The credit cards on this page offer travel points or cash back. And right now, they all have a welcome offer that includes a first-year annual fee rebate!
These are often the best offers on the market as they are credit cards that usually charge an annual fee.
These credit cards offer:
These first-year free credit cards should not be confused with no-annual fee credit cards.
These cards have no annual fee, year after year, but are generally less rewarding than the credit cards on this page!
Two tables summarize the different offers (travel or cash back). For more details, read on or click on the name of a card.
Here are the best travel credit card offers with a first-year annual fee rebate:
Here are the best cash back credit card offers with a first-year annual fee rebate:
National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card on NBC. With the current welcome offer exclusive to the Milesopedia Network, receive up to 35,000 bonus points, distributed as follows:
What’s more, you pay no annual fee for the first year.
With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:
And since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.
With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:
In addition, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and free Wi-Fi with Boingo. And unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.
Finally, in 2023 and 2024, Milesopedia voted National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Credit Card for Travel and the Best Credit Card for Insurance.
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 135,000 TD Rewards points† and a rebate on the annual fee for the first year:
Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year†
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you get:
This TD credit card is one of the best TD travel rewards cards.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card only requires a minimum income of $12,000, making it accessible to the broadest possible audience.
Until December 31, 2024, you can earn up to 45,000 Scene+ points in the first year, representing a value of $450 for travel (including Airbnb). Plus, there is an annual fee rebate for the first year!
With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you earn 6 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.
Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:
And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.
You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card also offers no foreign currency transaction fees, excellent travel and purchase insurance, concierge service and exclusive American Express benefits (Front of the Line Program).
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with travel rewards.
CIBC has an offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points:
In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).
With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card also offers:
The minimum annual income required for this card is $60,000 (personal) or $100,000 (household).
If you don’t meet the income requirements for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card, you can apply for the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card. The minimum annual income required for this card is $15,000 (household).
CIBC has a digital offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points :
The CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card also offers:
Thanks to this enhanced welcome offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, reserved for those who apply via this Milesopedia link, you can earn 10,000 more Aeroplan points than the current public offer!
With this offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† and a first-year annual fee rebate:
It’s the best TD credit card for occasional Air Canada travellers.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points† per dollar of eligible purchases for:
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card, you can earn up to 20,000 Aeroplan points and a first-year annual fee rebate:
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card, you earn 1 point per dollar of eligible purchases for:
There is no minimum income requirement for this TD Aeroplan credit card.
When you sign up for our exclusive offer on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points as well as a $120 annual fee waiver for the first year:
What’s more, you’ll receive a $50 anniversary credit to use as you wish!
With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on:
And 1 BMO Rewards point for every $1 spent on everything else. Plus, if you add an authorized user to your account, you’ll earn 10% more points.
You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points:
Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, a premium credit card from BMO, you get:
And 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including at Costco. You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard also offers:
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with cash back in Canada.
Right now, with this welcome offer, get a 10% welcome bonus in the form of up to $300 cash back (period covered by your first 4 statements) and a first-year annual fee rebate†!
With this CIBC Cash Back Credit Card, you get:
For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or gas and/or electric vehicle charging, you’ll earn $40 cash back per month or $480 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!
And that’s not counting the other purchases you’ll make with this card and the advantages it offers (particularly in terms of insurance).
And this CIBC Cash Back Credit Card offers many insurance coverages:
If you don’t meet the income requirements for the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card, you could apply for the CIBC Dividend® Platinum Visa* Card. The minimum annual income required for this card is $15,000 (household).
With this offer, get a 10% welcome bonus in the form of up to $300 cash back (period covered by your first 4 statements) and a first-year annual fee rebate!†
With the CIBC Dividend® Platinum Visa* Card, you get:
And this CIBC Cash Back Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:
The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* card is recognized year after year as one of the best cash-back credit cards in Canada.
Currently, there is no annual fee in the first year, including on additional cards. And you can earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).
With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* card, you get:
For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or recurring payments, you’ll earn $40 cash back per month, or $480 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases! And that’s not counting the other purchases you’ll make with this card and the advantages it offers (particularly in terms of insurance).
If you rent, for example, you could use the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card on the Chexy website to pay your rent and get 4% cash back!
The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* card is an excellent Visa credit card for cash back.
And its insurance benefits are excellent!
With the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3% cash back on:
And 1% cash back on all other purchases.
It’s the best TD cash back credit card, especially for gas purchases.
With this new welcome offer, you could earn 10% cash back on gas and grocery purchases and pre-authorized payments for the first three months (up to $3,500 in purchases). So you can earn up to $350 cash back!
Plus, a first-year annual fee rebate for the Primary and Additional Cardholders.
Finally, you have good insurance coverage, such as travel medical insurance, delayed or lost baggage insurance, collision/loss damage insurance for car rentals and mobile device insurance.
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is one of Canada’s best cash back Mastercard credit cards.
For a limited time, you will earn up to 10% cash back on select purchases for the first 3 months (that’s up to $260 cash back). Besides, the annual fee is waived in the first year!
With BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you get between 2% and 5% cash back on many categories of purchases:
Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1% cash back, including at Costco.
Finally, it is one of the only credit cards in its category to offer an extended warranty of 2 additional years.
With this exclusive offer for the BMO AIR MILES® World Elite Mastercard®*, you earn 3,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months. Plus, earn an additional 1,500 miles when you spend at least $700 at eligible wholesale clubs and alcohol retailers.
Besides, the annual fee is waived in the first year!
With this card, you earn 3 miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners. Then, earn 2 miles for every $12 in purchases at any eligible grocery store and wholesale club (warehouse like Costco) or alcohol retailer (SAQ, LCBO, etc.). Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1 AIR MILES mile for every $12 in purchases, including Walmart.
What’s more, it’s the only AIR MILES credit card in Canada to offer a 25% discount on AIR MILES flights to any destination during the calendar year.
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* card also offers:
The BMO AIR MILES® World Elite Business Mastercard particularly rewards AIR MILES collectors who wish to separate their personal and business spending.
You can earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles in your first year! In addition, there is no annual fee for the first year.
You earn 4x the Miles when you use your card at participating AIR MILES Partners. And 1 Mile for every $12 you spend everywhere else, including Costco.
With the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Business Mastercard, you benefit from various travel protections:
And for your purchases:
These first-year free credit cards are great for getting started with rewards points or taking advantage of elevated welcome offers.
But be aware that some credit cards on the market charge a first-year annual fee and have outstanding welcome offers! This is the case, for example, with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card or all American Express credit cards.
Check out the best credit card offers available in Canada this month.
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about credit cards in Canada.
Credit card issuers regularly run promotions to showcase their best credit cards.
So, to encourage you to sign up for one of these credit cards, the banks run first-year free offers. This allows you to test the product to see if it will work for you in future years.
Generally, the first-year annual fee is charged on your first statement and immediately refunded.
In other cases, you will need to meet the Welcome Offer requirements to get the first-year annual fee refunded on the 4th or 5th statement/billing cycle.
Yes, you may get the annual fee waived for subsequent years. But to do this, you will need to negotiate your annual fee when you renew your credit card in the second year.
The customer representative may refund your annual fee for a second year if, for example, you made a significant volume of purchases on your credit card in the first year or if you have other products with the institution (mortgages, investments, etc.)
With the many credit cards on the market, Milesopedia offers you to compare credit cards, according to your profile and with everything you need to know about current offers. Milesopedia is along your side to help you make the best credit card choice for you.
There are more than 200 credit cards in Canada. There is no “one best credit card” in Canada.
Several credit cards can match your needs:
Savings are here: