Head to Head: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite vs National Bank World Elite Mastercard
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Here are two travel credit cards with the same price tag, built for two very different travellers:
The Scotiabank Passport vs World Elite matchup is mostly decided at the airport and abroad. On one side, the Scotiabank card charges no foreign transaction fees and includes 6 free airport lounge visits. On the other, the National Bank card offers a $150 annual travel credit and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau. In short, this is the frequent international traveller against the traveller who flies out of Montreal. For the rest of the market, our best credit cards page ranks the other options.
Our analysis is based on the major differences between these two credit cards:
The comparison table
Here are both cards side by side, based on our card data as of October 20, 2026. The official terms are on the Scotiabank Passport card page and the National Bank World Elite card page. We then break down each item.
| Feature | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards program | Scene+ | National Bank À la carte |
| Welcome offer | 25,000 points after $2,000 in 3 months, plus 10,000 points a year with $40,000 in spending | First-year fee refunded (exclusive offer until November 4, 2026) |
| Annual fee | $150 | $150 ($0 the first year) |
| Additional card | 1st free, then $50 | $50 |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2.5% |
| Groceries and restaurants | 2 to 3 pts/$ | 5 pts/$ (under $2,500 a month) |
| Gas and recurring bills | 1 pt/$ | 2 pts/$ |
| Airport lounges | 6 visits a year (Visa Airport Companion) | Unlimited National Bank Lounge at YUL, plus DragonPass membership |
| Annual travel credit | None | $150 |
| Emergency medical insurance | $1,000,000, 25 days | $5,000,000, 60 days |
| Required income | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Point value (Milesopedia) | 1.0¢ | 0.9¢ |
Welcome bonus
The two offers end a few days apart, and they don't reward the same thing.
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card offers up to 35,000 Scene+ points:
- 25,000 points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months;
- 10,000 points as an annual bonus, each year you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to the card.
According to Scotiabank's terms, the 25,000-point bonus applies to accounts opened between August 4 and November 1, 2026. Beyond $40,000, Scotiabank adds 2,000 points for every additional $10,000 spent in the same year. The first-year annual fee is not waived.
The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®, for its part, comes with a Milesopedia exclusive offer: a refund of the first-year annual fee, worth $150 for the primary cardholder. The bank charges the fee, then refunds it as a statement credit within five months of account opening. There is no spending requirement.
Annual fee
Both cards cost $150 a year. The difference lies elsewhere.
- Scotiabank Passport: $150; first additional card free, then $50 per card;
- National Bank World Elite: $150, refunded the first year with the exclusive offer; $50 per additional card.
The real gap is foreign transaction fees. The Scotiabank card charges none on purchases in foreign currencies. The National Bank card charges 2.5%, like most cards in Canada. On $5,000 of foreign-currency spending a year, that is $125 in fees avoided with the Scotiabank card.
Required income
- Scotiabank Passport: $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income;
- National Bank World Elite: $80,000 personal income or $150,000 household income.
According to its website, National Bank also accepts two other criteria: $25,000 charged to the card each year, or $400,000 in investable assets. The purchase interest rate is 20.99% on both cards.
Earning points
Both cards boost groceries and restaurants, but not at the same level.
Earn rates
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card earns Scene+ points:
- Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating co-ops: 3 points per dollar;
- Other groceries, dining, entertainment and daily transit: 2 points per dollar;
- All other purchases: 1 point per dollar.
According to Scotiabank, these accelerated rates also apply to purchases in foreign currencies. Hotel, car rental and activity bookings through Scene+ Travel can earn up to 4 points per dollar.
The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® earns À la carte points:
- Groceries and restaurants: 5 points per dollar;
- Gas and electric charging: 2 points per dollar;
- Recurring bills: 2 points per dollar;
- Trips booked through À la carte Travel: 2 points per dollar;
- All other purchases: 1 point per dollar.
National Bank's monthly cap
The 5 points per dollar rate only applies to the first $2,500 in gross purchases charged to the account each month, across all categories. Beyond that, groceries and restaurants drop to 2 points per dollar. Our data shows no comparable cap on the Scotiabank card.
The real return per dollar
Milesopedia values Scene+ points at 1.0¢ and À la carte points at 0.9¢. The table below also factors in foreign transaction fees, which change everything abroad.
| Spending category | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries at Sobeys, IGA and participating banners | 3 pts/$, or 3.0¢/$ | 5 pts/$, or 4.5¢/$ (under $2,500 a month) |
| Other groceries and restaurants | 2 pts/$, or 2.0¢/$ | 5 pts/$, or 4.5¢/$ (under $2,500 a month) |
| Entertainment and daily transit | 2 pts/$, or 2.0¢/$ | 1 pt/$, or 0.9¢/$ |
| Gas and electric charging | 1 pt/$, or 1.0¢/$ | 2 pts/$, or 1.8¢/$ |
| Recurring bills | 1 pt/$, or 1.0¢/$ | 2 pts/$, or 1.8¢/$ |
| All other purchases | 1 pt/$, or 1.0¢/$ | 1 pt/$, or 0.9¢/$ |
| Everyday foreign-currency purchase, fees included | 1 pt/$, or 1.0¢/$ net (no fees) | 1 pt/$ minus the 2.5% fee, or about -1.6¢/$ net |
Redeeming points
Good news: both programs are simple. Neither requires you to hunt for availability.
With Scene+, 1,000 points are worth $10 on any travel purchase charged to the card: flights, hotels, all-inclusive packages and even Airbnb. The same rate applies to cash back. Our Scene+ program page covers the options.
With National Bank, the À la carte Travel agency offers 1¢ per point, according to our program page. A statement credit for a trip paid in the previous 60 days works out to about 0.83¢ per point. Our guide on using NBC rewards points for travel explains each redemption option.
