westjet travel documents within canada

Vaccinations now required to travel into and through Canada on planes, trains and boats

All Canadians aged 12 and older now need to show proof of vaccination if you want to hop on a flight or train ride to any other Canadian destination.

The new rules that took effect Tuesday, follow a one month grace period where negative molecular COVID-19 tests were allowed to board trains, planes and cruise ships. Now all travellers must be fully vaccinated.

Airlines West Jet and Air Canada say they have resources in place to check proof of vaccination. Attendants were spotted scanning barcodes Tuesday at Calgary International Airport.

“Customers can submit their proof of vaccination online ahead of travel,” read a statement from Air Canada.

“They have the option to do this either through the Manage My Booking tab up to 72 hours prior to travel or when they check-in online and obtain a boarding pass within 24 hours of their flight. We strongly encourage customers to use our online tools to save time at the airport and to make the airport experience more streamlined.”

Air Canada says its self-serve kiosks at the airport are unable to accommodate proof of vaccine documents at this time.

Each boarding pass will have a code that reflects an approved traveller, meaning their ticket will not need to be checked again.

SAFE AND SECURE

For West Jet and Swoop Airlines, staff have been working on safe and secure technology to approve travellers at the gates.

“The introduction of a self-service solution ensures we can accurately and effectively validate 100 per cent of guests' vaccination status,” explained Stuart McDonald, WestJet’s interim Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer.

“Initially our agents had been manually validating vaccination status at various stages throughout the travel journey. We now have a Canada-wide technology solution that prioritizes guest privacy and ease of travel.” 

WestJet says its automated technology will scan all provincial and territorial QR code’s, which contains each guest’s proof of vaccination.

These automated scans are available via the WestJet App, digital check in and at airport kiosks as of November 30.

“By automating the process through scans, our agents can focus on the higher touch aspects of assisting guests,” said McDonald.

A FEW HICCUPS

Gregory Cann and his wife were in Calgary for a wedding. Their flight home to Vancouver on Tuesday had a few hiccups, when one of them was able to approve their vaccine status online, while the other could not.

Cann says Ottawa did not streamline the process very easily.

“It’s taken awhile to get their act together but still for the public it’s just an exercise in frustration as it feels like we’re the ones that have to sort through how the hell to pull this altogether,” said Cann.

The Government of Canada says in order to board, all travellers must have received their second dose at least 14 days before their departure date.

The rules apply to anyone who is travelling by plane on domestic, trans border or international flights departing from Canadian airports, and rail passengers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains.

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These are all the Canadian destinations WestJet is flying to this summer

Post date: Apr 8 2021

Date: Apr 8 2021

By: Travelweek Group

CALGARY — WestJet’s domestic program for summer 2021, including flights currently on offer as well as flights that are so far suspended until at least May 4 or into June, can be found  here .

The airline  announced last month  that it was restoring more service to its Canadian network with 11 new routes across the West and Ontario. The routes include new connectivity between the prairie provinces and tourism destinations in B.C.

Also last month  WestJet announced it was bringing back flights to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City. Flights to Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City will be restored starting in June 2021 after service had been suspended indefinitely in November 2020. Flights to Deer Lake and Gander will also be restored, at the end of June.

WestJet’s site includes a ‘Flight Schedule within Canada’ page that outlines all the changes, the new routes and the temporary suspensions.

“Beginning June 24, 2021 through to June 30, 2021, WestJet will resume flying to Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City,” says the airline.

Service between St. John’s and Halifax started May 6. Service between St. John’s and Toronto started June 24.  

There’s also a list of WestJet’s new nonstop flights in Western Canada. And a list of temporarily suspended routes.  

Here’s a look:

New non-stop flights:

Routes temporarily suspended:

* return to service dates may change

Tags: Lead Story, WestJet

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Travelling with a medical device

Check with your doctor before flying to make sure it is safe for you to go through the metal detector at the security checkpoint. Always carry documents that support your medical condition.

The limit of two carry-on bags does not apply to medical supplies, equipment and mobility aids. Make advance arrangements with your air carrier if you need to transport a battery-powered wheelchair or mobility aid or if you require someone to assist you through the pre-boarding screening checkpoint.

When you go through airport security screening, use the Family-Special Needs security line. Screening officers at these lines are trained to offer additional assistance. Tell the screening officers if you have a medical implant, artificial limb or mobility aid that may trigger or be affected by the magnetic fields of the metal detection equipment.

Pacemaker or other medical device

If you have a pacemaker, insulin pump or other medical device, you should advise the screening officer when you enter the screening area. You should bring medical information with you to verify your medical condition.  If additional screening is required, a private search room is available. Further information is available from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority .

Travelling with syringes

If your medication requires needles and syringes, carry an explanation from your health care provider or a medical certificate with you. In some countries, a traveller found with needles and syringes and without an adequate explanation could be in serious trouble. Needles and syringes may be difficult to purchase abroad, so take enough to last your entire trip. Needles and syringes are usually permitted  in carry-on luggage if needed for medical  reasons. Check airline regulations and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority website before you travel to allow enough time to get the proper documentation as regulations differ from country to country.

Ostomy and pre-boarding screening

Before the screening process begins, inform the screening officer that you have an ostomy, and present him/her with a doctor's note. Although not mandatory, such supporting documentation will facilitate the screening process.  If additional screening is required, a private search room is available.

Ostomy supplies (pouches and flanges) can be packed in your carry-on bag and will be screened at the screening checkpoint. It is recommended to prepare your flanges by cutting them in advance for your trip, in case you need them on board the aircraft. Paste tubes are exempt from the liquid restrictions but must be presented to the screening officer separately from your carry-on baggage.

Other mobility aids and medical items permitted through security screening

• wheelchairs
• prosthetic devices
• support braces
• support appliances
• service animals
• apnea monitors
• orthopedic shoes
• exterior medical devices
• assistive/adaptive equipment
• augmentation devices
• continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines & respirators (water in CPAP machines is exempt from the liquid restrictions)
• hearing aids
• cochlear implants
• tools for wheelchair disassembly/reassembly
• personal supplemental oxygen
• CO 2 personal oxygen concentrators
• tools for prosthetic devices
• medications
• all diabetes-related medication, equipment and supplies
• Braille note takers
• slate and stylus
• any other disability-related equipment and associated supplies 
• Receiving medical care in other countries
• Travelling with medication
• Travelling with a service animal
• Travelling with disabilities
• Vaccination
• What you can bring on a plane
• Tips for healthy travel

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Here's What You Need To Do To Return To Canada Via WestJet Starting This Week

As Canada's rules for returning to the country have been updated, airlines have been adapting accordingly and WestJet's new travel requirements have just been released. 

