Choosing and signing up for a new credit card is a big choice for many Canadians and one that isn’t taken lightly. Deciding between a card with no annual fees or annual fees, the type of welcome bonus, benefits, and insurance coverages can be a big hurdle for those who are looking for the best credit card to complement their lifestyle and financial needs.
Personally, I try to keep at least one Visa card, one American Express card, and one Mastercard in my wallet at all times for merchant acceptance diversity in addition to different perks and earning rates. If you are looking to add a new Visa to your wallet, you might as well add one of the best Visa credit cards that are available to Canadians.
Let’s take a look at the best Visa credit cards in Canada to help you find the next credit card right for you.
Why Choose a Visa Credit Card?
Having a Visa card in your wallet is a great choice as they are one of the two most widely accepted credit card networks worldwide, meaning you can be certain that you will be able to use your Visa when traveling wherever credit cards are accepted.
There are three different tiers of Visa cards in Canada: the Visa Infinite Privilege cards, the Visa Infinite cards, and Platinum Visa cards. They all come with varying annual fees and benefits, as we will touch on below. Since there are different tiers, it is easy to find a Visa card that meets your financial and travel needs.
If you are more interested in adding a Mastercard to your wallet, check out our list of Best Mastercards in Canada for more information.
The Best Visa Credit Cards in Canada
Many financial institutions in Canada offer Visa cards as part of their financial product lineups. Below, we’ve captured a list of our favorite Visa credit cards in Canada and why you should consider adding them to your wallet.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is one of the best travel credit cards in Canada as cardholders can transfer their Avion points to WestJet Rewards, British Airways Avios, Cathay Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage Miles.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card earns Avion Elite points and gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 1.25x Avion Elite points on all travel purchases. In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Flexible Points Travel Credit Card.
Check out our RBC Avion Visa Infinite card review for more details.
55,000 Avion
$5,000
$925+
$120
Yes
Apr 30, 2024
While the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card doesn’t have any notable benefits, it does offer a consistent Avion point earning structure and an easy-to-earn welcome bonus. Cardholders can also benefit from insurance coverage including mobile device insurance, trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption insurance, and emergency medical insurance.
If you don’t meet the personal income requirement of $60,000 annually or the household income requirement of $100,000 annually, consider the RBC Avion Visa Platinum card as an alternative.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card earns Scene+ Rewards points all on purchases, which can easily be cashed out at 1 cent per point for travel purchases or via the refundable hotel trick.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card earns Scene+ Rewards points and offers cardholders benefits such as no foreign transaction fees and six complimentary airport lounge access passes annually.
Check out our Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card review for more details.
In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Foreign Transaction Credit Card.
40,000 Scene+
$1,000
$400+
$150 (FYF)
No
Jul 1, 2024
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card is the best no foreign transaction fee card in Canada. This means that it is an excellent card to bring abroad or use for purchases in other currencies, as you will save 2.5% on foreign transaction fees compared to other cards.
This card also comes with a Dragonpass airport lounge membership and six complimentary airport lounge visits. The Dragonpass lounge program includes over 1,300 lounges worldwide so you won’t have any issues finding a lounge to use these passes at when traveling. For those who are originating out of Edmonton, the Plaza Premium Lounge at Edmonton International Airport is a great option.
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Card
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite card earns 4% cash back on grocery purchases, eligible recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases. This makes it a great card for paying your rent with Chexy, as you will receive 4% cash back on all rent payments.
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite card earns cash back and gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 4% cash back on grocery purchases, eligible recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases.
Check out our Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite card review for more details.
$200 cash back
$2,000
$200+
$120 (FYF)
Yes
Oct 31, 2024
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite cardholders will earn 4% cash back on the above categories for up to $25,000 in spend per calendar year. They will also earn 2% cash back on all eligible gas and transit purchases for up to $25,000 in spend per calendar year.
