Best student credit cards in Canada

• This card earned top marks last year and continues to perform strongly, retaining its status as our best overall student credit card.

• The welcome bonus provides a solid head start toward rewards, especially valuable for budget-conscious students.
• This card also gives you access to the Avion program, one of Canada's best loyalty programs. With the RBC ION+ Visa you'll earn 3x Avion points for every dollar you spent on groceries, dining and food delivery as well as commuting (gas, transit, Ubers), and streaming, digital gaming, and other subscriptions.
• If you can afford the $48 fee (charged at $4 per month), the RBC Ion+ gives you enough Avion points to claim that money back in gift cards alone. If you sign up for an RBC Signature No Limit Bank account, they'll give you a $4 rebate each month of your credit card fee.
• RBC gives you 2 years of coverage on your mobile device (so long as you purchased it with this card) and give you purchase security and extended warranty insurance which is invaluable for students' precious laptops with all your information.

Disclosures:

• Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
  
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• BMO Air Miles Mastercard for Students performed well across multiple evaluation metrics, landing it a strong second place in our rankings.

• Air Miles remains one of the most recognized and widely used rewards programs in Canada—especially for travel and merchandise.

• This card offers students an accessible path to travel redemptions, even on a tight budget, by allowing rewards to be easily used for flights, car rentals and attractions.

• Provides value and rewards with no annual fee, making it a low-risk option for students new to credit.

• This card is fresh to the market, offering Canadian students modern features and simplified earning tailored to today’s students.

• Earn cashback in your top three spend categories each month—no manual selection required, which is great for busy students.

• With no annual fee, students can start building credit and earning rewards with zero upfront cost.

• Cashback is easy to redeem and can be applied directly to the account, making this card a hassle-free choice for everyday savings.

• A no annual fee card that helps you rack up travel points for a weekend getaway with roommates.

• You'll quickly earn points, with 3 TD Rewards Points on Groceries, Dining, and Public Transit†, 2 TD Rewards Points on Recurring Bill Payments and Streaming, Digital Gaming & Media† and 1 TD Rewards Point on all other purchases†.

• Book your travel through Expedia^® For TD† for the best prices and even more rewards potential.

Disclosures:

• †Terms and conditions apply.
  
  This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
  
  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 any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

• If you like cash back, look no further than Scotiabank Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card.

• Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases); Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $0). So, Scotiabank is essentially paying you to use their card—that's something we can root for.

• After that, you'll earn 1% cash back on every day purchases from gas to groceries, drug store purchases and recurring bill payments. You'll earn 0.5% on everything else.

• If you're currently carrying credit card debt, the Momentum is one of the best balance transfer credit cards, too. You'll pay 0% for the first 6 months which makes paying off credit card debt much easier.  

Disclosures:

• *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

• The Scene+ program is super flexible in its rewards where you can redeem for travel, shopping, dining and more.

• As a welcome bonus, get up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points.

• Earning is easy, too. You earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 you spend on everyday purchases and 2 Scene+ points per dollar when you spend at Cineplex theatres and at Sobey's brand grocery stores (FreshCo, Foodland, Safeway, IGA, etc.)

• For newcomers, Scotiabank has a StartRight® Program† which approves newcomers for a credit card for up to $15k. They also have no-fee chequing accounts and high interest savings accounts which could prove useful.

Disclosures:

• Conditions apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card to learn more. *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

• Aeroplan is one of the best loyalty travel programs in Canada, so why not foray into it with CIBC's Aeroplan card which has no minimum income requirement.

• As a welcome bonus, get up to 10,000 Aeroplan points†.

• You earn 1 Aeroplan point for every $1.50 you spend on gas, groceries, and Air Canada flights. You can also earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partners and online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore (a great place to look for student discounts, too!)

• They're also throwing in purchase security and extended warranty protection insurance, travel accident insurance and rental car insurance.

Disclosures:

• †Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer it not available to the residents of Quebec.
• The information for the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

KOHO has 3 credit card tiers, all of them are prepaid meaning you have to put money on the card to use it.

