The 12 Best Credit Cards Welcome Offers in Canada for December 2023
By Maude Gauthier | 
Fact-checked by Heidi Unrau | Published on 05 Dec 2023
The best credit card offers in Canada are here to warm up your wallet as the mercury drops. But the best credit card is not the same for everyone, since we all have different needs. So you shouldn’t choose a credit card just to get a gift or points, or whatever. However, if you have a choice between two similar credit cards and one of them has a welcome offer worth hundreds of dollars, let the better offer win!
What is a Credit Card Welcome Offer?
A Welcome Offer is a bonus offered for new credit card sign-ups, with the goal of attracting new customers. Welcome offers are often offered in a variety of forms, such as cash back, bonus points or waiving the annual fee for the first year.
1. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Privilege Credit Card: up to $3,200 value
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”5faebd6ecee9031232939393″]This premium metal card will make you look great every time you pull it out. If you apply on time, you’ll get a value of up to $3,200 (account must be approved by January 3, 2024). And you’ll need it, because the annual fee of the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card is pretty high.
As soon as you make your first purchase with the card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points. The next 50,000 points are earned when you spend $7,500 within 180 days (6 months) of account opening. After one year of card ownership, you’ll earn an anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points if you spent $12,000 during the year.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit card offers several advantages. You can share your first free checked bag with up to 8 travel companions, and enjoy unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges while you wait for your flight.
Eligibility requirements: Minimum personal income of $150,000, or minimum household income of $200,000. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and be the age of majority in the province where you live.
2. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Credit Card: up to $1,400 value
You won’t be left out in the cold with the slightly more accessible little sister of the previous card. The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has a welcome offer of up to 50,000 Aeroplan points, worth around $1,400. A bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points is available when you make your first purchase on your account.
You receive an additional 25,000 Aeroplan Points when you make a total of $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first 180 days of account opening. Your first purchase counts towards you the $5,000 minimum spend requirement. If you reach $7,500 of purchases in the first year, you receive an additional 15,000 Aeroplan points.
This offer also includes a first-year fee waiver of $139, a discount on the NEXUS membership fee, and a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 passengers. You must apply by January 3, 2024. To get the first-year fee waiver, you must activate your card and make a first purchase on your account within the first 3 months.
This card allows you to earn 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, and one Aeroplan Point† for every dollar spent on all other categories.
Eligibility requirements: Minimum personal income of $60,000, or minimum household income of $100,000. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and be the age of majority in the province where you live.
3. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Credit Card: up to $1,100 value
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite credit card is the perfect card if you’re a frequent flyer. As a welcome offer, you earn up to 35,000 Avion Rewards points. That’s worth up to $1,100, enough to fly almost anywhere in North America and the Caribbean. Terms and conditions apply. Apply by January 21, 2024.
This credit card comes with generous cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance. In addition, you earn 1.25 Avion points for every dollar spent on travel and one Avion point for every dollar spent on everything else. In addition to airline tickets, these points can be redeemed for merchandise, for points in other loyalty programs or can be used to pay off your credit card balance.
Eligibility requirements: Minimum personal income of $60,000, or minimum household income of $100,000, or a minimum of $250,000 of investable assets. Must be the age of majority in the province where you live.
4. TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite: up to $1,000 value
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”5f35480892ec22115033b309″]The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite is giving you up to $1,000 in value, allowing you to pocket incredible savings on your travel plans this holiday season. You can earn up to 115,000 bonus points and the annual fee is waived for the first year. Plus, they’re giving you an annual $100 Travel credit each year, a birthday treat of 10,000 bonus points on your special day, and a free 1-year membership to Uber One.
To get those 115,000 bonus points, you need to make a first purchase with the card in the first 3 months and spend $5,000 in the first 180 days (6 months). You must apply and be approved by January 4, 2024. Conditions apply, see full offer for details.