In practice, the two currencies are nearly equal. Scene+ keeps a slight edge, because its 1¢ rate applies to any trip, with no agency in between.
Insurance
National Bank clearly wins on emergency medical coverage. It reaches $5,000,000 for 60 days up to age 54, 31 days from 55 to 64 and 15 days from 65 to 75. Scotiabank's coverage is $1,000,000 for 25 days before age 65, and 3 days from age 65.
The table below summarizes the main coverages. National Bank also wins on trip cancellation and trip interruption, while Scotiabank covers delayed baggage better and adds hotel burglary insurance. Our World Elite insurance guide has every detail.
| Coverage | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical | $1,000,000, 25 days before age 65 (3 days at 65 and over) | $5,000,000, 60 days up to age 54, 31 days from 55 to 64, 15 days from 65 to 75 |
| Trip cancellation | $1,500 | $2,500 per person |
| Trip interruption | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Flight delay | $500 | $500 |
| Delayed baggage | $1,000 | $500 |
| Lost baggage | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Car rental | $65,000, 48 days | $65,000, 48 days |
| Hotel burglary | $1,000 | Not listed in our card data |
| Purchase protection | 90 days | 180 days |
| Extended warranty | 1 year | Up to 2 years |
| Mobile devices | Not listed in our card data | $1,000 |
Annual perks
This is where your travel profile makes all the difference.
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card includes membership in the Visa Airport Companion program with 6 free airport lounge visits a year. The visits can be used in participating lounges across the network. The card also adds Visa Infinite concierge service.
The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® offers a $150 annual travel credit. It covers airport parking, baggage fees, seat selection, airport lounge access and upgrades. Our tutorial on the $150 travel reimbursement shows how to claim it.
It also gives free, unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau, with one guest and two children aged 12 and under. The lounge is in the international zone. Since October 5, 2026, it has been operating as a temporary space near gate 53 during its renovation. Finally, the card includes a DragonPass membership; visits are paid, but the $150 credit can cover them.
Verdict by profile
No card wins for everyone. Here are three distinct profiles.
The traveller who often spends in foreign currencies
You spend several weeks a year abroad, or you often shop online in US dollars or euros. In that case, the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card is the clear pick. No foreign transaction fees is worth 2.5% on every purchase, and its 6 lounge visits work anywhere in the network.
The traveller who flies out of YUL
You leave Montreal-Trudeau for Europe, the South or Asia several times a year. In that case, the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® takes the lead. Unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge with a guest, the $150 credit and 60-day medical coverage make a package that is hard to beat. Plus, the 5X on groceries earns more day to day.
The client who wants to consolidate with their main bank
If you already bank with one of these two institutions, your own bank's card keeps things simple. According to its terms, National Bank offers a discount on the monthly fees of its The Total and The Connected banking packages to World Elite cardholders. On the Scotiabank side, our article on the Ultimate Package and the Passport card explains how the card fits into the banking package.
Why not both?
The two cards come from different issuers. Many travellers put groceries and restaurants on the National Bank card in Canada, under the $2,500 monthly cap, then every purchase abroad on the Scotiabank card.
Conclusion
So which card wins? For a Montrealer who mostly travels out of YUL and spends heavily on groceries, the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® offers the best overall package. Its $150 credit, YUL lounge and stronger insurance carry a lot of weight, and the first year costs nothing until November 4, 2026.
However, the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card remains the best option for anyone who spends a lot in foreign currencies. No National Bank card matches its 0% foreign transaction fee. Our full World Elite review covers its other strengths, and our Tangerine vs Scotiabank Passport comparison pits the Scotiabank card against another no-FX-fee option.
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Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $150
- Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
- Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now
on National Bank's website
Frequently asked questions about Scotiabank Passport vs World Elite
Which card has the better welcome offer?
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card offers 25,000 Scene+ points when you spend $2,000 in three months, worth about $250, for accounts opened by November 1, 2026. The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® instead refunds its $150 first-year fee, through a Milesopedia exclusive offer that runs until November 4, 2026. Since the Scotiabank fee is not waived, the net first-year gap is small.
Which one has no foreign transaction fees?
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card. It charges no fees on purchases in foreign currencies. The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® charges 2.5%. See the other options on our best no foreign transaction fee credit cards page.
Which card offers better airport lounge access?
It depends on your airport. The Scotiabank card offers 6 free visits a year in the Visa Airport Companion network, usable abroad. The National Bank card offers unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau, in the international zone, with one guest. It also includes a DragonPass membership; visits are paid, but the $150 credit can cover them.
How much is a Scene+ point worth compared to an À la carte point?
Milesopedia values Scene+ points at 1.0¢ and National Bank À la carte points at 0.9¢. With Scene+, 1,000 points are worth $10 on any travel purchase. With National Bank, the À la carte Travel agency gives 1¢ per point. Our points valuation explains the method.
Which card earns more on groceries?
The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®, as long as you stay under $2,500 in gross purchases per month. It earns 5 points per dollar, or about 4.5¢ in value. The Scotiabank card earns 3 points per dollar at Sobeys, IGA and other participating banners, and 2 points at other grocery stores, or 3¢ and 2¢.
Which card has better travel insurance?
National Bank, by a wide margin on medical: $5,000,000 for 60 days up to age 54, against $1,000,000 for 25 days with Scotiabank. It also covers more for trip cancellation and trip interruption. Scotiabank keeps the edge on delayed baggage and hotel burglary.
Can you hold both cards at the same time?
Yes, since they come from different issuers. A common strategy is to use the National Bank card for groceries and restaurants in Canada, then the Scotiabank card for every purchase in a foreign currency. That way, you benefit from two lounge networks and both welcome offers.