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Published Jan 6, 2026 1:30 AM
• Updated Jan 6, 2026 4:26 AM
• 5 min read
Here are my top 5 picks for best welcome offers in January 2026! I discuss the offers and a few perks of each card in the video below :)
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card | Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard®∗ | TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card | WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Welcome Bonus | Earn up to $1,500 in value, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points | Earn up to $850 in welcome offers | Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.* | Earn up to $1,400 in value†, including up to 165,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. | Get up to 70,000 WestJet points |
Earn Rates |
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Insurance Included | 12 types
| 13 types
| 11 types
| 13 types
| 11 types
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Benefits | 5 benefits
| 4 benefits
| 8 benefits
| 8 benefits
| 8 benefits
|
Annual Fee | $150 | $120 | $199 (First Year Rebated) | $139 (First Year Rebated) | $139 |
Income Requirements | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household | $12,000 personal or $12,000 household | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
Apply Now | APPLY NOW | APPLY NOW | APPLY NOW | APPLY NOW | Learn More |
Our choice for: Premium Travel Perks and No FX Fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $1,500 in value, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points
Annual Fee
$150
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Status lift
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Great rewards, travel benefits and no FX fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $850 in welcome offers
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
on TD's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $1,400 in value†, including up to 165,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply.
Annual Fee
$139 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%□
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is an excellent option for frequent travelers who book through Expedia For TD and want to maximize rewards on travel purchases. The high welcome bonus and extensive insurance coverage make this card stand out. However, the high income requirements and limited value of TD points may not make it the best fit for everyone.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance†
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)†
Trip Cancellation†
Trip Interruption†
Flight Delay†
Baggage Delay†
Lost or Stolen Baggage†
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance†
Car Rental Damage & Theft†
Hotel Burglary Insurance†
Purchase Protection†
Extended Warranty†
Mobile Device Insurance†
Benefits
Details
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits†
Concierge Services†
Golf Benefit†
Extra points†
Annual Birthday Bonus†
Car Rental Discount†
Travel Credit†
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass†
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best credit card for frequent WestJet travellers
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 WestJet points
Annual Fee
$139
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%□
If you travel frequently with WestJet, you must get this card because you are missing out on many benefits, even if you don't use this card for rewards. The round-trip companion voucher, status lift, and free checked bag benefits alone more than make up for the annual fee. For WestJet purchases, this card is great for earning rewards, but for all other categories, we recommend pairing it with another card.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Mobile Device Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Companion Voucher
Status lift
Free first checked bag
Discount
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Gas Discount
Extra points
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for:
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*
Annual Fee
$199 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
This is easily the best credit card in Canada for frequent Porter airline (and its partners) travelers. Earning 2x VIPorter points on common everyday purchases like groceries, dining and transportation is a massive benefit, allowing you to rack up points really fast and enjoy travel via Porter and it's airline partners. The premium benefits of this card make your travels smooth as you get priority security screening, early boarding and priority re-accommodation for flight delays, one complimentary checked bag, a carry-on bag with every fare type (including Basic), and complimentary PorterClassic seat selection.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Travel Medical Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Free first checked bag
Companion Voucher
Priority Travel
Car Rental Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Earn a non-promotional rate of up to 3% on your savings + an exclusive $50 bonus!
SEE OFFER