Credit Cards

Get up to a $15,000 credit limit on an unsecured credit card as soon as you arrive – even without a credit history1.

As a newcomer, choose from a variety of credit cards and start building your credit history in Canada with the Scotiabank StartRight® Program1.

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Choose the credit card that’s right for you

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card

Special offer:
Earn up to 35,000 bonus Scene+™* points in your first year (that’s up to $350 towards travel).2

Annual fee: $150
Interest rates: 20.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Learn more about Passport Visa Infinite Card

Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card

Special offer:
Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).3 Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $0).3

Annual fee: $0
Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Learn more about Momentum No-Fee Visa Card

Scotiabank® Scene+™* Visa* Card

Special offer:
Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first year.4

Annual fee: $0
Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Learn more about Scene Visa Card

International Students

Our most popular credit cards for international students. No credit history required, and up to $5,000 credit limit on eligible Scotiabank credit cards.

Scotiabank® Scene+™* Visa* Card for Students

Earn 1,250 bonus Scene+TM* points upon first purchase.5

Annual fee: $0
Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Learn more about SCENE Visa Card for Students

What are rewards?

Rewards are incentives you get when you use certain credit cards to pay for everyday purchases. In Canada, rewards can come in a variety of formats like points, miles, or cash back. Whatever the format, reward types typically give you some sort of benefit for using your card to make your everyday purchases.

Scotiabank offers the following reward options:

CASH BACK

Earn cash back rewards on everyday purchases and have your cash deposited directly into your account.

LIFESTYLE

Scene+ is our enhanced rewards program that allows members to earn and redeem points for travel, shopping, dining and more.

Choose the card that's right for you. Help me choose Calculate and save

Why do I need to build my credit history in Canada?

When you apply for credit in Canada, lenders will normally check your credit history to help with their decision.

Building good credit could help you save money on interest rates and get approved more easily for things like cell phones, lines of credit and car loans.

Learn more

How to find out my credit score?

Credit scores are calculated by Canada’s two major credit-reporting agencies: Equifax and TransUnion. They calculate your score based on information in your credit report. Key factors that can affect your score include you payment history, how much debt you have and how long you’ve been using credit.

Learn more

How can I get a credit card?

Scotiabank offers a variety of cards from trusted brands including VISA*, MasterCard®** and American Express®^.

Book an appointment with a Scotiabank Advisor to apply for a credit card once you’re in Canada.

Book an appointment

You can build a good credit history faster by doing the following:

Get a credit card and use it on a regular basis.

Always pay your bills on time.

Pay your bills off in full whenever possible.

Credit Card

Limit yourself to just one or two credit cards.

Know your credit score.

Have questions? We have answers.

Our StartRight® Program support team is here to help.