1. 1 KOHO Essential: Your entry-level option with a low annual fee and basic cash back on key categories. It’s a solid choice if you’re dipping your toes into the world of rewards cards.
2. 2 KOHO Extra: The middle-tier option offers higher cash back rates and eliminates foreign transaction fees, but comes with a heftier annual fee. It’s worth considering if you’re a frequent traveler or big spender in the bonus categories.
3. 3 KOHO Everything: The premium tier that surprisingly matches the Essential’s annual fee while offering the highest cash back rates and interest on your balance. It’s a no-brainer if you can meet the spending requirements to maximize its benefits.

These come with the following benefits:

• With their paid programs, you can access their credit building product. So, while you may find it hard to get credit, KOHO helps you build credit so you can access an unsecured credit card and unlock more rewards faster.

• KOHO is more than just a prepaid card. It’s made up of multiple products that help you get a good overview of your finances, manage your money, and save more.

• Your KOHO Prepaid Mastercard® connects to a digital account that can be accessed via the KOHO app. The app breaks down your spending by showing you where your money is going so you can stay on top of your financial health.

• With their paid programs, you can access their credit building product. So, while you may find it hard to get credit, KOHO helps you build credit so you can access an unsecured credit card and unlock more rewards faster.

• Unlike other credit cards, the Tangerine student credit card allows you to earn unlimited Money-Back Rewards on everyday purchases — with no annual fee.

•   You also choose which categories where you want higher cash back. You can get 2% cash back on groceries, restaurants, gas, recurring bills, drug stores, public transportation and more. Two categories not enough? Get a third by opening a Tangerine Savings Account.

• Tangerine's app also helps you track, organize and categorize your spending so you have a better idea of where you're spending your money.

• A no annual fee card that gives you 2% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 2% cash back on eligible groceries in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually) and 1.25% cash back on everything else is great.

• As a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express member, you can bonus 5% back.

• They also give you $100,000 in travel accident insurance, $1,000 purchase protection insurance for items bought within 90 days, and buyer's assurance which gives you an additional year from the manufacturer's original warranty.

• Throw in the Amex privilege with their Front Of The Line presale and reserved tickets, some world-class customer service, and their Plan It™ Installment program which splits large purchases into monthly payments and you've got a solid student credit card.

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

• While the green card isn't as loaded on benefits as the American Express The Platinum Card®, it still gets you connected to world-class customer service, and American Express Experiences like Front Of The Line Presales and Reserved tickets.

• As a new American Express® Green Card Cardmember, you can earn a Welcome Bonus of Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points* when you spend $1,000 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*

• When you graduate, you can upgrade your card but stay with Amex Membership Rewards which transfer 1:1 with other great loyalty programs like Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.

• Though it’s true that AMEX isn’t accepted everywhere, the points you do earn can be redeemed toward eligible Card purchases, at Amazon.ca, and even to get gift cards and merchandise.

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Applying for a student credit card is simple. As long as you have what you need ready to go, this process should run smoothly. Here’s a step by step look at how to apply for a student credit card:

1. 1 Do your research. First things first, research student credit cards to decide which is best for you and your spending habits based on its eligibility requirements, perks, discounts, rewards and reviews.
2. 2 Ensure you meet eligibility requirements. Typically, this means you must be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in your province, be a post-secondary student, have not declared bankruptcy in the past 7 years, and overall have a clean financial history.
3. 3 Gather your paperwork. Make sure you have proof that you meet the eligibility requirements listed in the second step.
4. 4 Fill out an application form. Once you’ve determined which card you’d like to apply for, you can submit an application either in person at your bank or online. Your credit card applications shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to submit.
5. 5 Wait for approval. If you’ve been approved, your credit card provider should reach out to you shortly (3-5 days) to confirm your approval before sending you your new student credit card in the mail.

💰 Can you apply for a credit card without a job?

In short, yes, you can apply for a student credit card without a job. Some credit card providers may require proof of income along with your application (which will be verified with the credit bureau), but if you don’t have full- or part-time work, you can provide them with an alternate form of income to prove you’d be able to pay off any accumulated expenses. This may come from a student loan, personal savings, or help from a parent or guardian.

🌍 Can international students get credit cards in Canada?

Yes! There are currently five financial institutions that offer up to $1,000 of credit to newly arrived international students: BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, RBC and HSBC. And while TD Canada does offer credit to international students, they will only offer secured credit cards (credit cards with a security deposit) to students who have just arrived in Canada.

🍰 What is the easiest student credit card to get?

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, and the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for students are the easiest cards to get approved for as a student. Plus, none of these cards have an annual fee.

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