Best credit cards for Quebec residents
Golubovy / Shutterstock
Updated: July 18, 2023
We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Please be aware that some (or all) products and services linked in this article are from our sponsors.
We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Please be aware this post may contain links to products from our partners. We may receive a commission for products or services you sign up for through partner links.
Have you ever noticed that occasionally the rules for credit cards can sometimes be different depending on which region of Canada you live in? It’s especially common with citizens of Quebec, who may not pay the same interest rates, get the same credit card welcome offers, or pay the same fees as credit card users in the rest of the country. Sometimes a specific credit card may not even be available at all to Quebec residents.
To ensure Canadians living in “la belle province” can pick the perfect plastic for their needs, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best credit cards for residents of Quebec. While there are other credit cards on the market for Quebecers, we think our picks are particularly outstanding — read on to find out why.
Best credit cards for Quebecers compared
| Card | Best for | Biggest perk | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | Cash back | Choose where you earn extra cash back | $0 |
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | Travel | Best Offer yet for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: Earn up to $1,600 in value† including up to 70,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Must apply by September 5, 2023. | $139 |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | No foreign transaction fees | No foreign trans. fees on overseas purchases + 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible groceries, restaurants, and entertainment | $120 |
| HSBC +Rewards Mastercard | Low interest | 11.9% interest rate on purchases, 11.9% on cash advances, and 11.9% on balance transfers | $25 |
| BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for Students | Students | 3% cash back on groceries* | $0 |
| BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* | Rewards | 4 annual airport lounge passes* | $150 |
Best for Cash Back
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Who’s Eligible?
- Minimum Credit Score: Fair-Good
- Minimum Income: $12,000
- Age: 18+/Age of majority
- Residency: Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident
- Other: No bankruptcy for the past 7 years
Yes, that’s right! The best credit card in Canada for cash back is actually one without an annual fee. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card regularly earns 2% back on purchases in up to three categories of your choice, and there are 10 categories to choose from. You earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is paid out monthly and there is no maximum spending limit for any purchase category, so your earnings are unlimited. The card also features purchase insurance and extended warranty insurance.
The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card currently features some amazing welcome offers: Special 10% extra cash back rate on the first $1,000 spent with the card on everyday purchases (max. $100 cash back) in the first two months if you're approved, apply by July 5, 2023.* New cardholders can also take advantage of a balance transfer promotion that features a low promotional interest rate of 1.95% on transferred balances for 6 months and there is no balance transfer fee for residents of Quebec.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card review.
*Terms and Conditions apply
Runner-Up for Cash Back: SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express
The SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is a contender for best cash back card because of its super bonus offer: In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Conditions apply.
And if you dig the Tangerine card’s 2% cash back offered in a few categories, it might be worth it to pay a $9.99/month (Equals a total fee of $119.88 annually) annual fee for the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express, which gives you 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 4% cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. You’ll earn enough cash back to cover the annual fee and then some if you charge about $5,000 or more to the card each year, which is very realistic for the average Quebecer.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express review.
Best for Travel
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Eligibility criteria
- Standard Purchase APR: 20.99%
- Balance Transfer APR: 20.99%
- Cash Advance APR: 20.99%
- Current Promotion Expires: September 5, 2023
- Credit score required: Good-Excellent
- Min personal income required: $60,000
- Annual fees: $139
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the most outstanding credit cards for frequent fliers because it makes it easy to earn Aeroplan points.
Best Offer yet for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. Earn up to $1,600 in value†, including up to 70,000 Aeroplan points† and additional travel benefits. Must apply by September 5, 2023.
- Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†
- Earn 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†
- Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of Account opening†
- Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†
- Plus, share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions†.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card earns 1.5 Aeroplan points† for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. You earn 1 Aeroplan point† for every $1 on all other purchases. You can also earn 50% more Aeroplan Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® stores. Simply link your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions apply. Learn more here.
The card also comes with extensive travel insurance like hotel/motel burglary†, Travel Medical Insurance†, and rental car insurance†. Extra perks include a NEXUS fee rebate† and a free checked bag for cardholders and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation for Air Canada originated flights†.
Click here to apply for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card.
This offer is not available to residents outside of Quebec. For non-Quebec residents, please click here.
