What is the best student credit card in Canada?

Rankings change over time. See the live list above, which is updated as offers and fees change. We evaluate annual fees, earn rates, welcome offers, insurance, and foreign fees.

How do student credit cards work?

These cards earn rewards or benefits tailored to the category. Compare annual fees, base earn rate, boosted categories, and redemption flexibility before applying.

How do you score and rank cards?

We use a transparent scoring model that weighs rewards value, fees, APRs, insurance, and perks. See the Methodology section for details.

Best Student Credit Cards in Canada 2025

Compare 12 best student cards from Canada's top banks in 2025

Student Credit Cards in Canada 2025

Student credit cards are designed specifically for post-secondary students with limited or no credit history. These cards offer lower income requirements, educational resources, and features that help students build credit responsibly.

Special Features

Many student cards offer cash back on everyday purchases, no annual fees, and tools to help track spending. Some even provide bonus rewards for good grades or textbook purchases.

Building Credit

Start with a lower credit limit to manage spending
Report payment history to credit bureaus
Graduate to regular cards after building credit history

Best Credit Cards in Canada

The Honest Canadian Rankings

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card (for students)

Scotiabank

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

19.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

✨

Key Benefits

•Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).
•Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (2% fee per cash advance, 22.99% after that; annual fee $0).
•Annual fee: $0
•Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Card Features

Balance TransferStudentNo FeeCash BackMomentum

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CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students

CIBC

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Join and earn up to $125 cash back

✨

Key Benefits

•2% cash back on eligible groceries
•1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation and recurring payments
•Free SPC+ membership | Extended warranty | Pay in installments

Card Features

StudentCash BackNo Fee

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CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

CIBC

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Apply and earn up to $200 in value, which includes up to 10,000 Aeroplan points! Conditions apply.

✨

Key Benefits

•1 point per $1 directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
•1 point per $1 on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging and groceries
•Preferred pricing | Earn points twice at over 170 retailers

Card Features

StudentAeroplanTravel RewardsAirline RewardsNo Fee

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CIBC Adapta Mastercard for Students

CIBC

MASTERCARD

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Join and get up to $100 in value with no annual fee.

✨

Key Benefits

•1.5 Adapta points per $1 spent in your top 3 spend categories
•1 Adapta point per $1 on all other purchases
•Includes membership to roadside assistance, with access to services such as towing, battery boosting, gas delivery and much more.

Card Features

StudentAdaptaPoints RewardsFlexible RewardsNo Fee

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Student BMO AIR MILES Mastercard

BMO

MASTERCARD

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles (that’s enough for $80 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash).

✨

Key Benefits

•Student
•No Fee
•$0annual fee
•21.99% for purchases
•23.99% for cash advances(21.99% for Quebec residents)
•Welcome offer: Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles (that’s enough for $80 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash).
•for purchases
•for cash advances
•for Quebec residents

Card Features

Air MilesTravel RewardsStudentNo Fee

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Student BMO CashBack Mastercard

BMO

MASTERCARD

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Get 5% cash back in your first 3 months!

✨

Key Benefits

•Student
•No Fee
•$0annual fee
•21.99% for purchases
•23.99% for cash advances(21.99% for Quebec residents)
•Welcome offer: Get 5% cash back in your first 3 months!
•for purchases
•for cash advances
•for Quebec residents

Card Features

Cash BackStudentNo Fee

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Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)

Scotiabank

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

20.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.

✨

Key Benefits

•Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
•Earn 2 Scene+ pointson every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more.
•Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Home Hardware.
•Annual fee: $0
•Interest rates: 20.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Card Features

Scene PlusPoints RewardsEntertainment RewardsStudentNo FeeGrocery Rewards

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CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students

CIBC

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 12,500 Aventura Points for no annual fee.

✨

Key Benefits

•1 point per $1 on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre
•1 point per $1 on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and drugstore purchases
•Free SPC+ membership | CIBC Pace It Installment Plans

Card Features

StudentAventuraTravel RewardsPoints RewardsNo Fee

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CIBC Classic Visa Card for Students

CIBC

VISA

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

21.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

✨

Key Benefits

•Free SPC+ membership | CIBC Pace It Installment Plans
•Save up to 10 cents per litre on gas with CIBC and Journie Rewards

Card Features

StudentNo Fee

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Scotiabank American Express Card (for students)

Scotiabank

AMEX

Annual Fee

$0.00

Purchase APR

19.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $75 towards travel).

✨

Key Benefits

•Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $75 towards travel).
•Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more.
•Annual fee: $0
•Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Card Features

Amex RewardsPoints RewardsStudentAmexNo FeeGrocery Rewards

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Scotia Momentum Visa Card (for students)

Scotiabank

VISA

Annual Fee

$39.00

Purchase APR

19.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

Get a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39).

✨

Key Benefits

•Get a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39).
•Annual fee: $39
•Interest rates: 19.99% purchases / 22.99% cash advances

Card Features

StudentLow FeeCash BackMomentumBalance Transfer

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Scotiabank Value Visa Card (for students)

Scotiabank

VISA

Annual Fee

$29.00

Purchase APR

13.99%

Foreign Fee

2.5%

🎁

Welcome Offer

0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that; annual fee $29). Plus no annual fee in the first year.

✨

Key Benefits

•Save up to hundreds of dollars a year on interest.
•0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that; annual fee $29). Plus no annual fee in the first year.
•Annual fee: $29
•Interest rates: 13.99% purchases / 13.99% cash advances

Card Features

Low InterestStudentLow FeeBalance Transfer

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