 0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$877
2nd Year Value$288

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$200
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$200Total$200Rewards 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 10,000 points
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

With the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card, earn up to 10,000 Aeroplan points:

  • 2,500 points on first purchase
  • 2,500 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,500 or more during the first 4 monthly statements periods
  • 5,000 anniversary bonus points after $10,000 in purchases over 12 months

With the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card, you earn 1 point per dollar on gas, electric vehicle recharges, groceries and Air Canada purchases. For all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point for every $1.5 spent.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$15,000
Household$15,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1xGas & EV
  • 1xGroceries
  • 1xAir Canada flights
  • 0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$677
2nd Year Value$377

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Marriott Bonvoy

The next loyalty program that may be of interest for newcomers to Canada is Marriott Bonvoy.

With this program, you earn Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at any of Marriott’s 9,000+ properties around the world and by spending on a co-branded credit card, like the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, or by transferring points from your American Express Membership Rewards account.

Marriott Bonvoy is unique on this list because it’s the only program with its redemptions focused specifically on getting free nights at hotels.

With Marriott Bonvoy points, you can enjoy redemptions for free nights at Marriott’s thousands of properties, including in top destinations like Tokyo, Bali, and the Maldives.

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$120Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 pointsEnds Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

Scene+

If you’re someone who prefers a little more variety in your redemption options, you’re likely going to find this next option quite attractive.

Scotiabank’s Scene+ program lets you quickly earn Scene+ points by spending with partnered merchants and by making purchases on credit cards like the Scotiabank American Express Card and Scotiabank Scene+ VISA* Card.

What’s also great about this program is that you can earn and redeem points without having to get a credit card.

Although you’ll earn points faster with a Scene+ credit card, you can easily add this program to your loyalty points wallet by simply signing up for free and scanning your membership card at participating grocery stores, restaurants, and merchants.

Another big part of what makes this program great is that Scene+ points are quite flexible, giving you lots of choice in how and when you redeem them. The best ways to use your Scene+ points include redeeming to save on travel, groceries, restaurants meals, gift cards, entertainment, and more.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$100
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$100Total$100Rewards 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 10,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

Terms of the offer

  • Earn 5,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points with your first $500 in everyday purchases in first 3 months◊
  • Earn one Scotia Rewards point on all eligible everyday purchases
  • Flexible Point Redemption
  • Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 2, 2020. Subject to change.
   

The Scotiabank American Express® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada.

For a limited time, you can earn up to 10,000 Scene+ points in the first three months, a value of up to $100 in travel (including Airbnb):

  • 2,500 Scene+ points after $250 spent in the first three months
  • 7,500 Scene+ points after $1,000 spent in the first three months

With the Scotiabank American Express® Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You also earn 2 points per dollar on:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment
  • Gas stations
  • Local transportation
  • Streaming services

And 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb) or with Scene+ partners.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$610
2nd Year Value$343

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $500 / 1 years
Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$50
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$50Total$50Rewards 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 5,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

Terms of the offer

  • Earn 2,500 bonus SCENE points with your first $500 in everyday purchases in first 3 months◊
  • Earn 1 SCENE point for every $1 you spend on credit card purchases
  • Earn 5 SCENE points for every $1 you spend on SCENE Visa purchases at participating Cineplex Entertainment theatres or online at cineplex.com
  • Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 2, 2020. Subject to change.
 

Looking for a Scene+ credit card with no annual fee? The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card is ideal for students or those who don’t want to pay annual fees.

For a limited time, you can earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (2,500 points after $250 and an additional 2,500 points after $1,000 in spending). Enough to get you about $50 towards a trip or your grocery purchases.

With the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card, you earn 2 points for every dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more.

You also earn 2 points for every dollar spent at Home Hardware and at Cineplex.

And you get 1 point Scene+ on all your other purchases.

It’s a great Visa credit card with no annual fee to get Scene+ points.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$404
2nd Year Value$240

TD Rewards

When talking about the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada, it would be impossible not to mention all the options offered by Canada’s biggest banks.

TD Bank offers its clients the opportunity to choose a TD Rewards credit card like the TD Rewards Visa* Card and the TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card to earn TD Rewards Points on all their purchases.

With this loyalty program, cardholders can earn up to 8 TD Rewards Points per $1 spent, and these points can then be redeemed for travel, Amazon.ca purchases, merchandise, gift cards, and more.

