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Best Credit Cards for Quebec Residents

Best credit cards for Quebec residents

Sandra MacGregor
Author: Cory Santos

By Sandra MacGregor & Cory Santos

Fact Checked: Cory Santos

🗓️

Updated: April 04, 2025

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Living in Quebec? Your credit card options play by different rules—and sometimes, that's a good thing! Quebec residents face unique interest rates, welcome bonuses, and fees compared to other Canadians, with some cards not even crossing the provincial border.

Top Quebec credit cards

  • Why you can trust Money.ca's best credit cards in Quebec list

    +

    Money.ca rates all credit cards on a numeric scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest rating, respectively. Money.ca’s proprietary scoring formulas break down the confusing language, complex points, rewards and earn rates to give you the real data that caters to your needs first, not ours.

    Our partnerships have no impact on our ratings, which are solely determined by the merits of each card. To learn more about how we researched and ranked these cards, read our full credit card review methodology.

Best credit card for cash back in Quebec

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

3.8

Finalist: No Annual Fee

$484

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Learn More

Yes, that’s right! The top cash back credit card in Canada comes with $0 annual fee. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card consistently rewards you with 2% cash back on purchases within three categories of your preference, chosen from a selection of 10 categories. Additionally, you earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back rewards are issued monthly, and there's no cap on spending within any category, ensuring your earnings remain limitless. Moreover, the card provides purchase insurance and extended warranty coverage.

Runner up for cash back: SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express

bonus 10% cash back

Welcome Bonus

$742

First Year Value

$492

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases).

Learn More Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

The SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is a contender for best cash back card because of its super bonus offer: 

  • Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates.

    Plus, earn a $50 statement credit* when you make a purchase in month 13.*

    This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.

    *Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.

And if you dig the Tangerine card’s 2% cash back offered in a few categories, it might be worth it to pay a fee of $119.88 annual fee ($9.99 per month. Additional cards are free.) for the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express, which gives you 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 4% cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. You’ll earn enough cash back to cover the annual fee and then some if you charge about $5,000 or more to the card each year, which is very realistic for the average Quebecer.

Disclosures:

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
     

Best credit card for travel

up to 40,000 pts*

Welcome Bonus

$1,612

First Year Value

$312

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points*. Expires Jul 01, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On Scotiabank's Secure Site

The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card has a very different set of benefits compared to the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, starting first and foremost with its basic rewards system. The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* earns Scene+ points, which may be less widely known than Aeroplan points, though they’re just as valuable.

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is also distinct from the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card in that it offers 6 free annual airport lounge visits (the most of any credit card in Canada with an annual fee of under $200) and it’s one of the few Canadian credit cards that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Finally, it has high earning potential, at 3X Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and Participating Co-ops, and more eligible grocers. Earn 2 Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more), and earn 1 Scene+™ point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases. The annual fee is $150.

Disclosures:

  • Rates, fees and other information are effective as of January 3, 2025. Subject to change.

    Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

    *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Best credit card with no foreign transaction fees in Quebec

up to 40,000 pts

Welcome Bonus

$1,512

First Year Value

$732

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Expires Jul 01, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On Scotiabank's Secure Site

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of the few credit cards in Canada that doesn’t charge a foreign exchange fee when you make purchases in foreign dollars, which can save you money when you travel outside Canada or shop online at non-Canadian sites. 

With one of the top earn rates in the country for these categories, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card earns 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases. Get 3X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on gas, eligible daily transit and select streaming services. You’ll earn 6X Scene+ points for each $1 CAD charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op. All other purchases earn a single point per dollar. The card also comes with strong travel insurance, a discounted Priority Pass membership and concierge service.

Disclosures:

  • Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

    *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Best credit card for students in Quebec

5% cash back

Welcome Bonus

$401

First Year Value

$276

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get 5% cash back in your first 3 months.*

Learn More Apply Now On BMO's Secure Site

The student version of the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* has $0 annual fee and a welcome offer of 5% cash back. The card earns you 3% cash back on groceries (up to a monthly max of $500 on grocery spending; the max resets each month) and 1% (to $500 per month)* on recurring bill payments like streaming services or subscriptions. You net 0.5% (no max) on all other purchases*.

The BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* has a flexible redemption policy whereby you can deposit your cash back into a BMO account (chequing, savings or InvestorLine) or put it toward a statement credit. The card comes with lots of student-focused benefits like getting a free credit score via CreditView, as well as extended warranty* and purchase protection*. Save up to 20% on National Car Rental®†† and Alamo Rent A Car®†† and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car®†† at locations worldwide using BMO's Car Rental Booking tool.* You will also get 15% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada and 20% off resident shows in Las Vegas*.

Disclosures:

  • *Terms and conditions apply.
  • BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

Runner up for students: KOHO

$20 sign-up bonus

Welcome Bonus

$68

First Year Value

$48

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a 30-day free trial for any KOHO plan. Get a $20 sign-up bonus on your first $20 transaction.

Learn More Apply Now On Koho's Secure Site

Unlike the BMO CashBack® Mastercard®, the KOHO card is not a credit card, it’s a prepaid card. But that’s why it’s a good alternative student card, because with KOHO you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble with credit card debt. KOHO Essential offers a reloadable, prepaid card that’s connected to your KOHO no-fee spending account. The card works like a debit card in some ways, but you can also earn cash back. With KOHO Essential, earn 1% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation; up to 50% extra cash back when shop with partnered merchants. Best of all, you can earn 2.5% interest on both your spending and savings account.

Best rewards credit card in Quebec

up to 90,000 points

Welcome Bonus

$1,072

First Year Value

$322

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived on your first anniversary for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.* Expires Jun 01, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On BMO's Secure Site

The BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* allows you to rev up your rewards points, starting with its lucrative sign-up bonus: Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived on your first anniversary for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*.

The card earns rewards on spending at a respectable rate, with 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases,* 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments,* 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else.* The card’s flexible redemption program means you can redeem points for flights, hotels and vacation packages with no black-out periods. You can also apply points to pay for purchases or build up your savings by putting them towards a BMO savings or investment account.

But the standout feature of the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* is its lucrative lounge access package. The card gives you complimentary membership in Dragon Pass,* with 4 annual complimentary passes. And unlike most lounge access deals, BMO lets you use your four free annual passes for yourself or for a guest to accompany you.

Disclosures:

  • *Terms and conditions apply.

    BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

"In Quebec? Your welcome bonuses play by different rules—often in your favor! While other Canadians might need to spend thousands to unlock bonuses, you'll typically get points just for making your first purchase, plus more for keeping your card active. For everyday spenders, this can actually mean more rewards. Always check the "Quebec Residents" fine print—it's worth it!"

Cory Santos, Money.ca credit card expert

What credit cards aren’t available to Quebec residents? (Updated 2025)

Not every Canadian credit card is available to Quebec residents (including some of Credit Card Awards finalists:

⚜️ Quebec credit card rules explained

Quebec has unique and distinct credit card rules and regulations that differ significantly from what you’ll find in other provinces and territories across Canada. These discrepancies are due to Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act. 

Here’s what you need to know about the Act and how it impacts credit cards:

Minimum payment requirements

The biggest difference is Quebec's minimum payment requirements:

  • As of August 2020, Quebec requires credit card users to pay at least 2.5% of their balance each month
  • This minimum payment percentage rose to 5% by 2025.
  • New credit card accounts in Quebec require a 5% minimum payment
  • At the same time, the rest of Canada requires only 2.5% minimum payments or $10, whichever is greater

Quebec’s minimum payment rules are designed to help prevent Canadians from accumulating too much debt. Repaying a $1,000 purchase with just the 2.5% minimum payment would take over 20 years and cost you thousands of dollars in interest charges. In comparison, the 5% minimum payment in Quebec would take just 6 years and cost you just $442 in interest charges. 

If you want customized information on how long it would take to pay off your credit card debt, check out our credit card calculator.

Over-limit fees and notifications

  • Quebec prohibits banks and card issuers from charging over-limit fees
  • Lenders must notify customers when they exceed their credit limit
  • Legislation requires issuers to send pre-transaction notices to consumers when their available credit falls below $100

Cooling-off periods

Quebec also requires stricter cancellation rights for residents vs. the rest of Canada:

  • Quebec offers cancellation rights for credit contracts that vary from 2 to 10 days depending on the type of contract
  • For high-cost credit contracts (where the interest rate is 22-percentage points above the Bank of Canada rate), consumers have a 10-day withdrawal right

Credit protections

  • Quebec defines "high-cost credit contracts" as those with rates at least 22 percentage points higher than the Bank of Canada rate
  • These contracts are presumed to be "excessive, harsh or unconscionable" if the consumer's debt ratio exceeds 45%

Quebec's stricter credit card regulations provide stronger consumer protections than the rest of Canada, particularly in preventing the risks of excessive debt through higher minimum payment requirements and prohibition of over-limit fees. 