With the TD First Class Travel credit card, you’ll earn 8 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Expedia for TD, 6 points on groceries and dining, 4 points on recurring bill payments, and 2 points on everything else. Love Starbucks? Link the card to your Starbucks rewards account to earn 50% more Stars AND 50% more TD Points on Starbucks purchases.
Not only can you redeem your points on Amazon.ca, but you’ll benefit from incredible travel value as well. You get the best redemption value when you redeem on bookings through Expedia for TD, but you can book through anyone, anytime and still enjoy zero blackout dates and no seat restrictions. Experience peace of mind with 7 travel-related insurances and discounts on car rentals through Avis and Budget.
Eligibility requirements: Must have a minimum annual personal income of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the age of majority in the province where you live.
5. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card: up to $650
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”5f32aa0a63ae8636997fa6a7″]The Scotiabank American Express Gold card not only offers a high rewards accumulation rate, but also a generous welcome bonus. If you charge $1,000 on your card in the first three months, you’ll earn 20,000 Scene+ points. Within your first year of owning the card, you can earn a second 20,000 bonus points after spending $7,500. To get this welcome offer, apply before July 1st, 2024. Please note, however, that if you currently have a Scotia credit card or have had one in the past two years, you are not eligible for this offer. The same applies if you work at Scotiabank.
A major advantage of Scotiabank is that there are no foreign transaction fees, making this card an excellent choice for travel. Moreover, the Scotia Gold American Express card gives you 3 to 6 points per dollar spent in grocery stores, on travel and entertainment.
6. BMO CashBack World Elite: up to $380 value
[Offer productType=“CreditCard” api_id=“5f31593392ec22115033b2b6″]The BMO CashBack World Elite is considered the best overall cash back card in Canada right now. And they’re offering you 10% cash back on up to $2,600 in eligible purchases during the first 3 months plus no annual fee for the first year. That’s a cash value of up to $380! Must apply and be approved by May 31, 2024.
Looking for a break on that ludicrous grocery bill? This card gives you the highest grocery cash back rate in Canada of 5% on the first $500 spent each month. You also earn 4% cash back on the first $300 transit (buses, taxis, ride-sharing, etc.), 3% back on the first $300 of gas and EV charging, 2% on the first $500 of recurring bill payments, and 1% on everything else.
You can redeem your cash back anytime for as little as $1. Enjoy a break on your credit card, some extra cash deposited to your account, or invest in your BMO InvestorLine account where it’ll make more free money!
This card also comes with free access to Boingo Wifi hotspots, complimentary membership to DragonPass, and discounts on rentals through National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car. Even though this isn’t a travel card, you can travel with confidence on short trips out of province and the country with complimentary 8-day emergency medical coverage.
Eligibility requirements: Minimum personal income of $80,000, or minimum household income of $150,000. Must not have declared bankruptcy in the past 7 years. Must be the age of majority in the province where you live.
7. Tim Hortons Mastercard: up to $160 value
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”64dd008b7271d033a068311b”]Save money on your caffeine addiction with the new Tim Hortons Mastercard. They’re giving new cardholders 10,000 bonus Tims Rewards points. That’s worth 25 free Double-Doubles, saving you roughly $52 on your morning pick-me-up! Add in some other goodies, and you could be saving up to $162 or more in your first year.
To get your welcome points, you must make a first purchase within 30 days of getting the card, and spend at least $200 in each the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th month of having the card. You must also apply and be approved by December 31, 2023.
With the Tims credit card, you earn 15 Tims Rewards points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons restaurants, 5 points on groceries, gas & EV charging, as well as on transit like buses, taxis, and ride shares. Everything else earns 1 point per $2 (or 0.5 per $1).
Other limited-time goodies include up to $10 back every Monday until November 6, 2023 when you use your Tims Card at PRESTO devices to pay for your commute in the GTA and Hamilton area. That’s up to $50 saved right there. Plus, you also get 3 months of Crave for free when you pay for your subscription with your Tims Card. That’s up to $60 in more savings! This offer ends on February 28, 2024.