Effective January 7 at 12:01 a.m., all travellers over 5-years-old must provide a negative COVID-19 test upon arriving in Canada. All Canadian airlines will be required to enforce these new requirements as per Transport Canada.*

Editor's Choice: Canada's COVID-19 Cases Spiked On New Year's Eve & Now Trudeau's Getting Serious

In addition, it is mandatory for all incoming travellers to Canada to submit their COVID-related information digitally through ArriveCAN. WestJet

You also need to download the ArriveCAN app or access it via the website and upload your travel and contact information, quarantine plan, and COVID-19 symptom self-assessment before you board your flight. 

Your quarantine plan needs to include how you'll get to your destination, how you'll get groceries, and how you'll access essential services and medical care. So, you need to plan ahead.

After you get to Canada, you need to confirm you've arrived at your quarantine destination via AriveCAN within 48-hours. 

You also need to provide a daily self-assessment for COVID-19 symptoms during your quarantine period. 

As of now, no foreign nationals are allowed to enter Canada for non-essential reasons such as "tourism, recreation, shopping for non-essential goods, and/or sight-seeing," says WestJet as per the Transport Canada requirements .* 

There are a couple of exceptions that would allow someone from another country to enter Canada including a work or study permit that "is deemed non-discretionary."

In addition, one can enter if they are "Uniting with a family member of a Canadian citizen or of a permanent resident and who is destined to be with that family member in Canada for a period of at least 15 days."

Finally, access may be granted to "Foreign nationals seeking to enter Canada for compassionate reasons in specific circumstances, such as life-threatening illness, critical injury or death, with potential limited release from quarantine can apply for an exemption to travel."

All Canadian airlines must adhere to Transport Canada's new requirements.

*This article has been updated.

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Guide to WestJet Pet Policy for Traveling with Dogs and Cats

If you're traveling to, from, or within Canada, you may have encountered WestJet. WestJet is Canada's second-biggest airline and has several convenient routes within Canada and internationally. The airline also boasts a great and all-encompassing pet policy.

What do we love about West Jet's pet policy? It includes birds and service dogs in training, which is very cool and fills a need in Canadian aviation.

Let's dive into your guide to traveling with a dog or cat with WestJet.

Photo by MaJustin Hu on Unsplash

Note: This information is correct as of the time of writing. Please always double-check with WestJet before travel!

Overview of WestJet's pet policy

Booking procedures and fees for WestJet

Checking in with a pet on WestJet

WestJet pet travel documentation

Tips during the journey

Westjet pet travel faqs, overview of westjet's pet policy.

So, you’re thinking of traveling with your dog or cat on WestJet? Understanding their pet policy is essential to ensure a smooth journey for both of you. Whether you’re a digital nomad, traveler, or simply relocating, WestJet provides two main options for pet travel: in-cabin (carry-on) and checked animals, depending on their size and your travel needs.

Pets in the Cabin

In-cabin travel on WestJet is perfect if your pet is small enough to fit comfortably under the seat in front of you. Whether for a dog or cat, your pet's kennel must be soft-sided, leak-proof, well-ventilated, secure, and airline-approved, ensuring it does not allow your pet's head to protrude. 

The maximum allowable size for the kennel is 41 cm in length, 21.5 cm in height, and 25.4 cm in width. Since the kennel counts as a personal item, it should fit beneath the seat. Note that space varies by aircraft type, which may require you to adjust the kennel dimensions or your seating arrangement. On flights, especially if you're seated in a window seat due to space restrictions beneath other types of seats, you must make sure your kennel meets these size requirements. 

Additionally, if you're traveling with a cat and another passenger has a severe allergy to cat dander, WestJet may need to seat you towards the rear of the aircraft to maintain a buffer zone as required by the Canadian Transportation Agency. You will be notified before boarding if necessary.

Pets as Checked Baggage

For larger pets, checked animal travel is an option where your dog will be placed in the cargo hold, a temperature-controlled and pressurized space.

Booking Procedures and Fees for WestJet

To secure a spot for your pet, bookings must be made by phoning WestJet, as online pet space reservations are unavailable. Kennel fees apply. Here’s a breakdown of the costs: 

In-Cabin Travel Fees:

Within or between Canada and the U.S.: $50 - $59 CAD/USD

From Canada/U.S. to destinations outside the U.S.: $100 - $118 CAD/USD

Checked Baggage Fees:

Within or between Canada and the U.S.: $100 - $118 CAD/USD

From Canada/U.S. to international destinations: $200 - $236 CAD/USD

It's important to arrange your pet's travel at least 48 hours before departure to ensure available space, as capacity is limited. Remember, kennels are considered part of your carry-on baggage allowance and must meet the airline's specifications for size and safety. 

Because you’re traveling with a pet, you won’t be able to check in online. You’ll need to do this in person.

You’ll want to arrive a bit earlier than usual when you’re checking in with your dog or cat. WestJets policy states you should arrive at the boarding gate at least 40 minutes prior to departure time. If you arrive less than 10 minutes before your departure time — you will be denied boarding! In our experience, give yourself extra time to avoid the stress and account for any unexpected hiccups. 

WestJet Pet Travel Documentation

Preparing for a trip with a pet can be a complex task, even for digital nomads who are used to organizing their own travel documentation. Gathering all the necessary documents is a crucial step in this process.

You must consider two key areas: the requirements set by WestJet and those imposed by your destination country. Both can vary significantly, so it's important to research and plan well ahead of your journey. This is especially critical if you are a digital nomad traveling from a country that isn't your home base. Be aware that Canada might have specific restrictions on animals from areas with a high risk of rabies.

For travel on WestJet, you will typically need to provide:

A health certificate issued by a veterinarian

Proof of vaccinations

Additionally, WestJet might request extra documentation if your destination country requires it. It's wise to double-check these details to ensure a smooth trip for you and your pet.

Flying across Canada can mean long hours in the air, often stretching up to six hours even on domestic routes. To make this journey more comfortable for your pet, here are some effective strategies:

Familiarize your pet with their carrier

Gradually getting your dog or cat accustomed to their carrier can make a big difference. Regularly serve their meals inside the carrier and use it as a space for training exercises, rewarding them with treats to create positive associations.

