Best Student Credit Cards in Canada for 2026

The best student credit card in Canada is a no-fee card that rewards your spending: the CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students for 2% back on groceries, the RBC ION Visa for 1.5 Avion points on groceries, gas and streaming, or the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for students. All three have no annual fee as of September 2026. Your first card matters more for the credit history it builds than for rewards, so pick one you will pay in full every month. Confirm current terms on the issuer's site before applying.

Which student credit cards are best in Canada?

The best student cards combine no annual fee, a useful earn rate and eligibility rules that fit students with little income or credit history. Here are the strongest options from Canada's big banks and one digital bank.

Only the Tangerine card is in our full reviews so far; the others' details come from each bank's student card pages.

How we picked

We looked at every student card on the major Canadian banks' student pages and kept those with no annual fee and rewards on common student spending such as groceries, gas, streaming and entertainment. We then checked eligibility rules, since some cards exclude existing customers or require full-time enrolment. We did not rank on welcome offers, which change often. All details are as of September 2026.

The best student cards, reviewed

CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students

This is the best cash back student card if you buy your own groceries. It pays 2% back on eligible groceries and 1% on gas, EV charging, transportation, recurring payments and eligible travel, with no annual fee. CIBC also includes a free SPC+ membership. See our CIBC page.

The catch is that the 2% rate applies only to eligible grocery purchases, so check CIBC's full terms for the rate on other spending before applying.

RBC ION Visa

RBC's no-fee student option earns 1.5 Avion points per $1 on groceries, gas, streaming services and other categories, and 1 point on everything else. The purchase rate is 20.99%. If you spend more, the RBC ION+ Visa earns 3 points per $1 in similar categories for a $48 annual fee. More on our RBC page.

The catch is that you earn points rather than cash, so what they are worth depends on how you redeem them.

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card (for students)

This card earns 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA and other eligible grocers, at Home Hardware and at Cineplex, and 1 point elsewhere, with no annual fee. The minimum credit limit is $500 and the purchase rate is 21.99%. See our Scotiabank page.

The catch is eligibility: you cannot get it if you have held a Scotiabank personal credit card as a primary or secondary cardholder in the past two years.

TD Cash Back Visa Card

TD offers this no-fee card to full-time post-secondary students enrolled at an accredited university or college, in Canada or elsewhere, who are Canadian residents and do not already have a TD credit card. The purchase rate is 21.99%. It is a natural choice if you already bank with TD, and TD offers a no-fee TD Rewards Visa Card to the same students if you prefer points.

The catch is that it is only available to full-time students, so part-time learners need another option.

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine is not a student-only card, but its $12,000 income minimum is reachable with part-time work. You pick two 2% categories, or three if rewards go to a Tangerine savings account, and earn 0.5% on the rest, with no annual fee.

The catch is the low base rate and a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, which matters if you study or travel abroad.

Other no-fee student options

RBC's Cash Back Mastercard has no annual fee and pays up to 2% cash back on grocery store purchases and up to 1% on other qualifying purchases. CIBC also has student versions of its Aventura, Aeroplan and Adapta cards, all with no annual fee, if you would rather collect travel points. BMO offers a no-fee CashBack Mastercard for students; check BMO's site for its current rates.

Do student credit cards have welcome offers?

Most do, but treat them as a bonus rather than the reason to pick a card. As of September 2026, Scotiabank offers up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points on its student card: 2,500 after $250 in purchases in the first three months and 2,500 more after another $1,000. TD's page shows $125 in Cash Back Dollars on the TD Cash Back Visa when you spend $1,000 or more in the first three months.

Offers change often, and a spending target can push you to buy things you would not otherwise buy. Only chase a bonus if the required spending fits your normal budget and you can pay it off in full.

Can you get a credit card as a student with no credit history?

Yes. Student cards exist for exactly this situation. The FCAC says some credit cards are made for students and often have lower credit limits than standard cards. To apply for any credit card, you must be of legal age in your province. RBC also notes on its student page that the WestJet RBC Mastercard and RBC Avion Visa Platinum have no minimum income requirement, although they carry annual fees of $39 and $120.

If you are an international student or new to Canada, some banks have programs for newcomers; see our guide to credit cards for newcomers to Canada. If you are refused a student card, the FCAC notes that a secured card, backed by a deposit, may be an option when you have no credit history.

How do you build credit with your first card?

You build credit by paying on time, every time, and keeping your balance low. The FCAC says payment history is the most important part of your credit score and recommends using less than 30% of your total credit limit, which is $150 on a $500 limit. Keeping the account open and active over time also helps.

Federally regulated card issuers must give you at least a 21-day interest-free grace period on new purchases when you pay your full balance by the due date. Set up an automatic payment for the full statement balance and a student card costs you nothing. Our guide on how to build credit with a credit card has a step-by-step plan, and our best first credit card for beginners guide covers options outside student programs.

What should you do with a student card after you graduate?

Keep it open if it has no fee. The FCAC notes that keeping your accounts open and active for a long time may help your credit score, and a no-fee card costs nothing to hold. Once you have a full-time income, compare regular cards and add one that suits your new spending.

Who should skip a student credit card?

• Anyone who cannot pay in full each month. Student cards charge around 21% on purchases, and missed payments damage the credit history you are trying to build.
• Students who already have a good regular no-fee card. A second card adds little; see our best no annual fee credit cards in Canada guide instead.
• Part-time students applying for cards limited to full-time enrolment, like TD's.
• Recent Scotiabank cardholders, who are not eligible for Scotiabank's student card.