Eligibility requirements: No minimum income required. Must have or open a Tims Rewards account. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the age of majority in the province where you live.
8. MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard: up to $150
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”5f4535be4726ce7207266a6f”]For a low annual fee, the MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard offers 5% cash back on gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months. There is, however, a limit of $500 per month on total gas and grocery purchases. This gives you a reward of about $25 per month.
When the offer ends, you’ll continue to earn 2% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, still subject to the $500/month limit. If you exceed this limit, you earn 1% cash back, as well as on all other purchases. This card also comes with rental car collision insurance.
Eligibility requirements: To qualify, your personal annual income must be over $60,000 or your annual household income must be at least $100,000. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the age of majority in the province where you live.
9. Tangerine World Mastercard Credit Card: up to $100 value
The Tangerine World Mastercard comes with an extra 10% cash back for two months on up to $1,000 in purchases (worth up to $100), and a promotional rate of 1.95% on balance transfers for six months. This offer expires on January 31, 2024.
This card also offers 2% cash back on two categories of purchases, or three if you sign up for a Tangerine savings account. In addition, you’re entitled to other benefits as a World Elite cardholder, such as additional insurance, access to Wi-Fi and airport lounges around the world, and a travel rewards program.
10. BMO AIR MILES Mastercard: up to $80 value
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”5f3158de92ec22115033b2b5″]The Air Miles rewards program is gradually regaining its reputation, particularly with Air Miles Receipts, which help you earn miles while grocery shopping. The BMO Air Miles Mastercard is a free card with no minimum income requirement that offers a welcome bonus of 800 miles if you apply by May 31, 2024. If you need to transfer a balance, you will have a rate of 0.99% for 9 months. However, there is a fee of 2% of the amount transferred.
You normally also get 3 miles for every $25 spent at Air Miles partners, then 2 miles for every $25 at any grocery store. Finally, you have 1 thousand for all your other purchases.
11. Neo Credit Card: $45 value
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”60fed96813fd2f260ff90748″]The Neo Credit Card is coming in hot as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. And they’re showing loyal Hardbacon readers some extra love with an exclusive $45 cash bonus if you apply through our site and get approved. If you apply through any other channel, you’ll be leaving free money on the table.
With this card in your wallet, you can earn an average of 5% cash back when you shop among Neo’s 10,000+ partner brands. Better yet, there are tons of first-purchase bonuses offering you up to 15% cash back every time you make a first purchase at a partner merchant. With over 10,000 businesses across Canada, covering every possible spending category, the Neo Credit Card gives you the opportunity to earn more cash back than any other card can offer.
And it’s not just a credit card. Neo Credit pairs seamlessly with the free Neo mobile app, which gives you tons of tools to manage your money and boost savings effortlessly. There’s even a GPS map that shows you all the cash back offers near you, so you never miss the chance to make bank.
While you’re at it, consider opening a free Neo Money Account. There’s no monthly fee, you get unlimited daily banking transactions, and your balance earns an incredible 2.25% interest rate until the moment you spend it.
Eligibility requirements: No minimum income required. Minimum credit score of 600. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the age of majority in the province where you live.
12. BMO World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*: Best welcome offer for businesses with up to $618 value
The BMO World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*comes with a welcome offer of up to 70,000 points, which have a value of up to $469. The first 50,000 points can be earned by making $5,000 in purchases with the card within the first three months and the next 20,000 points are earned when you make $35,000 in purchases in the first year. The annual fee is also waived in the first year, saving you another $149. This offer expires on December 31, 2023.
With this card, you earn 4 BMO Rewards points on office supplies, gas, cell phone and internet bills, and 1.5 points on everything else. Your points are redeemable for travel, merchandise, or to help pay for purchases or to make deposits into your investment account.