The value of TD Rewards Points varies depending on how you choose to redeem them, but if you’re interested in maximizing your earned points, we highly recommend checking out our guide to travel redemptions with Expedia for TD.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$76
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$76Total$76Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
15,152 points
Apply Now

on TD's website

With the TD Rewards Visa* Card, you can earn TD Rewards points on your everyday purchases, such as groceries, dining out, bill payments, public transit, streaming services, or travel bookings.

You can earn 15,152 TD Rewards points, a value of $50 on Amazon.ca, when you spend $500 within 90 days of account opening.

  • Earn 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD
  • Earn 3 TD Rewards points per dollar spent on grocery, restaurant and public transit purchases
  • Earn 2 TD Rewards points per dollar on recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as games and digital media
  • Earn 1 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card

Your card also allows you to redeem your TD Rewards points for a wide variety of rewards, including through ExpediaMD for TD, at Starbucks®, and on Amazon.ca with the Amazon Shop with Points program. Conditions Apply.

  • Mobile Device Insurance of up to $1,000 if you lose or damage your phone
  • No blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and your TD Rewards points never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
  • Earn 50% more TD Rewards Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® locations. Conditions Apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 3xRestaurants
  • 3xGroceries
  • 3xTransit
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$391
2nd Year Value$205

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000
Annual fee
$0 $89
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$339
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$89Total$339Rewards 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 50,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

Terms of the offer

  • Limited Time Offer - Apply by December 1, 2019 to get an Annual Fee Rebate¹ for the Primary Cardholder for the first year and earn up to 70,000 TD Rewards Points (a travel value of $350 when you book travel purchases through ExpediaForTD.com!²) as follows:
    • Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your card¹.
    • + Earn 2X TD Rewards Points on all Purchases in the first three months up to a total of 45,000 TD Rewards Points¹.
    • + Earn 10,000 TD Rewards Points when you add an Authorized User to your Account by December 1, 2019. Annual Fees for Authorized Users continue to apply¹.
  • This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here
  • Book your trip through Expedia For TD³ or any other travel provider – the choice is yours!
  • Choose Expedia For TD to maximize the number of TD Rewards Points you can earn on your travel purchases.
  • No blackouts4or seat restrictions4 under the TD Rewards Program
  • A suite of travel insurance
  • Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in grocery purchases³ and regularly recurring bill payments4
  • Earn5 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 when you book travel online through ExpediaForTD.com
  • Earn 2 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases6
  Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on this TD credit card, please click the Apply Now button.    

Fees / Rates / Eligibility

 
Type Details
Personal annual income N/A
Household annual income N/A
Purchase APR 19.99%
Cash Advance APR 22.99%
Interest Grace Period 21 days on all new purchases
Balance Transfer Rate 22.99%
Foreign Transaction Rate
Annual Fee $89
Authorized User Cards $35
Balance Transfer Fee Promotional Balance Transfer/ Cheque Fee: 3% of the amount of each Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque that we may offer to you at a promotional interest rate which is an interest rate that is lower than the regular annual interest rate that applies to Cash Advances on your Account. The Bank may waive or lower this 3% fee at the time the promotional interest rate offer is made to you. You will be advised of the exact fee that applies at the time the offer is made.
Cash Advance Fee 1% of the amount of the transaction (minimum fee of $3.50 up to a maximum fee of $10.00) (in Canada) or $5.00 (outside Canada), plus $3.00 at a PLUS* network ATM. (Fee does not apply to a Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque)
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee 2.50%
Over Credit Limit Fee $29
 

Disclaimer

'1 Must apply by December 1, 2019. Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points will be awarded to the TD Platinum Travel Visa* ("Account") only after the first Purchase is made on the Account. Rebate of the Annual Fee is for the first year for the Primary Cardholder only and will occur when you have applied for an Account by December 1, 2019. Rebate will be applied within 2 monthly statements from the date of Account opening. The Annual Fee for any Authorized User Cards added to the Account continues to apply. Welcome Earn Bonus of 2x in TD Rewards Points ("Welcome Earn Bonus") applies to new Accounts in the first 3 months of Account opening ("First 3 Months") to a maximum total collective TD Rewards Points of 45,000 ("Welcome Earn Bonus Cap") on all purchases charged to your Account. During the Welcome Earn Bonus promotional period; earn 10 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to the Account, earn 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases"), grocery purchases ("Grocery Purchases") and regularly recurring bill payments ("Pre-Authorized Payments") and earn 4 TD Rewards Points on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to the Account. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits on any Purchases made during the First 3 Months will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned at the Welcome Earn Bonus on the original Purchase, as applicable. Welcome Earn Bonus Cap: Once the Welcome Earn Bonus Cap is reached, any further Purchases made in the First 3 Months will earn TD Rewards Points at the regular 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Online Travel Purchases, earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Phone Travel Purchases, Grocery Purchases, and Pre-authorized Payments, and earn 2 TD Rewards points ("Standard Rebate") for every $1 on all Other Purchases. To receive the additional 10,000 TD Rewards Points for adding an Authorized User to your Account ("Authorized User Bonus"), you must: (a) apply for an Account and add an Authorized User between September 4, 2019, and December 1, 2019; and (b) Authorized User must call and activate their Card by January 31, 2020. You can have a maximum of three (3) Authorized Users on your Account but you will only receive 1 (one) 10,000 Authorized User Bonus TD Rewards Points offer. Annual Fee for each Authorized User Card added to the Account will apply. The Primary Cardholder is responsible for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. If you have opened an Account in the last 6 months, you will not be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to limit the number of Accounts opened by any one person. Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise indicated. 2 Primary Cardholder remains liable for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. Maximum of 3 Authorized User Cards on the Account. 3 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("Grocery Rebate") for every $1 in Purchases of groceries or grocery items ("Grocery Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Grocery Purchase, as applicable. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The Grocery Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached for Grocery Purchases, then any further Grocery Purchases made on the Account will earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of Grocery Rebate: The Grocery Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Merchant Category Codes: To earn the Grocery Rebate, the Grocery Purchases must be made at merchants classified through the Visa network with a Merchant Category Code ("MCC") that identifies them in the "grocery" category. Some merchants may (i) sell groceries or grocery items; or (ii) have separate merchants located on their premises that also sell groceries or grocery items; but may not be classified with a grocery MCC and such Purchases will not earn the Grocery Rebate as applicable. If you have questions about the MCC that applies to a Purchase, contact TD at 1-800-983-8472. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 4 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("PAP Rebate") on each $1 in payments made on a monthly or other regularly recurring basis for merchant bills, including insurance premiums, magazine/newspaper/online streaming subscriptions, membership fees and telecommunication fees, that are set up by the merchant with your consent to be automatically charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account") and that are classified through the Visa network as "recurring payments" ("Pre-Authorized Payments"). You must confirm with your merchant if they can accept Pre-Authorized Payments. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Pre-Authorized Payment. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The PAP Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached, then any further Pre-Authorized Payments made on the Account will only earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of PAP Rebate: The PAP Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 5 Earn 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Online Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Phone Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 6 Earn 2 TD Rewards Points ("Standard Rebate") on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. * Trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license. ®The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

With this new welcome offer for the TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card, you can get up to 50,000 TD points and a Annual Fee rebate for the first year:

  • 15,000 TD Rewards points for the first purchase made with your card
  • 35,000 additional TD Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within 180 days of account opening

This TD travel rewards credit card requires no minimum income.

Annual fee

Primary card$89
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4.5xTransit
  • 4.5xGroceries
  • 4.5xRestaurants
  • 3xBills & recurring payments
  • 3xStreaming
  • 1.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$723
2nd Year Value$219

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

RBC Avion

RBC Avion is yet another of the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada thanks to its ease of earning, solid value, and ability to transfer to other programs.

Depending on which Avion credit card(s) you have, you can either book a flight directly with your Avion points or you can use your points like cash to offset your flight’s cost.

What’s more, with the Avion Rewards Pay feature, you can use your points to cover general purchases made on your credit card.

Additionally, since this is a travel-focused program, it’s no surprise that one of the most valuable redemption options is to transfer your Avion points to other airline programs. If you’re an Avion Elite member, you can transfer points to WestJet Rewards, British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage, while other Avion members can enjoy transfers exclusively with WestJet.

Plus, you can transfer Avion points between two accounts, making it easier to accumulate a large amount of points quickly.

To start earning RBC Avion points, consider the program’s most accessible credit card options, like the RBC ION Visa Card, the RBC ION+ Visa Card, and the RBC Avion Visa Platinum.

Annual fee
$48
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$420Total$420Rewards 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 28,000 points
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

With the RBC ION+ Visa Card, get up to 28,000 Avion points^, which is a value of up to $200 in gift cards. Apply by November 4, 2026.

This offer includes:

  • 7,000 Avion points upon approval^
  • 14,000 additional Avion points when you charge at least $1,500 in eligible purchases to your account within the first 6 months^
  • 7,000 anniversary Avion points^

This RBC credit card allows you to earn 3X the Avion points per dollar on the following categories1:

  • Groceries, restaurants and meal delivery
  • Transportation, gas and electric vehicle charging
  • Streaming, digital games, and subscriptions

You also earn 1 Avion point per dollar on all other eligible purchases1.