†Terms and conditions apply.
Runner-Up for Travel: Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card has a very different set of benefits compared to the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, starting first and foremost with its basic rewards system. The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* earns Scene+ points, which may be less widely known than Aeroplan points, though they’re just as valuable.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is also distinct from the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card in that it offers six free annual airport lounge visits (the most of any credit card in Canada with an annual fee of under $200) and it’s one of the few Canadian credit cards that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Finally, it has high earning potential, at 3X Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, and more eligible grocers. Earn 2 Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more), and earn 1 Scene+™ point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases. The annual fee is $150.
Earn up to $1,100* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card.¹ Offer ends October 31, 2023.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card review.
¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.
Best for No Foreign Transaction Fees
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Who's eligible
- Minimum Credit Score: Excellent
- Age: Age of majority in your province or territory
- Residency: Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Other: No bankruptcies in the past seven years
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of the few credit cards in Canada that doesn’t charge a foreign exchange fee when you make purchases in foreign dollars, which can save you 2.5% when you travel outside Canada or shop online at non-Canadian sites. Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹. Offer ends October 31, 2023.
With one of the top earn rates in the country for these categories, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card earns 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases. Get 3X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on gas, eligible daily transit and select streaming services. You’ll earn 6X Scene+ points for each $1 CAD charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ 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. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. The card also comes with strong travel insurance, a discounted Priority Pass membership and concierge service.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Gold American Express® card review.
Runner-Up for No Foreign Transaction Fees: HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® also waives foreign transaction fees for non-Canadian dollar purchases, and its welcome bonus is massive: Quebecers who apply by May 31, 2023, can get up to 110,000 Points* ($550 travel value), but unfortunately there’s no rebate available to Quebecers for the card’s $149 annual fee. Conditions Apply. Here is breakdown of the components of the Welcome Bonus:
- Welcome bonus of 20,000 points* ($100 travel value)
- Earn 90,000 points* when you keep your account open and active for 180 days ($450 travel value)
- Receive a $100 annual travel enhancement credit*
The card earns its accelerated points in different categories than the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card: Earn 3% in travel rewards on all eligible travel purchases* (6 points per $1); 2% in travel rewards on all eligible gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases* (4 points per $1); and 1% in travel rewards on all other eligible purchases* (2 points per $1). And, as a Mastercard, the HSBC card will of course be accepted at more vendors than the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® review.
This offer is only available to residents of Quebec (residents of Canada other than the province of Quebec eligible for separate offer).
*Terms and Conditions apply.
®/TM Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used pursuant to license.
Best for Low Interest
HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard®
Who’s Eligible?
- Recommended Credit Score: 630+
- Minimum Income: N/A
- Age: You must be the age of majority in your home province
- Residency: Canadian
The HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard® stands out first and foremost for its low interest rates of 11.9% on purchases, 11.9% on cash advance, and 11.9% on balance transfers, as well as for its low annual fee of $25. Not only that, but cardholders can earn rewards, which is very unusual for a low interest card. Get 2 points for every $1 spent on dining or entertainment purchases* and 1 point for all other spending*. The card also has a solid Special Offer for Quebecers who apply by May 31, 2023, worth up to $200 in total value* for the first year, conditions apply.
- Earn 40,000 points* when you keep your account open and active for 180 days ($200 travel value)
Another very rare benefit of the card is price protection: If you buy something with the card and then within 60 days of your purchase you find that same item listed for cheaper than what you paid, you can get reimbursed up to $500 per occurrence, up to $1,000 annually.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard® review.
This offer is only available to residents of Quebec (residents of Canada other than the province of Quebec eligible for separate offer).
*Terms and Conditions apply.
®/TM Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used pursuant to license.
Best for Students
BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for Students
Who’s Eligible?
- Minimum Income: At least some annual income from employment, scholarship/grant, student loan or family allowance.
- Age: Between ages 18-24 at a recognized post-secondary school (must be at least age of majority in your home province)
- Residency: Canadian
The student version of the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* has no annual fee and a welcome offer of 5% cash back in the first three months (to a max of $125 cash back) as long as you apply by July 31, 2023. The card earns you 3% cash back on groceries (up to a monthly max of $500 on grocery spending; the max resets each month) and 1% (to $500 per month)* on recurring bill payments like streaming services or subscriptions. You net 0.5% (no max) on all other purchases*.
The BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* has a very flexible redemption policy whereby you can deposit your cash back into a BMO account (chequing, savings or InvestorLine) or put it toward a statement credit. The card comes with lots of student-focused benefits like getting a free credit score via CreditView, as well as extended warranty* and purchase protection*. Road trips are more affordable thanks to the card’s discount of up to 25% on rentals at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car locations*. You will also get 15% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada and 20% off resident shows in Las Vegas*.
Click here to apply and learn more.
*Terms and conditions apply
Runner-Up for Students: KOHO
Unlike the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®, the KOHO card is not a credit card, it’s a prepaid card. But that’s why it’s a good alternative student card, because with KOHO you don’t have to worry about making payments on time or getting into trouble with credit card debt. KOHO Easy is a free, reloadable, prepaid card that’s connected to your KOHO no-fee spending account. The card works like a debit card in some ways, but you also up to cash back. With KOHO Easy, earn 1% Groceries + Transportation; up to 5% extra cash back when shop with partnered merchants. Best of all, you can earn saving interests on your entire KOHO account balance.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete KOHO review.
Best for Rewards
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
Who’s Eligible?
- Minimum Credit Score: Excellent
- Minimum Income: $80,000 individual or $150,000 household
- Age: Age of majority in your province or territory
- Residency: Canadian
The BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* allows you to rev up your rewards points, starting with its lucrative sign-up bonus, where you can get up to 60,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.* The card earns rewards on spending at a respectable rate, with 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases,* 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments,* 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else.* The card’s flexible redemption program means you can redeem points for flights, hotels and vacation packages with no black-out periods. You can also apply points to pay for purchases or build up your savings by putting them towards a BMO savings or investment account.
But the standout feature of the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* is probably its lucrative lounge access package. The card gives you complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass,* with four annual complimentary passes. And unlike most lounge access deals, BMO lets you use your four free annual passes for yourself or for a guest to accompany you.
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*.
*Terms and conditions apply
Why Is Quebec Different Than the Rest of Canada When It Comes to Credit Cards?
Credit card rules regarding fees, interest rates, minimum payments and more are often different for residents of Quebec due to the fact that the province has different laws governing credit cards. One of the main laws that affect credit cards is Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act. The act governs things like what is allowable in contracts (such as a credit card agreement) between a merchant (like a credit card company) and a consumer (a credit card user).
One of the best examples of how Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act affects Quebec credit card users differently than the rest of Canada is to take a look at a new law the province instituted affecting credit card minimum payments. In August of 2020, a new rule went into effect that Quebecers must pay at least 2.5% of their credit card balance each month; previously, credit card users in Quebec only had to make a minimum payment of 2%. The mandatory minimum payment will continue to rise until 2025 when Quebec residents will be required to pay at least 5% of their outstanding balance each month. (Note that this gradual increase only pertains to credit card accounts that already exist. New credit card accounts in Quebec will immediately be subject to the 5% minimum payment requirement.) In the rest of Canada, most credit card providers only require that a cardholder pay 2.5% of the amount owing or make a minimum payment of $10. Quebec’s new law is designed to help Quebec credit card users not spend beyond their means and prevent credit card debt from ballooning out of control.
To emphasize the importance of the new 5% rule, an example on Quebec’s consumer protection website shows how a $1,000 purchase charged to a card with 19.9% would take almost 26 years to pay off and cost an extra $3,001 in interest charges if the cardholder only made the 2% minimum payment. With a 5% minimum payment, the card would be paid off in 6 years and only cost an additional $442 in interest. If you want customized information about how long it would take you to pay off credit card debt, check out our GreedyRates‘ credit card calculator.
FAQs
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.
Latest Articles
Alberta to debate Canada Pension Plan, says it deserves half of fund if it leaves
A look at the numbers and assumptions behind Alberta's pension report
Pathways Alliance watching Trans Mountain's latest hurdles with dismay
Coastal GasLink fined $340,000 for erosion, sediment control challenges
Most actively traded companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange
