Your first credit card does two jobs: it gives you a way to pay that isn’t cash or debit, and it starts the credit file every later loan, lease and mortgage application will be judged on. That makes the best first card a simple one: no annual fee, an income requirement you can meet, reporting to both bureaus, and enough rewards to be worth carrying. This guide is part of our credit card reviews and compares the starter cards that fit.
Starter cards compared
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Income requirement | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard | $0 | 2% cash back in 2 categories you choose (3 with rewards paid into a Tangerine Savings Account), 0.5% on everything else | $12,000 personal | Working, low income |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | 3% groceries and 1% recurring bills (first $500 per statement each), 0.5% everything else | None | No income requirement |
| CIBC Dividend Visa | $0 | 2% groceries, 1% gas/EV charging/transportation/dining/recurring payments, 0.5% everything else | $15,000 household | CIBC customers |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | $0 | 2x partner groceries (Sobeys/Safeway/IGA/Foodland/Freshco), 2x Home Hardware, 2x Cineplex, 1x everything else | None | Scene+ shoppers |
| Home Trust Secured Visa | $0 (or $59/yr for a reduced rate) | No rewards program (0% cash back) | None | No credit history, deposit available; not in Quebec |
| Neo Secured Mastercard | $0 card fee + $9.99/mo Build membership | Up to 15% cash back at Neo partner merchants (personalized offers, no guaranteed base rate) | None | Small deposit |
What makes a good first card
| Feature | Why it matters for a first card |
|---|---|
| No annual fee | Building credit shouldn’t cost a fee every year |
| A low or no income requirement | The issuer can approve you on what you earn now |
| Reporting to both bureaus | Builds history at Equifax and TransUnion |
| Automatic payments | Protects you from a missed payment |
| A path to better cards | Lets you upgrade later without closing your oldest account |
Picks for a first card
Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard: most first-time cardholders
Tangerine’s card pairs no annual fee with an income requirement of $12,000 personal, which most people with a part-time or first full-time job can meet. You pick the spending categories that earn its higher rate, so it fits whatever you spend on most. The Tangerine Money-Back review covers how the categories work.
BMO CashBack Mastercard: no income requirement
BMO lists no minimum income for its no-fee CashBack card (None), and it earns its top rate on groceries. That makes it a practical first card for someone with irregular or low earnings. Students have a dedicated version, compared on the student credit card roundup.
Home Trust Secured Visa: no credit history at all
When an unsecured application is unlikely to succeed, a secured card gets you started with a refundable deposit. Home Trust’s has no ongoing charge at its standard rate, and it is not available in Quebec. The secured card comparison compares it with Neo and Capital One and explains how a secured card works.
Matching a card to your situation
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Student with a part-time job | A student card from your bank |
| Working, no credit history | A no-fee starter card such as Tangerine or BMO CashBack |
| New to Canada | A bank newcomer program or a secured card |
| No income and no credit | A secured card |
| Declined before | A secured or guaranteed-approval card |
If you’re new to the country, the newcomer credit card guide covers the bank programs that approve without a Canadian credit history. If approval is the main worry, the easiest credit cards to get ranks cards by how low their requirements are.
Applying
Most issuers decide online within minutes. You’ll need government ID, your SIN if you choose to give it (it helps the bureau match your file), proof of address, and proof of income where the card has a requirement. Applying for one card at a time matters for a thin file, because each application can add a hard inquiry.
Your first year with the card
- Pay the full statement balance by the due date, every month.
- Keep the balance you carry into the statement date well below the limit.
- Set up an automatic payment of at least the minimum as a safety net.
- Use the card for a small purchase or two each month so the account stays active.
A score usually appears within a few months of the account opening, and a year of on-time payments is often enough to qualify for a better card. The build-credit-from-scratch guide walks through that timeline.
Moving up later
After a year or so of on-time payments, many cardholders move to a card with a higher earn rate or travel rewards, and some to a fee card that returns more than it costs; the credit card comparison table lines up the options. Keeping the first card open, especially if it has no fee, preserves the age of your oldest account.
Related Resources
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026. How we check facts.
- BMO: BMO CashBack Mastercard: Up to 3% Cash Back – BMO Canada
- neofinancial.com: Paid
- neofinancial.com: Neo Mastercard | Apply Online in Minutes | Neo Financial™
- Scotiabank: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | Scotiabank Canada
- Tangerine: Cash Back Credit Card: Bonus 10% Cash Back for 2 months* | Tangerine