Plus, save 3¢ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion points when you pay with an eligible linked RBC card4.

Finally, benefit from mobile device insurance3 providing two years of protection, up to $1,000, in the event of loss, theft, accidental damage, or breakdown of your mobile device purchased with the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$48
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 3xGroceries
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xRestaurants
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,380
2nd Year Value$269

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$210
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$210Total$210Rewards 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 14,000 points
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

With the RBC ION Visa card, earn up to 14,000 Avion points^, a value of up to $100 in gift cards.

This RBC credit card with no annual fee lets you earn 1.5X Avion points per dollar in the following categories1:

  • Groceries
  • Transit, gas, and electric vehicle charging
  • Streaming, digital games, and subscriptions

You also earn 1 Avion point per dollar on all other eligible purchases1.

Plus, save 3¢ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion points when you pay with an eligible linked RBC card4.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xStreaming
  • 1.5xGroceries
  • 1.5xTransit
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$773
2nd Year Value$200

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards 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 70,000 points
Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

  • Start flying today with 15,000 welcome points
  • Earn 1 RBC Rewards point for every dollar you spend
  • No blackout periods or seat restrictions – ever

With this limited-time welcome offer, you can earn up to 70,000 Avion points as a welcome bonus with the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card!

  • Receive 35,000 points upon approval
  • 20,000 additional points when you spend $5,000 within the first six months of account opening
  • 15,000 additional points on the first anniversary of your account opening

You have until November 25, 2026 to apply.

You can use your Avion points for travel or convert them to other loyalty programs such as:

  • American Airlines AAdvantage
  • British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • WestJet Rewards

The current welcome offer lets you get the equivalent of 70,000 Avios or 70,000 WestJet points.

With the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card, you earn 1 point for every dollar spent.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$15,000
Household$15,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,335
2nd Year Value$264

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Travel insurance

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

NBC Rewards

As a newcomer to Canada, if you’re considering taking advantage of National Bank’s chequing account for newcomers offer, you may also want to look at the NBC Rewards loyalty program.

With this program, you earn NBC À la carte Rewards points by spending on one of the bank’s credit cards, like the National Bank Platinum Mastercard®.

Your accumulated points can then be redeemed for products from the NBC Boutique and financial rewards like investments in your TFSA or statement credits to cover your expenses.

Additionally, you can use your NBC Rewards points for travel bookings made through the À la carte Travel portal and to reimburse travel expenses that you’ve charged to your eligible National Bank credit card.

We’ve got a great guide on how to use your NBC Rewards points on your travels, so consider taking a peak if you’re interested in saving on your next vacation or trip to visit family and friends.

Annual fee
$0 $70
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$430
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
40,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on National Bank's website

Terms of the offer

  • Earn 1 point per dollar
  • Trip interruption / cancellation insurance
  • Flight / Baggage insurance in case of delay
  • Vehicle rental insurance
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection against theft or damage
 

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

  • 10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
  • 15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
  • 15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

  • 2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
  • 1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The card includes mobile device insurance, an extended warranty on your purchases, and comprehensive travel insurance for trips of 10 days or less, with emergency medical coverage plus trip cancellation and interruption.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Annual fee

Primary card$70
Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 1.5xBills & recurring payments
  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xTravel
  • 0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749
2nd Year Value$209

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,000
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

BMO Rewards

With the BMO Rewards loyalty program, you earn BMO Rewards points by making purchases with one of the program’s credit cards, like the BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card.

Similarly to the other bank loyalty programs, BMO Rewards points can be redeemed a variety of ways.

For example, your points can not only be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and statement credits, but you can even use them to invest in your BMO accounts, essentially turning them into cash.

With so many options, it’s easy to use your BMO Rewards points in a way that suits your financial style, whether your goal is to save a bit of money or to get yourself a little treat.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$168
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$168Total$168Rewards 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 25,000 points
Apply Now

on BMO's website

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee credit card with travel points, requiring no minimum income.

With this offer, you can earn up to 25,000 points as a welcome bonus:

  • 20,000 points after $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 2,500 points when you redeem 12,000 points with the Pay with Points option over a 12-month period
  • 2,500 points when you pay the balance on time for 12 months

What’s more, you can benefit from an interest rate of 0.99% on balance transfers for nine months (a 2% balance transfer fee applies).