Have medications ready (if needed)

Before your trip, discuss with your vet the possibility of using medication to ease your pet’s travel anxiety. While anti-anxiety meds can be helpful, it’s crucial to trial them well before your departure to understand how your pet reacts—ensuring they are alert yet calm. For a natural alternative, consider discussing CBD with your vet, as it’s legal in Canada and known for its soothing effects on some pets.

Create a comfortable environment

Aircraft temperatures can fluctuate, so bringing a blanket might provide extra warmth if it gets cold or a sense of security and comfort at any temperature. Opt for a soft, plush blanket that your pet finds comforting.

Exercise your pet before the flight

Particularly important for dogs, a good workout before heading to the airport can help them feel more relaxed during the flight. Plan your schedule to include ample time for exercise, aiming for your dog to be pleasantly tired by the time you board.

Plan for Bathroom Breaks

Most Canadian airports are equipped with pet relief areas, complete with synthetic grass and amenities like a fire hydrant. Ensure you allow your dog multiple chances to relieve themselves before boarding, making use of these facilities.

Here are some of the top questions we get from digital nomads, snowbirds, and travelers looking to fly WestJet with their pet.

1. What are the main requirements of the WestJet pet policy for in-cabin travel?

For your dog or cat to travel with you in the cabin, they must be contained in an airline-approved kennel that fits under the seat in front of you. The kennel dimensions should not exceed 41 cm x 21.5 cm x 25.4 cm. Ensuring the kennel is secure, leak-proof, and well-ventilated is important.

2.  What should I know about international travel with my pet on WestJet?

When planning to travel internationally with your pet on WestJet, it's your responsibility to be aware of the specific entry requirements of the destination country. These requirements can vary widely and may include specific vaccinations and health certificates. Give yourself enough time to do the research and have everything in order. While WestJet might not check your documents before you board, the national authorities will once you land. If your missing something important, you could be required to leave the country (a true story!)

3. Can I bring my dog to the WestJet lounges?

Instead of having its own lounges, WestJet has partnered with airport lounges all over the country. Each lounge has a different policy, but overall, the answer is — yes, you can bring your dog or cat to the lounge. However, you'll need to keep your pet in their carrier at all times, not allowing any part of your pet to extend outside the carrier. You can check out the WestJet lounges here for more information.

4. Does WestJet permit emotional support animals?

Unfortunately no. WestJet does not accept emotional support animals in the cabin. Only service dogs or service dogs in training are allowed.

WestJet is one of the largest airline carrier in Canada with some of the most convenient routes to and from (and within) the country. If you're flying with WestJet make sure you book in advance and give yourself enough time to check-in at the airport.

If you plan in advance enough, being a digital nomad and flying WestJet with your pet should be easy as one-two-three.

Have a wonderful adventure! 🇨🇦

Note: some of the links in this post are an affiliate link, which help keep Nomad with Pets up and running at no extra cost to you.

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Our existing Basic fare has been replaced by our new UltraBasic fare. Guests who booked a Basic fare on or before June 3, 2024 will still be able to bring a carry-on bag.

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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WestJet ending flights from Hamilton to Atlantic Canada, reducing service to Florida

Westjet said passengers will get refunds for their flights.

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WestJet is discontinuing several flights out of the Hamilton International Airport.

The airline declined an interview, but spokesperson Madison Kruger told CBC Hamilton the airline will suspend and remove flights to Halifax, N.S., and St. John's, N.L., as of July 1.

Kruger said winding down flights to the East Coast came down to "performance" and plans to provide eastern Canada "non-stop connectivity" to Calgary.

WestJet also said it would reduce service to Orlando, Fla. It didn't say why.

But the airline will still offer Hamiltonians year-round service to its global hub in Calgary.

"The decision to remove service is never taken lightly and we understand this is disappointing news for our guests and the community of Hamilton and sincerely apologize for the impact this may have," Kruger said.

"We have provided our guests with as much advance notice as possible either directly, or through their travel agent. Impacted guests will be provided with a refund to their original form of payment."

Hamilton resident Joe Marin said he and his family got an email on Sunday night from WestJet saying their August flight to Orlando was cancelled. He said he was instructed to call the airline to get a refund.

"I'm pretty upset," he said, adding he ended up booking the family's flights out of Buffalo to avoid chaos at Toronto Pearson Airport.

Airport says it will get through industry 'volatility'

The Hamilton airport declined an interview, but said in an emailed statement the news was "disappointing."

"While the Hamilton region has a proven history for affordable passenger travel, it is clear that passenger travel remains volatile, particularly for secondary airports in larger catchments, such as Hamilton International," the airport said.

"The airport has effectively managed volatility in its business for more than 20 years and will continue to do so well into the future.

• WestJet scraps St. John's-to-Hamilton route after less than a month in air
• WestJet says swallowing Sunwing, Swoop is win for travellers — but not everyone has high hopes

It's unclear what impact WestJet's move will have on the airport, but the move comes during the airport's advertised spring and summer programming, which had included the WestJet flights.

WestJet Group has had flights out of Hamilton for 23 years, according to the airport's 2023 annual report.

The airport said 2023 passenger traffic almost hit pre-pandemic levels with 820,011 passengers.

The airport previously used to have flights from discount airlines Lynx Air, Swoop and Sunwing. WestJet took over Swoop and Sunwing in 2023.

The airport said passengers can still get to other parts of Canada through WestJet's Calgary hub or through Air Canada's global network through a motor coach service.

People can also go to Iceland, which connects to other European destinations, through PLAY airlines.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Hamilton. He reports on all issues, but has a knack for stories that hold people accountable, stories that focus on social issues and investigative journalism. He previously worked for the National Post and CityNews in Toronto. You can contact him at [email protected].

• Send a pitch directly to Bobby
• Follow @bobbyhristova on Twitter

With files from Peter Cowan

Related Stories

• CBC Investigates Complaints at Hamilton International Airport include 'rough' and 'discriminatory' pat downs

• Credit Cards

The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.

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While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Best Mastercards In Canada For June 2024

Updated: Jun 11, 2024, 3:39am

Fact Checked

It goes without saying that credit card rewards are a nice bonus—but right now, they’re especially useful. And with the right Mastercard, you can earn cash back or rewards points on most (or even all) of your regular spending. With inflation continuing to bite, especially at grocery stores and gas stations, choosing to shop with one of the best Mastercards in Canada could help you earn you hundreds back in cash or rewards value over the course of 2024.

