Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card review

How the Passport Visa Infinite+ earns points

The card has three tiers. Purchases at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops and other listed grocers earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar. Other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit earn 2 points, and everything else earns 1 point.

As an example, $400 a month at the 3x grocers earns 1,200 points, $300 on dining, entertainment and transit earns 600, and $800 of other spending earns 800. That’s 2,600 points a month, or 31,200 points a year.

The welcome offer

The welcome offer includes up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points. The spending requirements and timing aren’t spelled out in the current listing, and other parts of the offer may change, so check Scotiabank’s website for the current terms.

For scale, 35,000 points is more than a year of earning in the example budget above, so the first year is when the card does the most for you.

No foreign transaction fee

The biggest everyday advantage is the lack of a foreign transaction fee. Most cards in CreditLab’s catalog charge 2.5%, which adds $25 to every $1,000 spent in a foreign currency. With the Passport Visa Infinite+, that $1,000 costs nothing extra. On a trip with $3,000 of spending abroad, that’s $75 you’d otherwise pay in fees.

At 2.5%, $6,000 of foreign spending a year would cost $150 in fees, the same as this card’s annual fee. If you spend more than that abroad or with online stores that bill in other currencies, the fee savings alone cover the card.

Lounge access

The card also comes with airport lounge access, listed as six VIP lounge visits. Confirm with Scotiabank how the visits are provided and whether they renew each year before planning around them.

For travellers who fly a few times a year, a handful of lounge visits pairs naturally with the no-FX benefit, since both are most useful on the same trips.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $150. Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%. Paying your full statement balance by the due date avoids purchase interest, which would quickly outweigh both the points and the foreign transaction fee savings.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Passport Visa Infinite+ suits people who travel or shop in foreign currencies, buy groceries at Sobeys-family stores and want lounge access without a premium fee. Because it’s a Visa, it’s also widely accepted when you’re abroad. Its 2x rate on dining, entertainment and daily transit also gives commuters and people who eat out a steady return between trips.

If you rarely spend outside Canada, the no-FX benefit matters less, and a card with a higher grocery or dining rate may earn more for a similar or lower fee.

How it compares

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card costs $120 a year, also has no foreign transaction fee, and earns up to 6x at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, with up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year. It earns more at those grocers for less, but American Express isn’t accepted everywhere.

The Wealthsimple Credit Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and earns 1% cash back on everything. It’s the simpler, free choice if avoiding foreign transaction fees is your main goal.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 720 or higher, and Scotiabank makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Confirm the current welcome offer, lounge benefits and terms on Scotiabank’s website before you apply.