A Canadian credit file starts empty when you arrive, however long your history was in another country. Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada keep their own records, so lenders here mostly can’t see what you built abroad. Banks know this, and most of the large ones run newcomer programs that approve a first credit card on your immigration status, your income and a Canadian bank account rather than a credit score. This page covers those programs, the documents they ask for, the fallbacks if you’re declined, and what the first year of credit building looks like. It is part of our credit card basics guides.
Newcomer programs at the big banks
Each of the Big Five banks has a newcomer banking offer: Scotiabank StartRight, CIBC’s Smart Account for Newcomers, TD New to Canada, BMO NewStart and the RBC Newcomer Program. Eligibility windows, account fee waivers and the cards on offer differ by bank and change over time, so the bank’s own newcomer page is the place to confirm them. What they share is that the card decision rests on your status in Canada and your relationship with the bank, not on a Canadian credit history.
Scotiabank StartRight
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Newcomers with permanent residence, a work permit or a study permit, within the program’s eligibility window |
| Bank account | A newcomer chequing offer comes with the program |
| Credit cards | Cards such as the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa ($0 annual fee) and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ ($150/year, 0% foreign transaction fee) |
| Where to apply | A Scotiabank branch, with your immigration documents and SIN |
The Passport card’s lack of a foreign transaction fee matters to newcomers who travel back often; the credit card fees guide explains how that fee is charged on purchases in another currency.
CIBC Smart Account for Newcomers
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Permanent residents within their last 5 years, or temporary residents with a Canadian work permit issued for at least a 12-month term |
| No-fee banking period | 2 years (24 months) with the Smart Account for Newcomers |
| Credit cards | No deposit or Canadian credit history required for cards such as the CIBC Dividend Visa ($0 annual fee); fee-bearing cards such as the CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa ($99/year) are also offered |
| International money transfers | No CIBC fee to send money through CIBC Global Money Transfer while the newcomer account is active |
Source: CIBC Smart Account for Newcomers and CIBC newcomer credit cards.
TD, BMO and RBC
TD New to Canada, BMO NewStart and the RBC Newcomer Program follow the same pattern: an account offer for a set period after arrival and a starter credit card that doesn’t need Canadian credit history. Their card lineups and limits are listed on each bank’s newcomer page. To compare the cards themselves, our credit card comparison lists each card’s fee and earn rate.
What to bring when you apply
| Document | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | Service Canada, in person or online |
| Immigration document | PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, work permit or study permit |
| Passport | Your current passport |
| Proof of Canadian address | A lease, utility bill or bank statement |
| Canadian bank account | Most issuers set up payments from it and use it to confirm identity |
A job offer or employment letter can help with income-based approvals, especially for cards with a higher credit limit.
If you have credit history from another country
Nova Credit translates a credit report from a supported country into a report its Canadian partners can read. American Express Canada uses it, so a newcomer with a strong file in a supported country can apply for an Amex card without Canadian history. Supported countries have included India, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines; Nova Credit’s site lists the current set and the bureau it reads in each. Outside Nova Credit, most Canadian lenders don’t use a foreign file, so a newcomer program or a secured card is usually the starting point.
If you’re declined: secured and prepaid fallbacks
A very new study permit, a short permit term or thin documentation can lead to a decline. Two fallbacks remain:
- A secured card. You put down a refundable deposit, which usually becomes the limit, and the card reports to the credit bureaus like any other card. Our secured credit card picks compare deposits and fees.
- A prepaid card. A prepaid card spends money you load, so it has no credit limit and doesn’t build credit on its own. Some providers sell a separate credit-building product, and a credit-builder loan reports instalment payments to the bureaus in a similar way.
Special situations
Temporary residents. Work and study permit holders can build a Canadian credit file the same way permanent residents do, and the file stays with them if they later become permanent residents. Some programs tie a card’s eligibility to the permit’s length, so a permit with little time left can limit the offer.
Self-employed newcomers. Without pay stubs, income is harder to prove. Bank statements, contracts and invoices can stand in, and a secured card is a common first step until a Canadian tax return (and its Notice of Assessment) is on file.
Students. Banks sell student cards with low limits and no annual fee; our student credit card picks compare them.
The first year of credit building
The steps for a newcomer are the same as for anyone starting with no file, set out in full in how to build credit from scratch:
- Weeks 1-4: open a bank account, get your SIN and apply for a newcomer card (or a secured card if declined).
- Months 1-6: use the card for small regular purchases and pay the statement balance by the due date. Payment history is the factor lenders weigh most, and a missed payment stays on your report for years.
- Months 3-6: confirm that a file exists at both bureaus; checking your credit score for free covers the options, and a check you make yourself doesn’t affect the score.
- Months 6-12: keep balances low against the limit (credit utilization explains why) and space out new applications, as covered in how long to wait between applications.
How fast a score rises depends on the accounts and the payments, so no timeline is guaranteed. How credit scores are calculated explains the factors, and credit score ranges explains what each band means to a lender.
Related guides
- Money in Canada for newcomers covers banking, taxes and benefits in your first year.
- How to read your credit report once a file exists.
- The easiest credit cards to get with no or limited credit history.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on September 5, 2026. How we check facts.
- Scotiabank: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | Scotiabank Canada
- Scotiabank: Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card