And while simply comparing rewards values is a logical way to pick your card, there is more to consider. Is it accepted where you shop? Are the card’s other perks, like warranty coverage or travel insurance, worth the annual fee ? With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the 10 best Mastercards available on the Canadian market for your consideration.

Best Mastercards in Canada

• BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

Neo Standard Mastercard

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• Best Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Aeroplan Credit Cards
• Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit cards

Feature Partner Offer

On RBC’s Website

Welcome Bonus

Regular apr (purchases) / regular apr (cash advances).

20.99% / 22.99%

On Tangerine’s Website

Regular APR

MBNA True Line® Mastercard®

On MBNA’s Website

12.99% / 24.99%

Best Mastercard For Cash Back

Bmo cashback® world elite®* mastercard®*.

Up to 10% cash back*

$120 (waived first year)

20.99% / 23.99%

This card earns 5% cash back on groceries, which is nothing to sneeze at. Neither are the travel perks, transit and gas cash-back offers or the welcome bonus this card comes with.

Learn more:  Read our BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard Review

• The highest grocery cash-back offer in Canada, along with generous transit and gas cash-back offers
• $2 million of emergency medical coverage
• $120 annual fee
• High spending requirements to earn welcome bonus
• Welcome offer: Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months and the $120 annual fee waived in the first anniversary*
• Earn more cash back on the categories that mean the most: – 5% on groceries* – 4% on transit including ride sharing, taxis and public transportation* – 3% on gas and electric vehicle charging* – 2% on recurring bill payments like your monthly phone bill or favourite streaming service* – 1% unlimited cashback on all other purchases*
• Get the highest cash back earn rate on groceries in Canada.*
• Get valuable benefits and offers for digital everyday services from a variety of on-demand apps and subscription services
• Extended Warranty Plus*
• Purchase Protection Plus*
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey*
• Access over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world – all at no added cost, and no added fees or roaming charges*
• Complimentary Roadside Assistance Program*
• BMO CashBack World Elite Travel and Medical Protection*
• Unlock Mastercard Travel Rewards cashback offers when you travel and shop outside of Canada
• 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
• *Terms and conditions apply †Statement based on a comparison of the non-promotional grocery rewards earn rate on Canadian cash back credit cards as of January 4, 2023.

Best Mastercard For Cash Back From Neo Retail Partners

Welcome bonus

Up to 15% cash back on the first purchase at a Neo retailer

19.99%-29.99%

This card’s earn rate and flexibility are impressive, as are its lack of any annual fee and its welcome bonus offer.

Learn more:  Read our Neo Standard Mastercard Review

• No annual fee
• Average of 5% unlimited cash back at Neo partners
• The welcome bonus and cash back only applies to Neo partners
• Does not include travel insurance or other perks
• Welcome bonus of up to 15% cash back on your first purchase at a Neo retail partner. The exact amount depends on what the partner is willing to offer
• Average of 5% instant and unlimited cash back at over 10,000 Neo partners
• Forbes Advisor estimates $577.22 in annual cash back based on average Canadian spending

Best Mastercard For WestJet Flyers

Up to $450 in WestJet Dollarsǂ

This card’s bottomless earning potential and travel perks make it perfect for high-spending travellers, although we docked it points for its steep annual fee.

• Expansive travel coverage and cancellation options
• No annual earnings cap on cash back
• Requires a minimum personal income of $80,000
• The card only offers WestJet Dollars
• Get up to $450 in WestJet dollars1 with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ.
• Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Get up to 450 WestJet dollars (a value of up to $450 off the base fare):
• 250 WestJet dollars upon your first purchase
• 200 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation
• Earn WestJet dollars 1.5% on everyday purchases and 2% on flights or packages with WestJet or WestJet Vacations
• WestJet dollars never expire10 Use your WestJet dollars to book flights anytime so you can travel when and where you want.
• No blackout periods.
• Travel coverage including emergency medical insurance as well as trip interruption insurance, hotel burglary and rental car insurance. Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.
• Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to and instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada.
• Free Boingo Wifi for Mastercard holders at over 1 million hot spots
• Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription± – a value of almost $120
• Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card

Best Mastercard For Costco Shoppers

Cibc costco®† world mastercard®.

Sure, you’ll need either a $60 Gold Star or $120 Executive membership to use this “no-annual-fee” card but it does give you decent rewards on restaurants and on gas at Costco.

Learn more: Read our CIBC Costco Mastercard Review

• Excellent restaurant cash-back rate
• No earning caps on most purchases
• Only earns 1% cash back on most purchases, including those at Costco
• Requires a Costco membership
• 3% cash back at restaurants and on Costco gas
• 2% cash back at non-Costco gas stations, and online Costco purchases
• 1% cash back at all other purchases, including Costco
• An $8,000 annual purchase limit for the 2% cash-back rate at Costco.ca and no cap for all other online purchases
•  Forbes Advisor estimates $422.58 with Costco purchases (or $376.62 with non-Costco purchases) based on average Canadian spending
• Personal income requirement of $15,000 per year
• Optional credit card balance protection is available
• Includes purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• Includes mobile device insurance

Best Mastercard For Amazon Shoppers

Amazon.ca rewards mastercard®.

5% cash back

19.99% / 24.99%

Amazon Rewards are probably among the most versatile non-cash back rewards out there, but this card requires an Amazon Prime membership (at a cost of $9.99 per month or $99 per year) to take full advantage of it.

• Tied for the lowest minimum APR of any card on this list
• Requires an Amazon Prime membership to maximize the available rewards
• Only provides Amazon Rewards, not cash back
• Welcome bonus of 5% back at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods stores, grocery stores and restaurants for your first 6 months (on the first $3,000 spent)
• Prime members get 2.5% back at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods
• Prime members get 2.5% back on foreign currency transactions (to cover foreign transaction fees)
• Non-Prime members get 1.5% back at Amazon.ca and at Whole Foods
• Non-Prime members get 1% back on foreign currency transactions (to help cover foreign transaction fees)
• 1% back on all other purchases
• Get purchase assurance, protecting eligible purchases on your card for 90 days
• Extended warranty covers purchases for an additional year
• Save a minimum of 10% off the base rates at Avis and Budget Rent a Car in Canada and the U.S. locations and 5% at international locations

Best Mastercard for unlimited, consistent cash back

Tangerine’s customizable purchase categories are intriguing, but it doesn’t offer the elevated rewards that you might expect from such a card.

