Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in Canada

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The best cash back credit cards for international students in Canada can return part of the money you already spend on groceries, transportation, subscriptions and other daily necessities.

New international students should prioritize cards with:

No annual fee.
No minimum-income requirement where possible.
Eligibility without Canadian credit history.
A manageable starting credit limit.
Cashback categories matching normal student expenses.

Cashback is valuable only when you pay the complete statement balance. Interest charges of approximately 20% or more can quickly exceed the rewards earned.

Can International Students Get Cashback Credit Cards?

Yes. Several Canadian banks provide dedicated pathways for international students without an established Canadian credit history.

CIBC offers student cards with no minimum-income requirement, while RBC says eligible international students may qualify for a credit limit of up to C$2,000 without Canadian credit history. BMO directs international students to apply at a branch rather than through its standard student application.

You may need:

A valid passport.
Canadian study permit.
Proof of enrolment.
Canadian residential address.
Information about income, scholarships or family support.
Details of rent and monthly expenses.
A Canadian bank account.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in Canada

1. CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students

Best overall cashback card

The CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students offers strong rewards across the categories most students use regularly.

Its main features include:

C$0 annual fee.
No minimum-income requirement.
A possible credit limit of up to C$2,000 for international students.
2% cash back on eligible groceries.
1% on eligible transportation, gas, electric-vehicle charging, dining and recurring payments.
1% on eligible travel booked through CIBC by Expedia.
0.5% on other eligible purchases.
Cashback that does not expire while the account remains open and in good standing.

CIBC allows cashback redemption through online or mobile banking after the balance reaches at least C$10. The card also provides purchase-security and extended-warranty insurance, subject to the policy conditions.

A current welcome offer provides up to C$125 in cashback for eligible new accounts, including a first-purchase bonus and promotional cashback on the first C$1,000 of purchases. Promotional terms and deadlines can change.

Best for: Groceries, public transport, dining and monthly subscriptions.

Main drawback: The 0.5% base rate is relatively low for purchases outside its bonus categories.

2. BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

Best grocery cashback rate

The student BMO CashBack Mastercard has no annual fee and uses the same cashback structure as BMO’s standard no-fee cashback card.

Cardholders can earn:

3% cash back on eligible grocery purchases.
1% on eligible recurring bill payments.
0.5% on other eligible purchases.
Cashback redeemable for as little as C$1.

The 3% grocery rate applies to a maximum of C$500 in qualifying grocery spending per statement period. Spending above the category limit earns the card’s base rate. The recurring-payment bonus also applies to up to C$500 of qualifying spending per statement period.

BMO’s student page says international students must visit a branch to apply. It may accept employment income, scholarships, grants, student loans or family allowances when assessing a student application.

Best for: Students spending up to C$500 monthly at qualifying supermarkets.

Main drawback: The highest rate is capped, and convenience stores or general merchandise retailers may not be classified as grocery stores.

3. RBC Cash Back Mastercard

Best for students without Canadian credit history

RBC states that eligible international students can apply for a credit card with a limit of up to C$2,000 without Canadian credit history.

The RBC Cash Back Mastercard offers:

C$0 annual fee.
20.99% purchase interest rate.
Up to 2% cash back on grocery-store purchases.
Up to 1% on other qualifying purchases.
Unlimited total cashback.
Purchase-security and extended-warranty coverage.

The standard earning structure is more specific:

2% on the first C$6,000 of annual grocery purchases, then 1%.
0.5% on the first C$6,000 of other eligible purchases, then 1%.

RBC currently advertises up to 7% cashback during the first three months on up to C$1,000 of purchases for applications completed by September 9, 2026. Students should confirm that the offer is still active before applying.

Best for: Newcomers who want a clearly published no-credit-history pathway.

Main drawback: Most non-grocery spending initially earns only 0.5%.

4. Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card for Students

Best for broad everyday categories

The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card for Students offers:

C$0 annual fee.
C$500 minimum credit limit.
20.99% purchase interest rate.
1% cash back on eligible groceries and drugstores.
1% on eligible gas, electric-vehicle charging and daily transit.
1% on eligible recurring bills and subscriptions.
0.5% on other eligible purchases.

Cashback can be redeemed through online or mobile banking after accumulating at least C$25. It can be applied as a statement credit or deposited into an eligible Scotiabank account.

The card’s webpage still displays a promotional offer whose published application period ended on April 30, 2026. Students applying in July 2026 should therefore compare the regular cashback rates rather than assuming that expired promotion remains available.

Best for: Students spending across transit, groceries, subscriptions and recurring bills.

Main drawback: Its 1% category rate is lower than the best grocery rates from CIBC and BMO.

Quick Comparison

Best by spending pattern

Best overall: CIBC Dividend Visa for Students.
Best for groceries: BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students.
Best newcomer pathway: RBC Cash Back Mastercard.
Best for transit and subscriptions: Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa for Students.

Annual fees

All four cards in this comparison charge C$0 annual fees under their current standard terms.

How Much Cashback Could a Student Earn?

Suppose you spend each month:

C$350 on groceries.
C$100 on transit.
C$50 on recurring subscriptions.
C$200 on other purchases.

With the CIBC Dividend Visa for Students, the simplified yearly cashback would be approximately:

Groceries: C$84.
Transit and recurring payments: C$18.
Other purchases: C$12.
Estimated total: C$114 per year.

This estimate excludes welcome offers, merchant-classification differences, refunds and category restrictions.

How to Choose the Right Card

Match the card to your largest expense

Choose BMO or CIBC when groceries dominate your budget. Scotiabank may be better when you spend more on transit and recurring bills.

Ignore rewards you will not use

Do not spend extra merely to reach a promotional threshold. Cashback should reduce the cost of planned purchases, not encourage unnecessary shopping.

Pay the full balance

A C$500 balance charging approximately 20% annual interest can cost much more than the cashback earned on the original purchases.

Avoid multiple applications

Submit one carefully selected application. Frequent credit checks can make building your Canadian credit profile more difficult.

Final Verdict

The CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students is the best overall cashback credit card for international students because it has no annual fee, no minimum-income requirement and strong rates across groceries, transit and recurring expenses.

The BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students offers the highest grocery rate but requires international students to apply at a branch. The RBC Cash Back Mastercard provides the clearest no-credit-history pathway, while the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa is useful for students with varied everyday spending.

Choose the card that matches your actual budget and repay the complete statement balance every month.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in Canada

Can International Students Get Cashback Credit Cards?