With the new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card, you earn :

  • 5 points for every two dollars spent on recurring bill payments
  • 5 points for every two dollars spent at the grocery store
  • 5 points for every two dollars spent at restaurant and for takeaway
  • 1 point per two dollars of purchases for all other purchase categories

You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (plane tickets, hotels, rental cars, all-inclusive packages, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card also offers:

  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended warranty insurance

Finally, enjoy three months of Instacart+ membership and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2.5xBills & recurring payments
  • 2.5xGroceries
  • 2.5xRestaurants
  • 0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$475
2nd Year Value$218

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years

CIBC Aventura

CIBC Aventura is another of the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada, and much like the programs from BMO, TD, and National Bank, it also gives you lots of ways to redeem.

By using a CIBC Aventura credit card like the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card, you can earn the bank’s flexible Aventura points on all your purchases.

These points can be redeemed for things like gift cards, merchandise, statement credits, and investing; however, our favourite way to use Aventura points is for cheap travel by redeeming the points to cover travel expenses on your credit card or by using them to book a flight with the Aventura Airline Reward Chart.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$150Total$150Rewards 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 12,500 points
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

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

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$15,000
Household$15,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1xGroceries
  • 1xGas & EV
  • 1xPharmacy
  • 0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$406
2nd Year Value$194

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years

PC Optimum

The PC Optimum program is free to join, and stands out from most of the loyalty programs mentioned above because it doesn’t require a credit card to earn points.

In terms of how the PC Optimum loyalty program works, you can earn points at participating Loblaws-owned grocery stores (Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, etc.), drug stores (Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix), gas stations (Esso and Mobil), and retailers.

You can also speed up your earning rate by getting a PC Financial credit card like the PC Financial Mastercard, which lets you earn PC Optimum points on all your purchases.

PC Optimum points are best spent on free groceries and merchandise at grocery stores and drug stores, where you can redeem 10,000 points for $10 off your purchase. Additionally, if you’re patient, you can save your points for a bonus redemption event to get some extra value when you redeem.

You can also check out our best tips for earning and redeeming PC Optimum points to learn more about the ins and outs of this helpful program.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$20
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-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
20,000 points
Apply Now

on PC Financial's website

The PC Mastercard offers a 20,000 PC Optimum welcome bonus after you spend $50 in the first two months, all with no annual fee. It’s an ideal entry-level card to start earning points within the Loblaw ecosystem.

  • 1% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores, including LoblawsMD, No FrillsMD, Real Canadian SuperstoreMD, MaxiMD, and other locations3.
  • At least 3¢ per litre back in points on fuel at Esso and Mobil stations
  • 2.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
  • 1% back in points at Joe Fresh
  • 1% back in points everywhere else

This way, you earn between 1% and 3% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. Your points can then be redeemed for discounts at checkout or a $7 credit per 10,000 points applied directly to your card balance.

With its 90-day purchase assurance, extended warranty, and Mastercard Global Service, this card offers valuable protections for a no-annual-fee card.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 30xGas & EV
  • 25xPharmacy
  • 10xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$407
2nd Year Value$240

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years

Bottom Line

As you can see from above, the best loyalty programs for newcomers to Canada offer the chance to earn a variety of different types of points with a range of redemption options.

Choosing the ideal program for yourself depends on whether you’re most interested in saving on travel, lowering your grocery bill, or rewarding yourself with some free merchandise or gift cards, and how important flexibility and transferability is to you.

Given this, it’s important to give some thought to what type of redemption is most appealing to you, and you may also want to explore a few of our more general guides to gain even more insight into how these programs work.

That said, don’t worry too much about which program you start with since most people are members of multiple loyalty programs, letting them enjoy a diversity of rewards!

FAQs

Can I be a member of more than one loyalty program?

Yes, you can be a member of as many loyalty programs as you’d like!

Can I get a credit card if I don’t have a credit history in Canada?

Yes, you can get a credit card without having a credit history in Canada. Most of Canada’s big banks (BMO, CIBC, TD, Scotiabank, National Bank, and RBC) will help you find an appropriate credit card when you’re just starting out on your credit journey.

Do I need a credit card to earn loyalty points?

No, you don’t always need a credit card to earn loyalty points.

Loyalty programs like PC Optimum and Scene+ let you earn points by inputting your member number or by scanning your member card when you make a purchase at an eligible retailer.

Additionally, airline and hotel loyalty programs let you earn points when you book eligible flights and hotel stays without the need for the use of a specific type of credit card.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-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
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply 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.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 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.