Many Canadian credit cards include built-in travel insurance benefits—examples include emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation protection and flight delay reimbursement. These features can protect travellers from costly, unexpected expenses. Below is a curated list of travel-insurance credit cards in Canada, with key benefits, fees and important details to help you compare options.
Best travel insurance credit cards in Canada
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
GO TO SITE
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
GO TO SITE
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
GO TO SITE
Why trust us
MoneySense is a long-standing Canadian personal finance publication. Our editorial team of trained journalists consults with finance experts and evaluates products from major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers, to help readers find the best financial products for their needs. Our coverage is editorially driven; commercial partnerships do not determine our rankings.
MoneySense award winners
Below are the award winners and recommended alternatives. Each entry summarizes the strongest travel insurance benefits, key fees, rewards and any notable limitations.
Gold — Best travel insurance credit card
At a glance: The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is our top pick for travel insurance. It pairs extensive insurance protections—emergency medical, trip cancellation, baggage delay and rental car coverage—with impressive coverage limits and a lengthy emergency medical period for younger travellers: up to 60 days for cardholders aged 54 and under, which is longer than many competitors.
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $150
Rewards: 1–5 points per $1 (higher rates on groceries and restaurants, with additional tiers for gas, recurring bills and travel booked through the issuer’s rewards portal).
Welcome offer: Limited-time points offers for meeting spending and enrolment requirements (check issuer details for current terms).
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases; 22.49% cash advances and balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income $80,000 or household $150,000 |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | 1 point ≈ $0.01 when redeemed through the issuer’s À La Carte Rewards plan |
Pros and cons
- Pros: $5 million emergency medical coverage up to 60 days (age 54 and under); robust trip cancellation and interruption limits; travel fee reimbursement and airport lounge access in Montréal.
- Cons: No travel accident coverage for common-carrier injuries; relatively high income requirements to qualify.
Silver — Best travel insurance credit card
At a glance: The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is a premium choice with unlimited emergency medical coverage for many cardholders, plus travel accident, trip cancellation, rental car and hotel burglary protections. It’s well suited to travellers who want comprehensive protection, though qualification requires a high income or investable assets.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual fee: $399
Rewards: 1.25 Avion points per $1 on many everyday categories.
Welcome offer: Large Avion points bonus and additional perks for new applicants during promotional periods.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% purchases; 22.99% cash advances and balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal or household income typically $200,000 or minimum investable assets as specified by the issuer |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | Avion point value varies by redemption; higher value when redeemed for travel through the issuer’s schedule |
Pros and cons
- Pros: Unlimited emergency medical coverage for many travellers; comprehensive travel protections; long car rental coverage periods.
- Cons: Very high income or asset requirements; base points earn rate may be modest compared with some competitors.
Bronze — Best travel insurance credit card in Canada
At a glance: The Scotiabank Platinum American Express card stands out for senior emergency medical coverage, offering 10 days for cardholders aged 75 and older—longer than other cards for that age group. It also waives foreign transaction fees and rewards with Scene+ points.
Scotiabank Platinum Amex
Annual fee: $399
Rewards: 2 Scene+ points per $1 on eligible purchases; no foreign transaction fees when spending in other currencies.
Welcome offer: Early promotional periods have offered substantial point bonuses and other value; check issuer for current terms.
Card details
| Interest rates | 9.99% purchases and cash advances; 22.99% balance transfers |
| Income required | Approximately $12,000 per year (issuer requirements apply) |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Scene+ point ≈ $0.01 for travel redemptions |
Pros and cons
- Pros: Strong emergency medical limits for many age groups (including seniors), trip and rental car protections, and no foreign transaction fees.
- Cons: High annual fee for a card with a flat rewards structure; American Express acceptance can be more limited internationally.
Best travel insurance credit card with no annual fee
At a glance: For travellers seeking travel protection without an annual fee, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a notable option. It includes several travel insurance coverages and offers a consistent cash-back structure—making it a good no-fee choice for value-conscious travellers.
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 1.5% cash back on most purchases (2% for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers) and 3% on U.S. dollar transactions.
Insurance highlights: Includes emergency medical coverage for short trips (for example, up to 10 days) and rental car theft/damage coverage for typical rental periods.
Card details
| Interest rates | 25.99% on purchases; 27.99% cash advances and balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income approximately $80,000 per year |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
Pros and cons
- Pros: No annual fee while still offering meaningful travel coverage and competitive cash-back rates, including strong U.S. dollar rewards.
- Cons: Income requirements for approval and higher interest rates compared with some premium cards.
How does credit card travel insurance work?
Each card’s insurance package is unique and tied to the issuer’s terms and conditions, so it’s important to read your card’s policy documents before you travel. In general, coverage is typically activated by charging eligible travel purchases to the card—though rules vary. Some cards require the full trip or a portion of expenses to be charged to the card to trigger benefits. Once booking requirements are met, most coverages apply automatically and do not require a separate activation call, but you should keep documentation and follow claim instructions if you need to file a claim.
More of Canada’s best credit cards
- Canada’s best credit cards (overall)
- Best credit cards for gas
- Best credit cards for groceries
- Best cash back credit cards