Earned cash back is issued automatically once per year in November as a statement credit. There is no minimum balance required to redeem the cash back.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card has the highest annual fee of any credit card on the list but also comes with the best perks as a premium Aeroplan credit card.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* card earns Aeroplan points and offers cardholders a variety of Air Canada benefits including priority boarding, free checked baggage, and Maple Leaf lounge access.
Check out our TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card review for more details.
85,000 Aeroplan
$15,000
$1,186+
$599
Yes
Jun 3, 2024
While this card earns Air Canada Aeroplan points on all eligible purchases, the real value is in the benefits it offers. Cardholders will receive their first checked bag free on Air Canada flights and priority check-in, boarding, standby, and baggage handling. Cardholders also receive a $100 NEXUS program credit and access to the Dragonpass airport lounge program with six complimentary airport lounge passes.
However, the greatest value is that cardholders receive complimentary and unlimited access for themselves and one guest to all Air Canada Maple Leaf airport lounges provided they hold a same-day Air Canada boarding pass. Airport lounges are a great way to kill time before a flight so it is well worth taking advantage of this benefit.
Cardholders can also earn status qualifying miles, status qualifying segments, and an Air Canada Worldwide Companion Pass by meeting various spending thresholds on the credit card.
If you fly on Air Canada frequently, this is absolutely a card that is worth having in your wallet.
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card earns TD Rewards points which can be redeemed towards travel bookings on Expedia for TD or travel purchases made on your TD credit card.
The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* card earns TD Rewards points and gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 8x TD Rewards on purchases at Expedia for TD. In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Fixed Value Points Credit Card.
100,000 TD Rewards
$5,000
$500+
$139 (FYF)
Yes
Jun 3, 2024
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card earns 6 TD Rewards points on all eligible grocery and restaurant purchases, an effective 3% rate of return. TD Rewards points are worth 0.5 cents each when redeemed for travel bookings through Expedia for TD.
If you don’t meet the personal income requirement of $60,000 annually or the household income requirement of $100,000 annually, consider the TD Platinum Travel Visa card as an alternative.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a mid-tier Aeroplan credit card that offers good benefits on Air Canada flights for a minimal annual fee.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* card earns Aeroplan points and offers cardholders various benefits including a free first checked bag on Air Canada and a $100 NEXUS membership credit.
50,000 Aeroplan
$10,000
$911+
$139
Yes
Jun 3, 2024
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite cardholders will receive a first free checked bag for themselves and up to eight guests on their itinerary, making this card a great way to save on Air Canada baggage fees. Cardholders will also benefit from a $100 NEXUS credit which can be used for new NEXUS membership applications or renewals as part of the Verified Traveller Program.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card earns CIBC Aventura points which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or a statement credit.
The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card earns Aventura points and offers cardholders benefits including a $100 NEXUS statement credit and four complimentary airport lounge passes annually.
40,000 Aventura
$3,000
$880+
$139 (FYF)
Yes
–
Similar to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card also offers a complimentary Dragonpass airport lounge membership and four complimentary airport lounge passes. If you are an infrequent traveler, this is a great option to get yourself and your travel companions into airport lounges on your next vacation.
If you are interested in NEXUS membership to improve your airport experience, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite credit card offers a $100 NEXUS credit to be used towards new membership applications or renewals.
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card earns 4% cash back on all eligible gas and grocery purchases.
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card earns cash back and gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases.
$0 cash back
$0
$0+
$120 (FYF)
Yes
–
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite cardholders will also earn 2% cash back on eligible transportation, dining, and recurring payments. Both the 4% and 2% earning categories have no spending maximum, meaning you will always earn the respective cash back percentages on all purchases.
Earned cash back is issued automatically once per year in December as a statement credit. There is no minimum balance required to redeem the cash back.
Conclusion
If you are looking to improve your credit card game, it is worth holding at least one Visa card in your wallet so you have certainty that almost all vendors will accept your method of payment. Considering the different tiers of Visa cards in Canada, many people find value in holding multiple Visa cards to take advantage of their benefits.
If you are interested in seeing what other credit card options are available to Canadians, check out our credit card comparison tool.
Josh Bandura
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