Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards in Canada For 2024
Kevin Shahnazari
Author4 min read
Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
4.8
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 35,000 Scene+ points
Annual Fee*
$150
Interest Rates*
20.99% / 22.99%
Why we like it
Why we like it
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
- Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.
Cons
- High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
- Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
- High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
- Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
- Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
- 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
- 1 Point on everything else
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M/insured up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$2M/insured up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/tripTrip Interruption
$2,500/person, $10,000/tripFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hoursLost or Stolen Baggage
$1000Baggage Delay
$1000Travel Accident
$500,000/insured, $1M combinedCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of CanadaAirport Lounge - Dragon Pass
6 Free complimentary visitsStatus lift
Avis® Preferred Plus membershipConcierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Best Free No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card
Home Trust Preferred Visa
3.5
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 21.99%"
Why we like it
Why we like it
The Home Trust Visa card is the only no-annual-fee credit card in Canada that offers no foreign transaction fees, which is a significant benefit for frequent travelers. The big catch is that you don't earn any rewards on foreign purchases, so if you have a credit card that gives you a cashback rate close to 2.5%, it might not be worth the hassle to get this card. Other than this benefit, there are no compelling reasons to use this card as your primary credit card.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The only No Annual fee Credit Card in Canada that offers No Foreign Transaction Fees
Cons
- Rewards are very average
- No Extended Warranty benefit on this card
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards
- 1% cashback on all eligible purchases.
- Foreign transactions don't receive cashback!
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user
Rogers Red Mastercard®
4.4
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus
Up to $60 cash back ($90 if redeemed for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases)
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 22.99%
Why we like it
Why we like it
This card is one of our top-ranked options in terms of rewards, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is a higher rate than almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! If you have a high income of $80K or a household income of $150K, you can apply for the World Elite version of this card, which comes with additional insurance and benefits like a lounge pass.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Voted as the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw Customers by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee, a notable perk for a card with such high reward multipliers. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically have annual fees.
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing the value of your earned rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
Cons
- No real insurance coverage (only balance protection), not even purchase protection or extended warranty which are pretty standard benefits for almost all credit cards.
- Low rewards multiplier if you don't have an eligible Rogers, Shaw, or Fido service.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards
- 2% cashback on all purchases if you have 1 qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the account owner
- 2% cashback on all U.S dollar purchases and 1% on all other eligible purchases if you do not have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service
- 1.5x redemption bonus on your earned cash back value when used on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value
Insurance
Coverage
Balance Protection
Minimum payments
Benefits
Details
No Cost roaming
5 days
Eligibility
Credit Score
Very GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Honorable Mentions
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 45,000 Scene+ points ($450 value)
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates*
20.99% / 22.99%
Why we like it
Why we like it
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
- 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
- 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
- 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
- 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/tripTrip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$500/personTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits*
Details*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADAmerican Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$12,000 personal or $12,000 household
Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
3.5
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 60,000 Scene+ points ($600 value)
Annual Fee*
$399
Interest Rates*
9.99% / 9.99%
Why we like it
Why we like it
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express is the perfect choice for those seeking a super premium credit card without steep income requirements. With a high flat rate of rewards on all purchases, extensive insurance coverage, and flexible travel redemption options, it offers full-featured perks that cater to frequent travelers and savvy spenders alike.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low Interest Rate: Offers a competitive interest rate of 9.99%.
- Strong Rewards: Earn 2x Scene+ points on all purchases.
- Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy 10 complimentary lounge visits, including Plaza Premium Lounges, through Priority Pass (membership required).
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Includes extensive coverage for travel-related needs.
- Flexible Travel Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel bookings with any provider.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop internationally without extra charges.
Cons
- High Annual Fee: The annual fee is steep compared to similar cards offering similar perks.
- Limited Premium Perks: Lacks top-tier travel benefits like free checked baggage and priority boarding.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 2 points on all eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M, Up to 31 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$2M, Up to 10 daysTrip Cancellation
$2500/person, $10000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripTrip Interruption
$5000/person, $25000/tripBaggage Delay
$1000 After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$1000/personTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
120 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Benefits*
Details*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Priority pass)Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Plaza Premium)American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass MembershipStatus lift
Hertz #1 Club Gold MemberExtra points
Extra 3 Scene+ points per Canadian dollar spent on hotel and car rental bookings made through Scene+ Travel using your Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
Eligibility*
Credit Score
ExcellentAnnual Income
$12,000 personal