The best bank for newcomers to Canada

Are you new to Canada? Take advantage of an account with no fixed monthly fees for 3 years.1

Open an account online

Named by MoneySense in 2023.


Your offer for newcomers

Picto of a wallet and a maple leaf

Bank account

Open an account with no fixed monthly fee for up to 3 years.

Save up to $574.20**

Picto of a Mastercard credit card

Mastercard® credit card

Get settled in Canada with help from a National Bank of Canada Mastercard credit card with no credit history.2,3

Picto of a planet with an arrow pointing toward a dollar sign representing international transfers

International transfers

Send international transfers online to 19 countries in the European Union, and more. 

$5.95 per transfer4

Intermediary bank or beneficiary fees may apply.

Picto of a phone

Legal support service

Get legal information by speaking directly with a lawyer by telephone on a variety of topics such as immigration, housing, and marriage.5

At no cost for 12 months

Picto of a bank statement

Paper statements by mail

Receive your bank statements by mail with no fees for the first year.

You’ll save $30

Picto of a cheque with an encircled plus sign

Ordering cheques

Get your first order of cheques free.

You’ll save $67.10

2023

National Bank of Canada has been named the Best Bank for Newcomers to Canada for 2023 by MoneySense.

2023

National Bank® of Canada mycreditTM Mastercard® credit card was named the best credit card for newcomers by Milesopedia in 2023.

Get the offer in just a few easy steps

Picto of an encircled number 1

Open an account online

You’ll need:

  • A Canadian phone number 
  • One of the following documents: 
    • A valid and eligible passport from a country other than Canada 
    • A Canadian permanent resident card 
    • A Canadian driver's licence 
    • A provincial or federal identification card (excluding Quebec) 
    • A Quebec Health Insurance Card - new version
Picto of an encircled number 2

Receive a confirmation email

Within a couple of days of your request, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your account information. You’ll then receive your debit card in the mail.

Make it happen in Canada with these practical tips

Picto of National Bank documents with a maple leaf

Canadian immigration guide

Take advantage of a complete guide to life and finance in Canada to accompany you every step of the way.

Picto of a maple leaf

Even more resources

To ease your transition, we’ve put together a series of articles to answer the most common questions newcomers have about housing, employment, finances and more.

More than just a bank account

Talk to us about your projects in Canada

Facebook Messenger logo

Contact us on Messenger

Send us your questions on Facebook Messenger. We’ll answer them from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) on weekends and holidays.

Picto of a wallet with a maple leaf

Take advantage of the offer

Complete the application form with a Canadian phone number, and a valid and eligible foreign passport, or a Canadian permanent resident card.

Picto of an encircled question mark

Need more information?

Check out our Help centre to find the information you’re looking for.

Little details that matter

  • Be a newcomer 18 years of age or older
  • Apply to open an account from your home country up to 90 days before you arrive in Canada, or within 5 years of your arrival
  • Be the only user of the account
  • The offer for newcomers is open to permanent residents, temporary workers and international students

Download and read the details of our offer for newcomers in one of the following languages.

English
French
Spanish
Arabic
Punjabi
Chinese

TM National Bank Assistance Network is a trademark of National Bank of Canada, used under licence by authorized third parties.

® Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

®THE EXCHANGE and Accel are registered trademarks of Fiserv Inc.

®CIRRUS is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank. 

®Allpoint is a registered trademark of ATM National LLC.

National Bank of Canada is not a licensed bank in France or other countries outside of Canada.