• A customizable rewards program
• No annual spending cap for any categories
• Minimum income requirements
• Mediocre rewards for most purchases
• The welcome bonus offers an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases made within the first two months of owning the card when you apply by April 30, 2024
• Earn 2% cash back in two spending categories of your choice, including groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels, gas, recurring bill payments, drug stores, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation and parking
• If you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Bank savings account, you get a third 2% cash-back spending category
• Earn 0.5% cash back on everything else
• The card carries an estimated annual net earnings of $302.69 per year based on average Canadian spending
• The card requires an annual minimum income of $60,000 personal, $100,000 in household income or $250,000 or more in Tangerine Bank Savings Accounts or Investment Fund Accounts
• A balance transfer rate of 1.95% for six months
• Credit card balance protection
• Rental car insurance
• Cell phone insurance
• Airport lounge access provided by DragonPass
• Checked baggage insurance

Best Mastercard For Customizable Cash Back Categories

Not much separates this card from the Tangerine World Mastercard, except that it does not have the Tangerine’s high income requirements.

Learn more:  Read our Tangerine Money-Back Card Review

• Customizable rewards program similar to the Tangerine World Mastercard
• Much lower minimum income requirements compared to the Tangerine World Mastercard
• Fewer consumer protection and travel insurance perks than the Tangerine World Mastercard
• There’s a low minimum annual income of $12,000 required
• Earn 2% cash back in two spending categories of your choice: Groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels, gas, recurring bill payments, drug stores, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation and parking
• All other spending categories earn 0.5% cash back
• Forbes Advisor estimates $302.69 in annual rewards value based on average Canadian spending, when you factor in the annual fee
• Includes purchase protection, extended warranty coverage and credit card balance protection

Best Mastercard For Cash Back With No Annual Fee

The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is fairly plain, but it does allow you to earn cash back without an annual fee.

• Earns cash back
• Offers few perks and features
• Middling cash back earn rates, aside from on groceries
• Get 2% cash back on groceries
• Get 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Grocery spending cap of up to $6,000 per year or $120 in cash back
• Forbes Advisor estimates $338.51 in annual rewards value based on average Canadian spending
• Includes rental car insurance coverage
• Includes cell phone insurance coverage

Best Mastercard For Unlimited Rewards With A Low Annual Fee

Rbc® cash back preferred world elite mastercard‡.

Similar to higher-ranked cards, the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard has bottomless rewards.

• No earnings cap
• Travel perks
• Hefty annual fee
• Middling cash-back rewards
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Forbes Advisor estimates $318.76 in annual rewards value based on average Canadian spending, when you factor in the annual fee
• Includes rental car insurance
• Checked baggage insurance coverage
• Airport lounge access powered by DragonPass
• Includes purchase protection

Best Mastercard For Canadian Tire Shoppers

This cash-back card is fairly good for home improvement and sports equipment customers at Canadian Tire and stores owned by the chain.

• High cash back rewards at Canadian Tire
• Only grants cash-back rewards from specific store chains
• Only gives digital Canadian Tire Money as cash-back rewards
• Gives 4% back in Canadian Tire Money on qualifying pre-tax purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey, and participating Sports Experts stores
• Gives 3% Canadian Tire money on groceries up to $12,000 per year (does not include Walmart or Costco)
• Gives 0.5% per litre in Canadian Tire money at gas stations and on all other purchases
• Forbes Advisor estimates $327.64 in annual rewards value based on average Canadian spending
• Requires a minimum annual income of $80,000, or $150,000 in household income
• Extended warranty protection and return protection
• Roadside assistance with up to 250 km towing distance in Canada or the U.S.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. For best Mastercards, we ranked each Canadian Mastercard from one to five in a variety of categories. We then used the following scoring model to determine the best cards available in Canada:

50% earn rate 25% flexibility 15% perks 5% fee 5% welcome bonus

Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

This heavyweight cash-back card is ideal for big families, avid travellers, and pretty much anyone who spends a lot on groceries, gas or getting away.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on groceries for the first $500 spent in a billing cycle, at which point the rewards rate drops down to 1%. Cardholders also earn 4% on transit, 3% on gas for the first $300 spent (with a 1% earn rate afterwards), and 2% on recurring bill payments. All other purchases earn 1% cash back with no limits.

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 10% cash back for the first three months on qualified purchases (up to $2,600).

Annual Fee: $120 (waived in the first year)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* comes with a few frills, namely $2 million worth of emergency medical coverage for eight days for any cardholder under 65 years old, but its real strength lies in its rewards. It falls short on its hefty $120 annual fee, but the card’s welcome bonus and other perks offset this cost.

———————————————————————————-

Anyone with a Neo account who wants to save some serious cash can look no further than the Neo Standard Mastercard . That is, if they also happen to shop at a lot of Neo partner stores.

Rewards: Unlike the other cards on this list, Neo promises an average of 5% unlimited cash back at Neo partners, rather than offering rewards for broad categories like groceries or gas. It also guarantees cardholders at least 1% back for the first $5,000 worth of purchases, regardless of a retailer’s individual policy.

Welcome Offer: Up to 15% cash back on a cardholder’s first purchase at a Neo retailer.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While a 5% cash back offer is particularly attractive to fans of Neo-partnered brands and stores (the financial company claims over 10,000 partners across Canada), it doesn’t offer any rewards outside of its network. This card also doesn’t offer much in the way of consumer protections or travel coverage.

If you fly WestJet a lot, this card is for you. It may not have particularly high earnings, but the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard’s 1.5% across-the-board earn rate means nearly every purchase you make can count towards your next flight.

Rewards: Grants 1.5% of all everyday purchases in WestJet dollars or 2% back on all WestJet flights or vacation packages. However, WestJet dollars can only be used for WestJet-related purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 450 WestJet dollars (a value of up to $450 off the base fare). Get 250 WestJet dollars after the first purchase and 200 WestJet dollars after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. Conditions applyǂ.

Annual Fee: $119

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Unsurprisingly for an airline card, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers a suite of travel and consumer protection perks. However, there is an obvious downside—you can’t use the rewards on anything except WestJet. This card also has a steep annual income prerequisite of $80,000 for a single person or $150,000 for a household.