Live chat

Call us

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  • 1.Subject to credit approval. To be eligible, you must be a participant in the Scotiabank StartRight® Program. To qualify for a credit card, you must be a resident of Canada and the age of majority in your province/territory where you live. Your approval for a credit card and the credit limit assigned will be determined based on Scotiabank’s credit criteria, including your verifiable income and credit history (If available). The credit limit amount of up to $15,000 under the Scotiabank StartRight® Program is subject to change by Scotiabank from time to time without prior notice. A credit history in Canada is not required in order to be eligible for a credit card under the Scotiabank StartRight® Program.
  • 2.The 25,000 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened by October 31, 2022 and is subject to the below terms and conditions. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
    Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder you are always eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday eligible purchases annually on your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite account. Conditions apply - see below for further details.
    Offer Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
    25,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To qualify for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “Bonus Offer”), you must have at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. The 25,000 Bonus Offer points will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days following the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within 3 months from the Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. Bonus Offer applies to new Accounts only opened by October 31, 2022.
    10,000 Annual Bonus Scene+ Point Conditions: As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder you can earn an annual Scene+ point bonus starting at 10,000 Scene+ points when you make at least $40,000 in eligible purchases annually on your Account each year (12-months). Annual period starts from the Account open date and resets every 12 months thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for every additional $10,000 in eligible purchases thereafter in that same year, after the $40,000 annual spend has been reached. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.
    The Annual bonus Scene+ points will be credited within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $40,000 annual spend threshold on the Account and within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met each additional $10,000 annual spend threshold on the Account, provided your Account is open and in good standing (as defined above).
    Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter.
    The current preferred annual interest rates for this Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change.
  • 3.Offer Description and Conditions: The 5% Cash Back and Introductory 0% Balance Transfer Rate Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened by October 31, 2022 and is subject to the below terms and conditions. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
    5% Cash Back Offer Conditions: You will earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases you spend on your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date (the “Promotional Period”). Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. After the Promotional Period, you will earn regular cash back on eligible purchases at the regular cash back rate (the “Cash Back Program Rate”) described in the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions (the “Program Terms”). The 5% cash back rate for any category is made up of the sum of: (i) the regular Cash Back Program Rate (variable by categories as set out under the Program Terms); and (ii) a “Cash Back Bonus Rate”.
    Cash back earned under this Offer will be credited to your Account in 2 instalments so long as your Account is open and in good standing at time of payout of each:
    1. Bonus Cash Back: The amount earned under the Cash Back Bonus Rate will be credited to your Account within 7 months from the Account open date; and
    2. Regular Cash Back: The amount earned under your regular Cash Back Program Rate will be credited to your Account according to the regular cash back payment schedule as set out under the Program Terms.
    The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account.
    EXAMPLE: If the Regular Cash Back Program Rate for the Groceries and Recurring Payments category is 1% then the Cash Back Bonus Rate will be 4% for that category so that you will earn a total of 5% on the amount of all eligible everyday purchases in that category during the Promotional Period. If you make $2,000 in eligible everyday purchases in the Groceries and Recurring Payments category, your cash back earnings will be credited to your Account as follows:
    (1) the Cash Back Bonus earnings of $80 (4% x $2,000) (which will not be tracked on your monthly statements), will be credited to your Account within 7 months from the Account open date, and (2) the Regular Cash Back earnings of $20 (1% x $2,000) (which will be tracked on your monthly statements), will be credited to your Account as per the regular cash back payment schedule (i.e., November).
    Introductory 0% Balance Transfer Rate Offer Description and Conditions: The Introductory 0% Rate Offer (the “Rate Offer”) applies only to cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions) (collectively “Cash Advances”) subject to the conditions below. This introductory rate applies when the new Account is opened by October 31, 2022 and will continue for 6 months from date of Account opening (the “Promotional Period”). After the Promotional Period, the promotional 0% interest rate on any Cash Advances (including any that remain unpaid after the Promotional Period ends) will increase to the preferred interest rate on Cash Advances (currently 22.99%). A Balance Transfer fee of 2% of the amount of each Balance Transfer transferred during the Promotional Period applies.
    If you don’t pay the minimum payment on your Account by the payment due date on your statement, two times in any consecutive 12-month period, you will lose the benefit of this promotional Rate Offer and the interest rates that apply on any unpaid balance will increase to the standard annual interest rates that apply to your Account (preferred annual interest rates will increase to standard rates of 24.99% on purchases and 27.99% on Cash Advances). This Rate Offer is subject to any available limit for Cash Advances on your Account. This Rate Offer cannot be used to transfer a balance from another Scotiabank Account, or to make a payment or deposit to another Scotiabank Account.
    In general, if you make a payment that exceeds the minimum payment on your statement, we will apply your payment on a proportionate basis among each group of billed charges on your Account. We group charges based on the interest rate that applies to the group of charges. Your payment cannot be applied to the balance(s) of your choice. See your credit card agreement for more information about how we apply payments to your Account.
    Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
    Rates and Fees: There is currently no annual fee for the primary card and no fee for each additional card. The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on Cash Advances. All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change.
  • 4.Offer Description and Conditions: The 7,500 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scene+ Visa Credit Card accounts (excluding SCENE Student Visa cards) (“Account”) opened by October 31, 2022 and is subject to the below terms and conditions. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers.
    7,500 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To be eligible for 5,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “5,000 Point Bonus”), you must open a new Account by October 31, 2022 and have at least $750 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first 3 months of the Account open date. To be eligible for an additional 2,500 bonus Scene+ points (the “Annual 2,500 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $5,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in your first year (12 months) of Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.
    The 5,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days after the qualifying $750 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within the first 3 months of Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Annual 2,500 Point Bonus will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $5,000 annual spend threshold on the Account, provided your Account is open and in good standing. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account.
    Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
    Rates and Fees: There is currently no annual fee for the primary card and no fee for each additional card. The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change.
  • 5.Offer Description and Conditions: The 1,250 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scene+ Visa Student Credit Card accounts (“Account”) opened by October 31, 2022 subject to the conditions below. To be eligible for the Offer, an eligible purchase must be posted to the Account within 2 months of the Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. The bonus points will be credited within 2-3 business days after the first eligible purchase is posted to your Account, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. Only one welcome bonus is awarded per Account. In cases where both the primary and secondary cardholders are Scene+ members, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ membership account that has been connected to the Account. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
    Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
    Rates and Fees: There is currently no annual fee for the primary card and no fee for each additional card.
    The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change.
  • ®Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
  • ®* Scene+ and the Icon Design are trademarks of Scene Plus IP Corporation.
  • ®**Mastercard, Priceless Cities and Tap & Go are registered trademarks, and the circles design and Mastercard Global Services are trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated and used under license by The Bank of Nova Scotia.
  • ®^Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. American Express is a registered trademark of American Express. This credit card program is issued and administered by the Bank of Nova Scotia under license from American Express.
  • ™Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
  • ™*Scene+ and the Icon Design are trademarks of Scene Plus IP Corporation. Used under license.
  • *Visa Int. / Licensed User.