When you apply online for an instant approval credit card in Canada, you can be approved in under a minute. If approved, you’ll typically get your card in the mail within 1-2 weeks. Some of these instant approval credit cards let you begin using the card right away. Compare popular credit cards in Canada with instant approval and learn the four easy steps to apply in our guide below.
| Annual fee | Purchase rate | Cash advance rate | Min credit score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $0 | 20.99% | 22.99% | 650 |
|
 | $0 or $9.99 | 19.99% - 29.99% (up to 25.24% in NL & QC) | Varies | 640 |
|
 | $0 | 21.99% | 23.99% | 660 |
|
 | $15.99/month | 21.99% | 21.99% | 700 |
|
 | $0 | 20.95% | 22.95% | 600 | |
 | $0 | 20.95% | 22.95% | 600 | |
 | $29 | 13.99% | 15.99% | 660 | |
 | $0 | 21.99% | 22.99% | 600 (typically) | |
 | $0 | 21.99% | 22.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents) | 600 (typically) |
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An instant approval credit card is among the easiest credit cards to get in Canada. Applications usually take around 10 minutes and return a decision in a few minutes or less. However, these cards are mostly aimed at those with good to excellent credit scores, and approval isn’t guaranteed.
Credit card eligibility requirements are often stricter for premium cards, which typically come with more perks and benefits. That said, here are examples of low-bar, easy credit cards to get in Canada:
Your annual income plays an important role in the card you can apply for. Some have low income requirements of around $12,000 a year, although your credit history will still impact your approval.
If you’ll carry a balance, a low-interest card can help keep costs down. You’ll likely get basic features like fraud protection but not extras like concierge services and complimentary insurance.
Cards with stricter eligibility criteria usually offer more features and higher credit limits, but if you have a low income, lower credit limits normally starting around $500 typically apply.
If you don’t earn enough to apply for a card, you could combine your income with your partner’s and submit a joint applicant or get a card under their credit card account, if they have one.
Annual fees on credit cards vary, but cards with low fees are likely to have fewer extra features and usually have lower income requirements and more lenient eligibility criteria.
Secured credit cards are very easy to get approved for, but you can only spend what you deposit. You don’t get access to borrowed funds, but some secured cards can help improve your credit score.
Yes, some cards, such as the Brim Financial Mastercard, act like an instant use credit card and allow users to begin transacting through Apple Pay within seconds of being approved. For more information, visit our Brim Mastercard review here.
After you apply for a credit card online, the card issuer will access your credit report from one of Canada’s credit bureaus—Equifax or TransUnion. The issuer’s algorithm will compare the information in your report with its eligibility requirements to determine if you’re approved almost instantly. It could take longer than 60 seconds if there’s an issue with your application or credit history.
Applying online for credit cards with instant approval makes it easier to keep track of your documents and comes with some security benefits like 128-bit encryption. Like any other credit card application, though, approval will depend on your credit history, income and other details.
To qualify for an instant approval credit card in Canada, you’ll need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be old enough to apply (at least the age of majority in your province or territory), have some form of valid income and meet a minimum credit score threshold (typically between 600 and 700) set by the credit card provider.
Specific technology is used to provide an almost-instant reply on credit card applications, and not all banks have invested in this tech. That’s why not all banks offer instant approval credit cards in Canada. Traditional banks, digital banks and alternative financial institutions offer credit cards with instant approval including:
The easiest credit card to get in Canada is a secured credit card like the Neo Secured Mastercard, which offers guaranteed approval, no hard credit check and no required credit score. Secured credit cards are less risky for card providers, so these cards are designed for easier approval.
As for unsecured credit cards, as long as you can meet some basic eligibility requirements (inlcuding a credit score of around 600 or higher), you have far more options for easy credit card approval in Canada. Consider cards like the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and more outlined here.
If you have a bad credit score, you won’t likely get approved for an unsecured instant approval credit card. The lowest credit score required for most unsecured credit cards in Canada is 600. Below that, you’ll have a much higher chance of approval with a secured card, like the Neo Secured Mastercard.
If you’re credit score is around 600, consider instant approval unsecured cards like the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card or the Neo Credit Mastercard.
You’ll usually only find legitimate guaranteed approval offers in Canada for secured credit cards, like the Neo Secured Mastercard. Since customers have to secure the credit card with funds before using it, much of the risk to credit card providers is automatically lessened.
These cards are often designed to help you build up your credit score. Unsecured credit cards in Canada will not typically come with guaranteed approval.
Unfortunately, you can’t avoid a credit check when applying for an instant approval unsecured credit card unless you’re applying for a second card with the same provider. Alternatively, certain secured credit cards in Canada, like the Neo Secured Mastercard, offer instant approval and no hard credit check.
That’s because each time you apply for a credit card, the lender checks your credit score as part of your application process. The lender needs to know if you are a trustworthy borrower and your credit score and history are the biggest indicators of that.
To improve your chances of getting credit cards with instant approval, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to make sure you’ve completed your application properly.
It’s important to compare your options before applying. Rather than basing your decision on the fact that you could potentially receive approval within 60 seconds, make sure to consider the following:
Make sure you can afford the card and that it offers the extra features you need to manage your credit.
While you could receive approval within 60 seconds, you won’t receive approval at all if you don’t meet the eligibility requirements. Some of the criteria you’ll be expected to meet include:
When you apply for a credit card online, you’ll be required to attach a number of documents and provide some personal information to receive instant approval. Some of the personal information you’ll need to provide includes:
To ensure a smooth and quick application process, make sure you have these details on hand before you begin your application.
You can apply online for most instant approval credit cards in Canada. You can often apply within 10 minutes and get approved within 60 seconds. Once you’ve compared your options, made sure you meet the eligibility criteria and organized the necessary documents, you can select the ‘Go to Site’ button to begin your secure online application.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you should receive your response within 60 seconds. You’ll either be approved, rejected or, if the bank needs to investigate a detail of your application in further detail, left pending.
Once you’ve compared different credit card options, you can apply for a credit card online. Before you apply, be sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have the relevant documents on hand.
Although it can vary between different credit card providers, to apply—even for some of the easiest credit cards to get approved for in Canada, you would usually have to meet the following eligibility criteria:
You also need to provide different types of information, which could include the following:
If your application for an instant approval credit card is rejected, you shouldn’t apply for another credit card straight away. Applying for several credit cards in a short period and having rejected applications on your credit file can further damage your credit score. Instead, you might want to try the following:
Getting an instant approval on your credit card in cases of emergency comes with benefits, such as:
Instead of applying for an easy approval credit card, consider if a prepaid card is a better fit. You can use prepaid cards anywhere credit cards are accepted, but you have to load money onto the card to spend it. Some prepaid cards also let you earn cashback rewards on your spending.
Because that greatly reduces the risk for the card issuer, and because using a prepaid card doesn’t affect your credit score, these cards are often easier to get approved for than credit cards.
When looking for the easiest credit card to get in Canada, you have options. Applying for credit cards with instant approval is one of the fastest ways to get a card, but you’ll still need to meet the relevant eligibility requirements to get an instant approval credit card in Canada. So, it’s important to compare your options to improve your chance of approval.
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