Anyone who eats out, buys plenty of Costco products online, or simply fuels up regularly at a Costco pump should consider this card thanks to its decent rewards points and consumer protection perks.

Rewards: Get 3% cash back at restaurants and Costco gas stations, or 2% back at non-Costco gas stations and online Costco purchases. This card also gives 1% back on all other purchases, including purchases at a brick-and-mortar Costco store.

Welcome Offer: None.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card includes optional balance protection purchase protection and extended warranty protection—all great options for a store card. That said, cardholders will need a membership to take advantage of this card. And most in-store Costco purchases, except Costco gas, will earn just 1% cash back.

Frequent online shoppers will love this card’s respectable cash-back rate for Amazon purchases, as well as its lack of an annual fee. This goes double for anyone who also happens to be a habitual Whole Foods shopper.

Rewards: If you have a Prime membership, you’ll get 2.5% in Amazon Rewards back on every online purchase at Amazon.ca, as well as purchases at Whole Foods and foreign currency transactions. Cardholders without Prime earn 1.5% on just Amazon.ca and Whole Foods purchases.

Welcome Offer: $150 worth of Amazon Rewards on the first $3,000 spent on the card at Amazon.ca, grocery stores or restaurants in the first six months of having it.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While the lack of true cash back is a downside to the MBNA Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard, pretty much any product can be found on Amazon. The two-tiered rewards rate is also a little annoying if an Amazon Prime membership isn’t right for you.

Most credit card rewards programs are prescriptive — you earn a steep rewards rate on one or two shopping categories, but a measly 1% on everything else. The Tangerine World Mastercard lets cardholders customize their rewards to their lifestyle, albeit at a lower rewards rate than many elite cash-back cards.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on two spending categories of your choice: groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels, gas recurring bill payments, drug stores, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation, or parking. All other categories earn 0.5% cash back.

Welcome Offer: Earn 10% cash back ($100 value) on up to $1,000 in purchases made within the first two months of owning the card when you apply by April 30, 2024.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card’s flexibility is underpinned by its lack of spending caps. If you overwhelmingly buy groceries or gas with your card, you’ll still earn rewards on all of it. Tangerine Bank clients will also love this card — if you deposit all of your rewards into a savings account, you get a third 2% category to choose from. That said, the card’s $60,000 minimum income requirement restricts who can apply. Households qualify if they earn $100,000 a year and individuals can get around the personal income requirement if they have over $250,000 in a Tangerine Bank savings or investment fund.

Similar to the Tangerine World Mastercard, this one gives cardholders a customizable rewards program with a much lower barrier to entry.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on two spending categories of your choice, including groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels, gas recurring bill payments, drug stores, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation or parking. All other categories earn 0.5% cash back.

Welcome Offer: Earn 10% cash back (up to $100 value) on up to $1,000 in purchases made within the first two months of owning the card when you apply by April 30, 2024.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card ’s income requirement is only $12,000 per year, making it far more accessible to most Canadians than its higher-ranked World counterpart. However, it doesn’t give Tangerine Bank clients the option of unlocking a third 2% spending category the way the World version does.

A bare-bones cash back card mainly geared towards groceries. It has few perks, but one of them happens to be a lack of any annual fees.

Rewards: Get 2% cash back on groceries and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card doesn’t have much besides its rewards program. It also caps out at $120 in cash back for groceries. That said, it does have rental car insurance and cell phone insurance coverage, which are valuable and rare.

If you’re looking for a card without any rewards earning caps, you’ve come to the right place. This card doesn’t give much in the way of cash back, but you can spend as much as you want without hitting a limit.

Rewards: Get 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Welcome Offer: None

Annual Fee: $99

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The hefty annual fee isn’t ideal, but anyone using a card with an unlimited earnings cap might not need to worry about that. Aside from its rewards program, this card also has airport lounge access, rental car insurance and checked baggage insurance.

Athletes, renovation geeks, and Canadian Tire connoisseurs will appreciate a card that gives Canadian Tire Money as rewards and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard delivers.

Rewards: Get 4% back in Canadian Tire money on qualifying pre-tax purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey and participating Sports Experts stores. You’ll also get 3% back in Canadian Tire money on groceries up to $12,000 per year (unless it’s at Walmart or Costco) or 0.5% in Canadian Tire Money at gas stations. After that, you earn 0.5% in groceries. The same goes for all other purchases.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card is great for cardholders who love Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and the other qualifying stores listed above – but that’s largely where the benefits end. It is a card aimed at specific brands. It also has a fairly high annual personal income minimum of $80,000, meaning about 6 million Canadians can qualify.

Credit card data research and analysis provided by Debra Toews, Tia Duncombe and Jack Choros.

Mastercard is one the three leading credit card networks in the world. It was created in response to Bank of America’s BankAmericard, which would eventually go on to become Visa — still Mastercard’s biggest competitor to this day. It began as an alliance of several banks and regional bankcard associations and started life as the Interbank Card Association (ICA), which by 1967 had over 150 members. The ICA produced its own credit card for use across its partners, but due to a lack of brand awareness, went from The Interbank Card to Master Charge: The Interbank Card before being renamed MasterCard in 1979. It’s now the second-largest payment processing corporation operating worldwide. It has pretty wide penetration among businesses and retailers across the globe, but (like anything) it has its benefits and drawbacks.

The Pros and Cons of Mastercard

When it comes to choosing a credit card, whether it’s a Visa, Mastercard or Amex makes a considerable difference. All of these card types offer different features, providing different levels of universal acceptance, security and special features.

• Widely accepted by merchants around the world
• Contactless payments with Mastercard Tap & Go
• Premium cards like World and World Elite Mastercard
• Great insurance packages, which can include over a dozen different types of insurance and hundreds of dollars in value
• The best balance transfer credit cards are often Mastercards
• Plenty of no-annual-fee options
• Exclusive offers like discounts, special events and airport lounge access
• Global Cardmember services like Mastercard’s Global Service, which provides emergency card replacement and cash advances when traveling overseas.
• Accepted in slightly more countries worldwide than Visa
• Fewer cash advance locations worldwide than Visa
• Easy opportunity to get into debt
• Not accepted universally
• Welcome bonuses generally lacking in value
• Not the best rewards on your spending
• Smaller market-share than Visa

Related : What is the best Canadian credit card

Mastercard’s work the exact same way as any other credit card wherever they are accepted. You can use Mastercard’s Tap & Go technology to tap your card against a point of sale terminal and pay for your purchases instantaneously. In a split second, your credit card details are verified by the merchant’s acquisition service, the acquirer then requests that Mastercard request payment from the credit card’s issuing bank, the issuing bank verifies the details with Mastercard and sends payment to the merchant’s acquirer. The acquirer then deposits the money into the merchant’s account.

