What are the best Visa travel cards in Canada? A closer look

If you're travelling overseas, a travel card can help you manage spending abroad. Visa cards are widely accepted worldwide for online and in-person payments. We'll take a look at the best travel Visa cards in Canada, including how much it costs to spend your money abroad. How can you access travel benefits beyond rewards?

We'll also look at Wise as a low-cost spending alternative. You can use the Wise card to spend in 150+ countries, with transparent fees for global transactions.

Choosing the best travel Visa card in Canada

The right travel card for you will depend on exactly what you need. Let's take a look at some of the best travel Visa cards in Canada.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

The RBC® Avion® Visa Infinite card offers a useful points system for frequent travellers. You can earn Avion points every time you make eligible purchases using your card.

These points can be redeemed on future travel expenses, such as flights and hotels. You can also access discounts at partner brands, such as Petro-Canada®.

You'll earn 1.25 Avion points per 1 CAD spent on travel-related purchases, and you may receive 35,000 Avion points as a welcome bonus upon approval. The welcome bonus points can be worth up to 750 CAD when redeemed for travel, depending on how they are used.

However, there are some fees to consider. You'll pay 120 CAD per year for your card.¹ If you pay in a foreign currency, RBC applies a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on the converted Canadian dollar amount.²

To be eligible for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card, you'll need a minimum personal income of 60,000 CAD or a minimum household income of 100,000 CAD.¹

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite

You can use your CIBC® Aventura® Visa Infinite card to earn Aventura travel points on eligible purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel purchases like flights.

You'll earn 2 Aventura points per 1 CAD spent on eligible travel purchases. You can also access exclusive offers during your first year, including 15,000 Aventura points when you make your first purchase.

To qualify for the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card, you'll need an individual minimum income of 60,000 CAD or a household income of 100,000 CAD.³ The minimum credit limit is 5,000 CAD, subject to approval.⁴

The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card costs 139 CAD per year, but first-time users can get a rebate in their first year.³ A 2.5% foreign transaction fee applies to purchases made in foreign currencies.⁵

Other Visa cards with travel benefits

The RBC Visa Platinum card and CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card are also popular travel Visa cards for Canadians. Let's take a closer look.

RBC Visa Platinum

You can use the RBC Visa Platinum card to access offers from over 2,000 Avion Rewards brands. You can also earn points from partners like Rexall® and DoorDash®.

The RBC Visa Platinum card includes insurance coverage, such as car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, and purchase protection on eligible purchases.

The card does not have an annual fee, but foreign transaction fees may apply to purchases made in currencies other than Canadian dollars.⁶

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite

The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card isn't a dedicated travel card, but it comes with some key benefits for travellers.

You can earn cash back on certain purchases, including:

• 4% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and groceries
• 2% cash back on transport, dining, recurring payments and eligible travel purchases made through CIBC by Expedia®
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

You can also access insurance coverage with your card, including out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance.

The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite card costs 120 CAD per year.⁷ You'll also pay a 2.5% fee on top of CIBC's regular exchange rate for purchases in a foreign currency.⁵

What to look for in a travel card

If you regularly travel overseas, there are a few things to look for in your Visa travel card. Let's take a look.

No foreign transaction fees

Look out for a travel card with no foreign transaction fees. Some credit card providers set a fee for foreign transactions, as well as currency conversion, so it's important to do your research.

Most Canadian Visa credit cards apply a foreign transaction fee of around 2.5% on purchases made in foreign currencies. This can significantly increase the cost of all your international purchases.

Travel rewards and points

Choose a card with a good points scheme to earn rewards on eligible purchases, such as buying gas or groceries. These points can be used towards travel purchases, including hotels, car rentals and vacation activities.

You can often earn extra points for travel purchases like flights, which means frequent travellers are constantly rewarded for using their card.

Travel insurance benefits

Many credit cards come with insurance, such as travel or medical insurance. For example, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card comes with extensive insurance coverage.³

This can save you time and money, as you can avoid researching or buying your own policies. You can access everything you need before you head abroad.

Annual fees and welcome bonuses

Look into any welcome bonuses for your Visa travel card. Most cards come with an annual fee, but some providers may waive this fee during your first year.

You can also access additional points when you first get approved. For example, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card comes with a welcome bonus of 35,000 points.

The foreign exchange rate problem

Most Canadian Visa travel cards charge foreign exchange fees, typically up to 2.5% on the currency conversion rate. When you use your card for a foreign currency purchase, the transaction is converted to Canadian dollars and a foreign transaction fee is typically added.

This additional charge increases the overall cost of international spending. Most banks add a markup to the mid-market exchange rate you might see online. It's how they make money, but it can come at quite a cost to you.

Comparing Canadian travel Visa cards

Let's compare some popular travel Visa cards in Canada. How much does it cost to use your credit card abroad?

Premium travel Visa cards

Visa cards with limited travel features

Using Wise for travel spending

The Wise card helps you spend like a local. You can spend from your main currency at the mid-market rate or convert your money to the local currency before spending, with no hidden costs.

What's more, you can get your virtual card right away or get your first physical card for free after you open a Wise account!

You can withdraw up to 350 CAD in 2 free withdrawals each month using the Wise card when you're abroad. After this, you are charged a small fee per withdrawal.

While Wise will not charge you for withdrawals within these limits, independent providers might charge you separate fees when you use their ATMs.

Frequently asked questions about travel Visa cards in Canada

Do travel cards affect my credit score?

All credit cards can affect your credit score, including travel Visa cards. Be sure to pay off your balance on time and watch for any additional fees or interest charges.

The Wise card is a debit card, which means you can spend, send and receive your money worldwide without affecting your credit.

Can I use my Canadian travel card to apply for a tourist visa?

You should be able to use your Canadian travel card to pay for tourist visa charges abroad. However, it's worth double-checking which payment methods are accepted before planning your trip.

Conclusion

Popular travel cards like the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card offer rewards schemes for frequent travellers, along with partner discounts and travel benefits.

However, these cards typically include a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, which can increase the cost of international spending. You'll likely pay a 2.5% markup to convert currencies, as well as an annual fee for your card.

If you want to spend in over 150 countries using the mid-market exchange rate and transparent fees, Wise is another option to consider. Wise.

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Sources:

1. RBC Avion Visa Infinite – RBC
2. Information box for RBC Avion Visa Infinite – RBC
3. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite – CIBC
4. Minimum credit limits for CIBC credit cards – CIBC
5. CIBC credit card summary of annual interest rates and fees – CIBC
6. RBC Visa Platinum – RBC
7. CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite – CIBC

Sources verified on 26 March 2026