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Open a Scotiabank International Account* online before you arrive.

With the Scotiabank Startright™ Program1 you can apply for a Scotiabank Investment Account and transfer up to $50,000 CAD before moving to Canada2.

Check your eligibility and apply

Why do I need an International Account before I move?

When moving to Canada, you’re often required to prove you have enough money to cover the cost of living. An International® Account can help you demonstrate proof of funds and feel more prepared for your move.

A Scotiabank International Account can help you:

Cash

Feel more prepared knowing you have proof of funds ready.

Large amounts of cash

Reduce the need to carry large amounts of cash while travelling.

Fast Chequing

Set up a Scotiabank chequing account faster when you arrive.

Why do I need a chequing account once I arrive?

Once you arrive in Canada, you will need to book an appointment to visit a Scotiabank branch and set up a chequing account for your regular banking needs like withdrawing cash and paying bills. You will have the option of transferring all or part of the funds from your International Account into your new chequing account.

You will need to bring two forms of identification such as your:

• Passport

• Permanent Resident card

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada Form (IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5688 or IMM 5292)

If you’re an international student, you must also bring proof of enrolment from your Canadian Educational Institution.

A chequing account lets you:

Withdraw money by using your account debit card or taking out cash at a Scotiabank branch or ABM.

Write cheques and move money from one account to another.

Pay bills online and set up automatic payments for re-occurring monthly bills.

Send money to or from the bank account of any participating Canadian bank electronically with Interac e-Transfers.

The following chequing accounts are eligible for the StartRight™ Program:

Package fees

  • Free for the first year3, and $0* or $16.95/mth after year 1

* Maintain a balance of $4,000 and we’ll waive your monthly fee.

Package fees

  • $0* or $10.95/mth

* Maintain a balance of $3,000 and we’ll waive your monthly fee.

Package fees

  • No monthly fees

Usage

  • Unlimited transactions
  • Unlimited Interac e-transfers†4
  • Once a month, get a free withdrawl from an ABM that isn’t Scotia

Usage

  • 25 free transactions5 per month
  • 10 free Interac e-Transfers per month

Usage

  • Unlimited transactions
  • Unlimited Interac e-transfers†4

Grow your money

  • Get a +0.05% Interest Rate Boost on deposits in your MomentumPLUS Savings Account
  • Preferred rates on select GICs6

More perks

  • Earn points on every purchase with either the SCENE®* or Scotia Rewards Program7

More perks

  • Redeem SCENE points®* for entertainment rewards like movies, meals and more.8

More perks

  • First year annual fee waiver on select Scotiabank credit cards8 up to $150
  • Earn points on every purchase with either the SCENE®* or Scotia Rewards program7

All accounts include:

  • Access to credit cards designed for newcomers and international students9
  • Free TransUnion†† CreditView††
  • Access to cash at over 50,000 partner ABMs worldwide
  • Earn rewards on your everyday purchases7

Ready to open a Scotiabank International Account?

Please select the country you’ll be moving from to find out if you’re eligible for online account opening.

Have questions? We have answers.

Our StartRight™ Program support team is here to help.

Call us

Email us

Find a Scotiabank Branch

  • *A Scotiabank International Account is a Scotiabank Investment Account opened from outside of Canada. More information about the Scotiabank Investment account can be found here.
  • 1Scotiabank StartRight Program, created for Canadian Permanent residents from 0–5 years in Canada, International Students and Foreign Workers.
  • 2Eligibility: To qualify for the 1-Year No Monthly Account Fee Offer (the “Offer”), open a new Preferred Package account under the StartRight™ Program (the “Account”) [Employees of The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotiabank”) and individuals who are currently or were previously holders/ joint holders of a Scotiabank chequing account within the last 2 years are not eligible for this Offer.
    How this Offer Works: During the first 12months, your monthly Account fee will be waived and will not appear as a charge on your Account. The Account must be open and in good standing at the time of the waiver. All applicable service charges on the Account will continue to be applied monthly. After the first 12 months, you will begin to see the monthly Account fee charged to your Account unless you maintain a minimum daily closing balance of $4,000, in which case the monthly Account fee will be waived per the Account terms and conditions.
  • 3Scotiabank cannot accept more than one wire payment per family and such payment cannot exceed CAD $50,000. You are responsible to ensure that your wire payment to Scotiabank in Canada, including the amount, is in compliance with the local laws of your country.
  • 4Fees may initially be charged for Interac e-Transfers† in excess of 99 in a month but will be reversed in the subsequent month
  • 5Additional fees apply for shared ABM services, cross-border debit transactions and other banking services not included.
  • 6Preferred Package holders will receive Preferred Package GIC interest rates (“Preferred Package GIC Rates”) on select GICs purchased 2 days after start of ownership of Preferred Package. Selected GICs are between 1 to 10 year non-redeemable GIC’s. To view the Preferred GIC Rates that are subject to change, visit Scotiabank.com/GIC. Interest is accrued daily on your GIC from the issue date up to, but not including, the maturity date. For Scotiabank GICs that pay interest during their term (monthly, semi-annually or annually) the last interest payment is paid at maturity.
  • 7Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $5 you spend on debit purchase transactions and Interac contactless transactions from an eligible account. Normal Interac contactless transaction limits apply. Maximum Scene+ points that can be earned per transaction are 300. Maximum daily Scene+ points that can be earned are 600. Other conditions and limitations apply. Visit http://www.scotiabank.com/sceneplus for complete details.
  • 8If you open a Preferred Package account (the “Account”), on or after the date you open the Account (the “Account Open Date”), you will receive an annual fee waiver for the first year only (the “First Year Annual Fee Waiver”) on one eligible Scotiabank Credit Card account (an “Eligible Card”) opened on or after the Account Open Date. Eligible Cards are the Scotiabank Gold American Express, Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*, Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite and Scotiabank Value® Visa* credit cards. Eligible Cards are subject to change.
    Each Account can only receive one First Year Annual Fee Waiver regardless of the number of accountholders on the Account or Eligible Cards opened. The First Year Annual Fee Waiver will be applied to the first annual fee for a primary card charged on an Eligible Card after the Account Open Date. If there is more than one Eligible Card opened after the Account Open Date, the First Year Annual Fee Waiver will be applied only to the first annual fee for a primary card that is charged on an Eligible Card after the Account Open Date.
    This First Year Annual Fee Waiver is only available for new Eligible Cards opened on or after the Account Open Date. Current or previous cardholders of an Eligible Card or cardholders that transfer to an Eligible Card on or after the Account Open Date will not receive the First Year Annual Fee Waiver.
    All other fees and charges applicable to the Eligible Card continue to apply. First Year Annual Fee Waiver will not be applied if the Account or Eligible Card is not open or is not in good standing and cannot be combined with any other annual fee waiver offer. Current annual fees, rates and other features for Eligible Cards are subject to change.
  • 9Subject 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 $5,000 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
  • ® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
  • ®*Registered trademark of SCENE IP LP, used under license
  • †Interac, Interac Flash and Pay in a flash are trademarks of Interac Inc. The Bank of Nova Scotia is an authorized user of the trademarks.
  • †† CreditView is a service provided by TransUnion. The Bank of Nova Scotia and its affiliates are not responsible for the service. †† Registered trademarks of TransUnion LLC
  • ◊ Registered trademark of Cineplex Entertainment LP, used under license.