Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for Points, Lounges and Insurance

A good travel credit card in Canada pays you back twice: in points for the next trip, and in fees you don’t pay on this one.

We compared four popular travel cards on points, airport perks, foreign transaction fees and insurance, using only each issuer’s official page.

Key takeaways

• Three of the four cards need $60,000 in personal income or $100,000 in household income.
• Only the Scotiabank Passport removes the foreign transaction fee, typically 2.5% of each foreign-currency purchase, per Scotiabank.
• Welcome offers are large but tied to spending targets and deadlines. Read the conditions before you apply.
• Card insurance has limits and exclusions. Check the certificate before you skip buying travel medical coverage.

Travel credit cards at a glance

Fees, rates and offers as of September 2026, from each issuer’s official page.

1. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

The all-rounder for travellers. It cuts the cost of spending abroad and adds airport comfort.

At a glance

• Points: 3 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA and other participating grocers; 2 points on dining, other grocery, entertainment and transit; 1 point on everything else, including travel.
• Welcome offer: 25,000 bonus points after $2,000 in eligible purchases in 3 months, for accounts opened August 4 to November 1, 2026; plus 10,000 points each year you spend $40,000.
• Lounges: 6 complimentary visits through the Visa Airport Companion Program.
• Insurance: travel emergency medical coverage up to $2 million, plus trip cancellation and interruption when you charge at least 75% of the trip.
• Cost: $150 annual fee; 20.99% on purchases; 22.99% on cash advances.

Pros and cons

• No foreign transaction fees on purchases in other currencies.
• Lounge visits included, rare at this fee level.
• Travel earns 1 point per $1, unless you book hotels or car rentals through Scene+ Travel.
• No welcome bonus if you held a Scotiabank card in the past 2 years.

How to apply

Apply online or in a branch. The fee is rebated with Scotiabank’s Ultimate Package chequing account, or reduced by $40 with the Preferred Package.

2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

The card for people loyal to Air Canada. Its baggage perk pays off quickly for families.

At a glance

• Points: 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 on gas, EV charging, grocery and direct Air Canada purchases (on up to $80,000 a year); 1 point on everything else.
• Welcome offer: up to 50,000 points: 10,000 on first purchase, 15,000 after $3,000 in 90 days, 25,000 after $12,000 in 12 months; first-year annual fee rebate, conditions apply.
• Baggage: free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, on Air Canada-originating flights.
• Insurance: travel medical up to $2 million for the first 21 days of a trip (4 days if you or your spouse is 65 or older); trip cancellation up to $1,500 per person.
• Cost: $139 annual fee; 21.99% on purchases; 22.99% on cash advances.

Pros and cons

• One round trip for two with bags can cover most of the fee.
• Aeroplan points don’t expire while you hold the card in good standing.
• Best value stays inside Aeroplan and its partners.
• Only 1 point per $1 outside the bonus categories.

How to apply

Apply online with TD. You need $60,000 in personal income or $100,000 in household income.

3. RBC Avion Visa Infinite

The flexible option. RBC lets you book any airline, any flight, any time with points.

At a glance

• Points: 1 Avion point per $1, plus 25% more on travel purchases.
• Welcome offer: up to 70,000 points: 35,000 on approval, 20,000 after $5,000 in 6 months and 15,000 on your first anniversary; apply by November 25, 2026.
• Redemption: fixed-point flights through RBC’s Air Travel Redemption schedule, with a maximum ticket price per destination.
• Insurance: out-of-province emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, delayed baggage and flight delay coverage.
• Cost: $120 annual fee; 20.99% on purchases; 22.99% on cash advances (21.99% in Quebec).

Pros and cons

• Lowest annual fee of the three Visa Infinite cards here.
• Not tied to one airline.
• Base earn rate is modest outside travel.
• Lounge access is reserved for the pricier Avion Visa Infinite Privilege.

How to apply

Apply online with RBC. The same income requirement applies: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household.

4. American Express Cobalt Card

Not a classic travel card, but many Canadians use it to collect points they later spend on trips.

At a glance

• Points: 5x on eats and drinks, 3x on streaming, 2x on gas, transit and ride share, 1x on everything else, plus 1 extra point on hotel or car rentals through Amex Travel Online.
• Welcome offer: 1,250 points each month you spend $750 in your first year, up to 15,000 points.
• Cost: $15.99 a month ($191.88 a year) outside Quebec; 21.99% on purchases and funds advances.

Pros and cons

• Fastest earning of the four on everyday food spending.
• No income requirement published on the card page.
• No lounge access and no waived foreign transaction fee listed.
• Amex is accepted at fewer merchants abroad.

How to apply

Apply online. Amex says you get an instant decision with no impact to your credit score.

How to choose

• Choose the Scotiabank Passport if you shop or travel outside Canada several times a year.
• Choose the TD Aeroplan if Air Canada is your usual airline and you check bags.
• Choose the RBC Avion if you want points that work on any airline.
• Choose the Amex Cobalt if food is your biggest expense and you travel only once or twice a year.

Saving up for the trip itself? Park the money in one of the best high-interest savings accounts in Canada until you book. If you carry a balance, fix that first with a low-interest or balance transfer card.

Check your eligibility first

• Premium cards look for a solid score. Scores in Canada usually range from 300 to 900, per the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). See how to check your credit score in Canada for free.
• Recently arrived? Start with cards for newcomers to Canada and upgrade later.

Travel card checklist before your trip

• Download your card’s certificate of insurance and save the emergency number.
• Charge the trip to the card if coverage requires it.
• Check the foreign transaction fee on the card you’ll use abroad.
• Pay the full balance by the due date. Federally regulated issuers must give at least a 21-day interest-free grace period, per the FCAC.
• Avoid cash advances abroad: interest starts the same day.

How we compared these cards

• Sources: only each issuer’s official product page. Every offer was checked on September 23, 2026.
• Criteria: foreign transaction fees, lounge and baggage perks, travel insurance, earn rates, welcome offer and annual fee.
• Order: listed from the best fit for most travellers down.
• Scope: cards available to Canadian residents only.
• Independence: no issuer paid for placement.

FAQ

Which Canadian travel card has no foreign transaction fee?

In this list, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. It skips the typical 2.5% fee on purchases in foreign currencies.

Which travel card includes airport lounge access?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite includes 6 complimentary lounge visits. The other three cards here don’t list lounge access.

Is travel insurance from a credit card enough?

It can be, for short trips. Coverage has day limits and age rules, such as TD’s 21 days (4 days at 65 or older). Read the certificate first.

Are Aeroplan points better than Avion or Scene+ points?

Aeroplan suits Air Canada flyers. Avion points work on any airline through RBC’s schedule. Scene+ points can cover travel and everyday purchases.

Do I need a high income for a travel card?

For Visa Infinite cards, yes: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household. The Amex Cobalt card page lists no income requirement.

For the full picture, see our hub Best Credit Cards in Canada 2026, the best credit cards in Canada for 2026 and the best no-fee cash back cards in Canada.

Sources

• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — official page
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — official page
• RBC Avion Visa Infinite — official page
• American Express Cobalt Card — official page
• FCAC — How credit cards work (grace period)
• FCAC — Credit report and score basics

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