As for you, the customer, you’re now responsible for paying back the purchase in full to your issuing bank before the payment deadline. If you do not, and only manage to make the minimum required payment by the payment due date, interest will be charged daily and your balance will be larger on your next statement and the next, and the next, even if you don’t make any additional purchases, until you pay back your balance in full during the 30-day grace period when no interest is charged before the payment deadline.

When it comes to Mastercard, not all cards are created equal. There are three tiers of Mastercards: Standard, World and World Elite. Essentially, these go from basic to premium. Here’s what you can expect from each tier of Mastercard.

Standard Mastercards will typically be entry-level cards with lower earn rates and very few extra perks. Typically, these cards will have no annual fees or a very low one. Cards in this tier will also have low requirements for credit scores and income.

World Mastercards are the next level up from Standard. These cards will usually earn some rewards and include a few useful perks. These cards usually come with an annual fee and moderate requirements for credit scores and income.

World Elite

World Elite Mastercards are the highest tier available. These cards will usually offer very competitive rewards earn rates and wide range of useful perks, like travel insurance, lounge access and more. These cards will also have high annual fees and steep requirements for credit scores and income.

There are plenty of benefits to using a Mastercard. Here are some notable ones:

Widely accepted

Mastercard is the most widely accepted credit card, and is accepted in over 210 countries and territories. Plus, it’s also the only credit card that’s accepted in Canadian Costco stores.

Mastercard Travel and Lifestyle Services

You can book travel through this service. When you do, you get access to a wide range of perks, including:

• Lowest hotel rate guarantee: If you find a cheaper rate for a hotel you’ve booked through this service, Mastercard will refund the difference.
• Mastercard luxury hotel and resorts portfolio: You can get benefits at select hotels and resorts, including things like complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out.
• Free nights and car upgrades: You can receive upgrades to your rental car and a free night at select hotels.
• Mastercard Airport Concierge: A badged, multilingual concierge will escort you and your fellow travellers through the airport. They can also do things such as fast-track you through immigration, assist with baggage on departure and arrange a chauffeured vehicle. This service is available at over 700 locations.

Mastercard ID Theft Protection

This feature ensures the protection of your personal information and alerts you to suspicious activity that could be fraud. This feature is built-in, but cardholders must enroll in the program to use it. Once it’s set up, support is available around the clock should issues arise.

Mastercard Zero Liability Protection

This protection means you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized transactions that occur on your card if it’s compromised. To use this, you must show that you take reasonable care to ensure your card doesn’t get lost or stolen.

Mastercard Global Service

This is a 24-hour support program that especially benefits travellers. You can call and speak with a representative at any time about issues with your card, like to locate ATMs or report it lost or stolen.

If you’re looking for a Mastercard in particular, you need to consider the same things you would when choosing any credit card. These factors are mainly but aren’t limited to, the following.

Rewards & Benefits

You might as well get rewarded for your Mastercard spending, but you’ll have some decisions to make. You’ll have to decide whether you want cash back or points and choose high earn rates in the purchase categories you buy from most frequently to try to earn the most rewards as quickly as you can. You also have to take into account how easy (or not) it is to redeem rewards. For example, some Mastercards require a minimum number or value of points before you can redeem them, while other Mastercards have a spending cap that will give you a high earning rate until you reach a certain amount of spending in that category, which slows down your ability to earn points or more cash back fast. To that end, you are going to want to choose rewards cards with high spending caps in the purchase categories you buy most often that have high earning rates.

Mastercard World and World Elite

Beyond the rewards and other benefits–like travel insurance, airport lounge access, purchase protection , extended warranty, and various subscription service credits–that may be offered by your Mastercard issuer, some credit cards designated World and World Elite have exclusive benefits provided by the Mastercard network. Not all the cards with World and World Elite have all the benefits that can come at these tiers, but some of the benefits you might experience include rental car insurance, Mastercard Priceless Experiences, which are exclusive digital or in-person experiences at over 45 locations across the globe, Mastercard Golf, which is Mastercard’s exclusive golf concierge which can give you access to tee times at courses featured on the PGA Tour, a Mastercard concierge, which can help you track down a special gift for that special someone or help you get difficult reservations at world-renowned restaurants, and you can save on delivery fees from several app services like DoorDash and Lyft. As great as these benefits may sound, they do come with a literal cost. Mastercard World and World Elite credit cards have high-income requirements of at least $80,000 personal and $150,000 household annual income.

Obviously, annual fees vary across Mastercards — some are high and some are low, but all cost you money. Of course, you’ll want a Mastercard with a low annual fee, but remember that the reward offerings that come with low-annual-fee credit cards are often thin. If rewards are offered at all, they often don’t go past the base rates of 1% cash back or 1 point per dollar on all purchases. When you do find a low or no-annual-fee credit card with decent rewards earn rates, hold on to it. This is what you should be looking for and low-annual fees with higher-than-average rewards rates and perks are absolutely the ideal for all Canadian cardholders.

Interest Rates and Fees

The advice around annual fees on Mastercards also applies to interest rates and other fees. Both vary widely among Mastercard’s extensive worldwide credit card portfolio, but what any cardholder should want is the most benefits and rewards they can get for low interest rates and the lowest fees. Low interest is a particular deciding factor in the Mastercard you choose if you find yourself often carrying a balance. In fact, The MBNA True Line® Mastercard® , which has no annual fee, a low 12.99% interest rate on purchases and 0% annual interest rate (“AIR”)† on balance transfers✪ for 12 months is a Mastercard and it checks all the boxes when it comes to saving money on a credit card. The only thing to be aware of though is if you’re getting low interest and low or no fees, you often can’t get rewards. For the record, the MBNA True Line has no rewards or welcome bonus, so you often need to choose between saving money and rewards when choosing a Mastercard, or any credit card for that matter.