Regulation
Quebec
Rest of Canada
Minimum payment 
5% of balance for contracts after August 1, 2019 (older contracts gradually increasing to 5% by August 1, 2025)
Typically 1-3% of balance, varies by issuer
Over-limit fees
Prohibited
Permitted (typically $25-$29 per occurrence)
Cancellation rights
2-10 days to cancel credit contracts after receiving signed copy
Generally no equivalent right to cancel after approval
Fraud liability
Capped at $50
Generally capped at $50 but varies by issuer and circumstances
Interest rate disclosures
Enhanced disclosure requirements with clearer presentation
Standard federal disclosure requirements
High-cost credit contracts
Special regulations for rates 22% higher than Bank of Canada rates
No equivalent specific regulations
Credit contract amendment notice
30 days’ notice of any changes
30 days’ notice for most changes (federal requirement)
Prepaid card regulations
Stricter regulations: no expiry dates and minimal fees allowed
Less restrictive, allows certain fees and expiration policies
Credit card insurance
Special cancellation rights; merchants must amend contracts within 10 days
No specific requirement to amend contracts upon insurance cancellation
Tip regulations on payment terminals
Tips must be calculated pre-tax, displayed consistently, and include custom option
No specific regulations on how tips are presented
Application requirements
May require Quebec-specific application forms
Standard federal application forms
Language requirements
Contracts must be available in French
No French language requirement outside of federally regulated institutions
Promotional offers
Stricter rules on advertising and promotional periods
More flexibility in promotional offers and advertising
Cooling-off period
10-day right to cancel many credit contracts
No standard cooling-off period
Default charges
Strictly regulated and limited
Fewer restrictions on late payment and default charges
Disclosure of credit limit decreases
Notification required when available credit drops below $100
No equivalent requirement

Tips for maximizing credit card rewards in Quebec

  • Create a portfolio of complementary cards that maximize rewards in different spending categories
  • Consider using gift card strategies to earn more points at stores you frequently shop at
  • Take advantage of welcome bonuses available in Quebec
  • Pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges (especially important with Quebec's minimum payment rules

Summary of picks

Card Name Biggest Perk Get started
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Best for cash back

Read Review
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card Best for No foreign transaction fees
◦ 0% foreign trans. fees on overseas purchases
◦ Earn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Apply Now
BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for Students Best for students
◦ Earn 3% (up to a monthly max of $500) cash back on groceries. 		Apply Now
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* Best for rewards
◦ 4 annual airport lounge passes* 		Apply Now

FAQs

  • I live In Quebec. How do I know what special interest rates and fees might apply to me when I apply for a credit card?

    +

    Unfortunately, not all credit card companies make it obvious when there are different rules for applicants in Quebec. Sometimes a website may ask you to choose which province you reside in and then adjust the credit card information if you select Quebec as your place of residence. Otherwise, you may sadly have to read the fine print (often there will be a symbol or number beside some text, which signals that there is additional information you should read) to know what rules and fees do or do not apply to you.

  • What happens if I move away from Quebec to another province — is my credit card still valid?

    +

    While your credit card will still be valid outside of the province, it’s possible that your credit card issuer may update your terms of service once you tell them of your new address. It’s best to contact your credit card company to see if any elements of your credit card agreement (like fees or interest rates) will change if you leave the province.

  • Why do residents of Quebec have to make a larger minimum payment toward their credit card debt each month than the rest of Canada?

    +

    In an effort to ensure that citizens of Quebec keep spending under control and don’t experience financial fallout from credit card debt, Quebec is forcing credit card companies that operate in the province to require that already existing cardholders make a minimum payment of 2.5% of their balance owing. New credit card applicants will have to pay a 5% minimum balance immediately. By 2025, all cardholders in the province will have to pay at least 5% of their balance each month.

  • Can temporary residents in Quebec get a credit card?

    +

    Credit cards in Quebec are similar to cards from the rest of Canada in terms of eligibility. Temporary residents of Quebec that are at the age of majority of their province or territory, or 18. Additionally, applicants need to meet the credit score and income requirements of the card in question.

  • Are credit card overlimit fees allowed in Quebec?

    +

    No, Quebec expressly forbids over-limit fees for credit cards, unlike federal regulations which are more flexible in this regard. Recent Bill 72 amendments require lenders to notify consumers when their available credit drops below $100.

Sandra MacGregor Freelance Contributor

Sandra MacGregor has been writing about finance and travel for nearly a decade. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications like the New York Times, the UK Telegraph, the Washington Post, Forbes.com and the Toronto Star.

Cory Santos Credit card expert

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

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†Terms and Conditions apply.