Bring your credit history to Canada: what transfers and what doesn't

You built a good credit record at home. Then you land in Canada and a bank tells you that you have no credit at all. This guide explains why that happens, the few ways you can still use your credit history from home, and how to start fresh if none of them fit you.

At a glance

Why your score stays behind

Each country keeps its own credit records, and Canada's credit bureaus don't receive them. Your Canadian credit report is created when you first borrow money or apply for credit in Canada. After that, Equifax and TransUnion update it at least once a month. Canadian scores usually range from 300 to 900, and higher is better.

So when you first arrive, a Canadian lender who checks the bureaus usually finds nothing. That isn't bad credit. It's no credit yet, and the fix is different.

Four ways to use your credit history from home

We checked these against the lenders' own websites on November 8, 2026. Programs change, so confirm the details before you apply.

1. Scotiabank: a higher limit using Nova Credit

Scotiabank works with Nova Credit, a company that reads your credit report from your home country and translates it for Canadian lenders. If you qualify, Scotiabank says it can raise your credit card limit to up to twice your current limit.

• Who can use it: permanent residents, foreign workers, temporary workers and international students who have been in Canada for less than two years.
• What you need: a Scotiabank credit card already, and citizenship in one of the listed countries.
• Countries listed: Australia, Austria, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States. Scotiabank says the list can change without notice.
• Watch out: Scotiabank says pulling your report through Nova Credit may affect your credit score back home. Approval is not guaranteed.

2. American Express: move your card from another country

If you already have an American Express card from another country, Amex Canada's Global Card Transfer lets you apply for a Canadian Amex card without a Canadian credit report.

• Who can use it: the main (basic) cardholder on a personal Amex card that has been held for at least 3 months and is open and in good standing.
• What you need: your foreign Amex card number, your Canadian residency status, a Canadian home address and a Canadian phone number. Amex may also ask for ID, income or address documents.
• Limits: you can get one personal card at first. Corporate and small business cards don't qualify. You can apply for more once you've built Canadian credit history.
• Watch out: your foreign balance doesn't move over. If you keep the old card, you still owe its annual fee and any balance in that country's currency.

3. Ask other lenders directly

RBC (in June 2024) and BMO (in September 2024) both announced Nova Credit programs for newcomers from selected countries. We couldn't confirm the current details on their own websites, so ask at a branch whether the program is still offered and whether your country is included.

Equifax Canada also has a tool for lenders called the Global Consumer Credit File. It launched in October 2024 with credit data from India, and more countries were planned. You can't order it yourself, but you can ask a lender whether they use it.

4. Bring paper proof from home

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says some lenders may look at your credit history from another country, and you may need to bring your credit report from home and meet with a bank officer. Before you leave home, it's worth collecting:

• a recent copy of your credit report from your home country's credit bureau
• a reference letter from your bank at home that shows how long you've been a customer
• recent statements for credit cards or loans you've paid on time

Ask the lender which documents and languages they accept. Some lenders will use them and many won't, so treat this as a bonus rather than a plan.

If your country isn't covered: start fresh

Most newcomers build Canadian credit from zero, and it's very doable. There are two common starting points:

• A newcomer credit card. Several big banks offer credit cards for newcomers that don't need a Canadian credit history. Limits usually start low.
• A secured credit card. You give the bank a deposit, usually somewhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and your limit is normally equal to or higher than that deposit. If you don't pay, the bank can keep the deposit to cover what you owe.

Either way, the card reports to the credit bureaus, and that is what builds your file. You can line up options side by side in Compare Cards, and our guide on avoiding hidden bank fees and getting your first card walks through the first application.

Protect your new Canadian file

• Pay on time, every time. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada calls your payment history the most important part of your score. Automatic payments help.
• Use less than 30% of your limit. On a $1,000 limit, that means keeping your balance under $300.
• Don't apply for many cards at once. Each application adds a hard inquiry to your report.
• Check your report for free. Equifax and TransUnion both give you your credit report online for free, and checking your own report doesn't hurt your score. Your Equifax score is free everywhere in Canada. TransUnion's score is free only if you live in Quebec or Ontario. Some banks also show a free score in their app.

Your file starts the day you first apply for credit, but a score usually appears only after a few months of using it.

Do you have to give your SIN?

No, not to apply for a credit card or to get your credit report. The Government of Canada says you can't be refused a product or service for not giving your Social Insurance Number (SIN) when the law doesn't require it. Banks do need your SIN for accounts that earn interest, because that interest is reported for tax.

Should you keep your accounts back home?

Your record at home doesn't count in Canada, but it still counts at home. It's also what Nova Credit and Amex look at in the programs above. If you might move back, or you still have bills or loans at home, keeping one account in good standing keeps that record alive. Check its yearly fee and any foreign transaction fees before you decide. For tax questions about money or accounts outside Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or a licensed professional.

Quick questions

Updated November 8, 2026. This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Confirm the details with the lender before you apply.