†, ✪, Terms and Conditions apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

Credit Score Requirements

If you’re looking for an unsecured Mastercard, don’t go much lower than 600 as the minimum requirement for such a credit card. If you’re looking for a credit card with lots of benefits and perks, you not only will have to have a credit score that’s north of 700, but you may have to meet certain annual income requirements as well. Whether that’s $60,000 a year in personal income and $100,000 in household income or the higher but common, $80,000 in personal income and $150,000 in household income. This isn’t to say that you won’t be able to get a Mastercard if you have bad credit (you might) it just might be prepaid or secured until you can get approved for an unsecured Mastercard.

Global Acceptance

Mastercard is accepted worldwide (though not as many places as Visa) as the second-largest payment processing corporation in the world. Therefore, with a Mastercard, you don’t really need to worry about not being able to make a purchase. If you get a prepaid Mastercard when you travel, like the EQ Bank Card , it’s all the better because the EQ Bank Card carries legitimately no fees, including foreign transaction fees, and is accepted anywhere Mastercard is, including over 210 countries worldwide.

Customer Service

The quality of customer service always depends on who you’re dealing with, but many Mastercards include protections against identity theft, emergency credit card replacement and cash advances, and 24/7 concierge service to assist you in accomplishing your purchasing goals. On the more premium cards like World and World Elite, interaction and customer service expand even more. They have access to a golf concierge and one-of-a-kind experiences, so the higher the tier of your credit card, the more customer service benefits you are entitled to, over and above the basics.

Applying for a Mastercard is easy, it can be done online at the Mastercard in question’s website or in person at the issuing bank of that same Mastercard you want. You just have to provide some information and meet some eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Mastercard, or any credit card in Canada, you have to be a resident of Canada and the age of majority in the province where you live. For many Mastercards and other credit cards, you will not only need to be in the right credit score range to qualify for the card in question, but you may also need to meet specific annual personal or household income requirements. If you’re applying for a student credit card , you won’t have credit score requirements to meet, but you will likely need to show proof of income.

Required Documents

While applying for a Mastercard (and any credit card) requires certain personal information such as your name, address, social insurance number (SIN), place of employment, annual income, birthdate and more, as well as a “hard inquiry” that will allow the issuing bank to look at your credit report and score to assess your credit worthiness. As your application is being reviewed, any personal information you provide may need to be verified. You may need to provide a recent pay stub verifying your income, a letter from your employer verifying your place of employment, photo ID verifying your date of birth and a recent bill verifying your address.

Application Process

The application process for a Mastercard (or any credit card) is relatively simple and can be done online at the credit card website or in person at the issuing bank. It consists of filling out forms with the various personal details mentioned above, reviewing the particulars of the credit card and subjecting yourself to a hard credit inquiry to assess credit worthiness. This inquiry may drop your credit score down a few points, but it should go back up with time and as you enter your regular pattern of using credit and paying it off.

Once you receive your Mastercard, the next step is to activate it. You can typically do this by contacting the card’s provider by phone, online or via your banking app. You’ll usually need to enter some of the card info and a code. Often, you need to set the pin and make a purchase on the card to fully activate it.

When it comes to deciding what to swipe with, there are two other credit card networks to choose from.

Visa credit cards

Visa credit cards are the second most widely accepted credit cards. Like Mastercard, they also have tiers that range from basic to luxury. They are available at several of the big six banks in Canada.

American Express credit cards

American Express is the least accepted type of credit card and is known mostly for its travel perks. Unlike Visa and Mastercard, Amex is both a card network and issuer. This means they offer their own credit cards directly and banks also offer Amex cards.

What is the best Mastercard to have?

Right now, the best Mastercard in Canada is the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, which not only offers you World Elite perks and benefits, but $260 as a welcome bonus and the highest rate on grocery purchases in the country at 5%. The only drawback is the $120 annual fee, but the rewards more than make up for it.

What is the highest tier of Mastercard?

The highest tier Mastercard is the Mastercard World Elite tier, which comes with the most premium benefits like zero delivery fees on subscription services, a golf concierge for the choicest tee times  and access to Mastercard Experiences, which are exclusive digital and in-person events taking place in over 45 countries that only Mastercard holders can attend. Be aware though, even though World Elite has the most perks, it also has the highest income requirements to qualify at $80,000 annual personal income and $150,000 annual household income.

Which is best--Visa or Mastercard?

Visa has more marketshare than Mastercard and is the largest payment processing company in the world as a result. However, Mastercard has different benefits within its network, as part of World and World Elite status, and is accepted in almost as many places.

Learn more: Visa Vs. Mastercard: The Main Differences

Where are Mastercards accepted?

Mastercards are accepted worldwide in over 210 countries.

What card offers the most annual cash back per year?

Based on Forbes Advisor’s research, the Neo Standard Mastercard takes the cake with an estimated $577.22 in annual net earnings. To be fair, the exact amount isn’t guaranteed and depends on your lifestyle, budget and the maximum cash-back rate each partner retailer and brand of Neo is offering at the time. The $577.22 number is based on getting 5% cash back – the maximum amount available from retailers.

What card has the highest annual income requirements?

On this list, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard both require a personal income of at least $80,000 per year or $150,000 in household income. The Tangerine World Mastercard comes in at third place, with $60,000 in personal income or $100,000 for your household. However, passing this prerequisite doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved for the card.

What happens if I exceed the spending cap for a given category?

It depends on the card. Generally, the rewards rate is dropped to 1% or less. For example, a card might offer 3% back on groceries up to $300, but then drop it to 1% for all grocery spending beyond that. Some credit cards simply don’t give you any rewards beyond the cap. Always be sure to check the fine print for details.

Which banks offer Mastercards in Canada?

Plenty of Canadian banks offer Mastercard. Of the big six banks, the following offer Mastercards:

• National Bank

TD does not offer Mastercard. Plenty of other banks and financial institutions offer Mastercards, including:

• ATB Financial
• Bank of China (Canada)
• Brim Financial
• Canadian Tire Bank
• Capital One
• Collabria Financial Services Inc.
• HSBC Bank Canada
• National Bank of Canada
• President’s Choice Financial
• Rogers Bank
• Servus Credit Union

Which bank offers the best Mastercard?

The best Mastercard in Canada is offered by BMO. It’s the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* .

Brennan Doherty is a Toronto-based writer. His work appears in the Toronto Star, TVO, VICE World News, Strategy Online, MoneySense, and Maisonneuve Magazine.