Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Review 2024

• Earn up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived. Account must be opened by July 1, 2024.
• Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Six Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
• Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
• Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program
• Rates, fees and other information are effective at the time of writing. Subject to change.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card seems like the perfect card for everyone to have in their wallet—but when you put its earning potential under a microscope, it’s clearly not a good fit for some. Sure, it gives healthy reward earnings for purchases like groceries, movies and transportation, but a combination of stingy spending category caps and a high annual fee may make it an impractical card for most average spenders.

Once you factor in the high annual fee, its yearly net earnings are quite low with average spending. Plus, it’s not that accessible for most Canadians: It requires a credit score in the good to very good range, as well as a minimum personal income of $60,000 a year—slightly higher than the median Canadian worker’s income.

That said, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card does shine in one specific area—international travel. Cardholders are automatically members of the Visa Airport Companion Program, which gives travellers lounge access at hundreds of airports around the world. Plus, unusually for a Canadian credit card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card waives all markups on foreign currency purchases (except for the exchange rate, of course).

Bottom line: If you’re a frequent traveller or tend to spend big annually, consider this card. If you’re a low to average spender who doesn’t travel often, there are other rewards credit cards that may better benefit you.

• Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
• $150 (waived in the first year) annual fee
• Regular APR of 20.99% and a cash advance APR of 22.99%

Earning rewards

All rewards for this card are through the Scene+ rewards program.

• Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
• Earn 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
• Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.

Each Scene+ point is worth around $0.01 on average, though their value varies depending on how you redeem them.

On top of standard rewards, cardholders can earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points, Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months of holding a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. And if a cardholder manages to spend at least $40,000 in everyday net eligible purchases every year, they earn an extra 10,000 Scene+ points.

Redeeming Rewards

Spending Scene+ points can be done through Scene+ grocery, entertainment, and travel partners, as well as through Scotiabank itself. You can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for $10 at partner grocery stores and pharmacies. You can also redeem them at Cineplex, The Rec Room, Playdium and over 700 restaurants. In addition, you can redeem for travel at Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia or for merchandise, gift cards and account credits.

Rewards Potential

While the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card’s grocery and travel rewards rates seem respectable, the total capped earnings possible for cardholders are lacklustre. Estimated annual net earnings across all spending categories, minus the card’s annual fee, comes out to just $128.51.

For a card with a significant annual fee, the rewards program alone doesn’t justify the cost unless you’re an extremely above average spender.

• Multitude of Payment Options: Pay through Visa payWave, My Mobile Wallet, Apple Pay or Click to Pay.
• Visa Infinite Concierge Service: A program that offers 24 hour assistance with trip or ticket planning for events.
• Visa Infinite Hotel Collection: Anytime you book a hotel room, you automatically get an upgraded room if it is available, along with free Wi-Fi.
• Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country program: Enjoy private tours, free tastings, and more experiences at over 60 wineries across B.C. and Ontario.
• Scotia SelectPay: Provides a flexible way to pay off your eligible Scotiabank Visa credit card purchases of $100 or more with low interest rates on your plan and no installment plan fee.
• Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership: Enjoy complimentary upgrades (whenever available), a special Avis Preferred Plus number for reservations and customer service support, and discounts in Canada and the U.S. ranging from 5% up to 25% off the lowest available discountable retail rates.

The following insurance coverages are included with your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card:

• Travel emergency medical insurance: $2 million in emergency medical coverage for up to 25 consecutive days (if under age 65) and for three days if age 65 or older
• Trip cancellation insurance: Up to $1,500 per person ($10,000 per trip )
• Trip interruption insurance: Up to $2,500 per person (maximum $10,000 per trip)
• Flight delay insurance: Up to $500 per insured person on the same trip after a delayed flight or missed connection of four hours or more
• Delayed and lost baggage insurance: Maximum of $1,000 for lost luggage and up to $1,000 for all insured persons on the same trip to replace essential items if your checked bags are not delivered within four hours from your time of arrival at your final destination.
• Rental car collision loss/damage insurance: Provides coverage for a rental car for up to 48 consecutive days on a maximum $65,000  MSRP
• Hotel/Motel burglary insurance: Provides coverage of up to $1,000 of any claim amount not reimbursed by the hotel or any other insurance
• Travel accident insurance: Up to a maximum of $500,000 (to a maximum of $1 million per occurrence) for accidental loss of life or dismemberment while travelling in a common carrier
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection: Insure most items purchased with your card against theft, loss or damage for 90 days (maximum lifetime liability of $60,000)

Conditions apply. Complete coverage details can be found in the certificate of insurance.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR Min: 20.99%
• Regular APR Max: 25.99%

Fees

• Cash Advance: 22.99%
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Annual Fee: $150.00 (waived in the first year)
• Any other fees: $50 for every additional card per account

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite vs. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

On the surface, neither Scotiabank nor TD’s Visa Infinite cards seem all that different. Both cards share a similar annual fee ($139 for TD, compared to $150 for Scotia), identical income requirements ($60,000 a year minimum personal income), and ‘Visa Infinite’ in their names.

That said, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card’s rewards plan vastly outstrips its Scotiabank counterpart. Even after adding in the annual fee, its annual net earnings come out to $635.70. Plus, it uses Aeroplan points, a program with a much longer history than Scene+.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite vs. BMO eclipse Visa Infinite

BMO’s version of the Visa Infinite comes to the table with an annual fee waiver ($120), a whopping 5 BMO Rewards Points for every dollar spent on essentials like groceries and gas, and $5 million worth of emergency medical coverage.

While Scene+ points are individually worth a little more than BMO Rewards Points, the rewards package is far more generous. As with TD, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite also blows its Scotiabank counterpart out of the water on annual net earnings, coming out to $432.99 a year, even after factoring in the cost of the annual fee.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite vs. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite

Unsurprisingly, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite’s rewards program outearns Scotiabank’s rewards points. Plus, it carries a cheaper $139 annual fee and comes with an annual fee waiver for the first year, too. It also brings a serious Welcome Bonus of $800 in travel value during a cardholder’s first year, including 15,000 Aventura Points simply for making a first purchase.

When it comes to consumer protection, Scotiabank also falls short compared to CIBC. The latter’s emergency medical coverage is also $5 million—more than double what Scotiabank offers. And its consumer protection and travel perks packages largely mirror Scotiabank’s, with the notable exception of the Visa Airport Companion Program.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With rewards cards, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses and other benefits and features. 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.

Related: Best credit card for Canadians

Scotiabank itself suggests cardholders shouldn’t apply for a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card if they plan on carrying an outstanding balance for a long period of time. It also suggests cardholders leery of annual fees, or who rarely travel, may not find it terribly useful.

That said, frequent fliers who find themselves paying through the nose on foreign transaction fees and interest may find the Scotiabank Visa Infinite Card to be a worthwhile addition to their wallets. Its lounge access program is a great perk for weary travelers waiting for their next flight.

Related: Best Travel Credit Cards