Best Current First Year Fee Waived Cards for May 2020

There were few changes to this month’s list, aside from offer extensions. For example, the Brim World Elite MasterCard extended its first year fee waiver off $199 annual fee till May 31, 2020, so if you missed your chance last month, this is your opportunity. I highlight this card because it is rare to see a credit card with such a high annual fee be waived.

Do note that there are quite a few promotions that also end on May 31, 2020 (namely TD offers), so if you had an eye on them, I would not wait much longer to apply. Two nice addition to this month’s list with HSBC.

Ongoing First Year Fee Waived Offers

Good news is that we added a third credit card that offers a permanent first year fee waived. That being said, even though Manulife and Meridian have permanent offers with no end date, it also means that they can be terminated at any time.

ManulifeMONEY+ Visa Infinite

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived)
• Earn 10% cash back on grocery store purchases (on the first $2,500 in purchases or the first 3 months, whichever comes first)
• Earn 3% cash back on grocery store purchases (on the first $25,000 in purchases annually)
• Earn 2% cash back on travel purchases purchases (on the first $25,000 in purchases annually, then 1% for all other purchases)
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived)
• $30 annual fee for supplementary cardholders
• Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery store purchases (on the first $25,000 in purchases annually, then 1% for all other purchases)
• Earn 2% cash back pharmacy purchases and utility bill payments (on the first $25,000 in purchases annually, then 1% for all other purchases)
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Require either $60,000 annual personal income or $100,000 annual household income
• Cash back awarded as an account credit
• Not available to Quebec residents

Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived)
• $30 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
• Earn 3 points for every $1 of net purchases in foreign currencies
• Earn 1.5 points for every $1 of net purchases
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income or $100,000 in annual household income
• Not available to Quebec residents

Limited Time First Year Fee Offers

Below are first year fee waived offers with a specified end date. Note that the cards is listed by their annual fees, from lowest to highest.

Laurentian Bank Visa Dollars

• $65 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• No annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
• Earn 8% cash back on gas and grocery purchases (within the 3 months, up to $2,000 in spending) (if you apply before April 15, 2020)
• Earn 3% cash back on pre-authorized debits
• Earn 2% cash back on gas and grocery
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

Scotiabank GM Visa Infinite Card

• $79 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 1, 2020)
• Earn 5% cash back in GM Earnings on the first $10,000 spent annually on all purchases
• Earn 2% cash back in GM Earnings on all purchases after the first $10,000
• Cash back to be used for the purchase price or lease of a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income, $100,000 in annual household income or $250,000 in assets under management

TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card

• $89 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• $35 annual fee for supplementary cardholders
• Earn 17,500 sign up bonus miles (earn 10,000 Aeroplan miles after the first purchase, earn 2,500 miles for spending $500 per month for the first 3 months) (Quebec only requires good standing) (if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent at drug stores, gas and grocery
• Earn 1 mile for for every $1.50 spent on all other purchases

CIBC Dividend Visa Platinum Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• $30 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder (maximum 3 cards)
• Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases
• Earn 2% cash back on Tim Hortons and TELUS purchases
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cash back awarded automatically on the December statement

Note, the 4% and 2% cash back are on the first $80,000 in total purchases (meaning all card purchases by all cardholders, at any type of merchant) or $20,000 on gas, grocery, TELUS or Tim Hortons purchases on your account, whichever comes first.

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card

• $99 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• $30 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder (maximum 3 cards)
• Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases
• Earn 2% cash back on Tim Hortons and TELUS purchases
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cash back awarded automatically on the December statement

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card

BMO Rewards Business MasterCard

• $120 annual fee (waived the first year if you apply before October 31, 2020)
• $50 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
• Earn 35,000 sign up bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months (if you apply before October 31, 2020)
• Earn 3 BMO Reward points for every $1 spent on gas, office supplies, cell phone and internet recurring payments
• Earn 1.5 BMO Reward points for every $1 spent on all purchases

BMO CashBack World Elite MasterCard

• $120 annual fee (waived the first year if you apply before October 31, 2020)
• Earn 5% cash back on all purchases (for the first 4 months, up to $4,000 in spending or $200 in cash back) (if you apply before October 31, 2020)
• Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Receive cash back: (1) direct deposit into a BMO chequing, savings or InvestorLine account; or (2) a statement credit
• Redeem: (1) annually; (2) when a recurring amount has accumulated a minimum of $50 and in increments of $10; or (3) a one-time lump sum with a minimum of $50 and in increments of $10

BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard

• $120 annual fee (waived the first year if you apply before October 31, 2020)
• $50 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
• Earn 3,000 sign up bonus Air Miles (earn 1,000 sign up bonus and 2,000 more after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months) (if you apply before March 3, 2020)
• Earn 1 Air Mile for every $10 on all purchases
• Receive 2 free lounge passes with MasterCard Airport Experiences
• Receive a Companion Flight Rebate Offer (by booking any two flights, one way or return, through airmiles.ca)
• Have at least $80,000 in personal annual income or $150,000 in annual household income

CIBC Aerogold Visa Business Card Plus

• $120 annual fee (waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Earn 35,000 sign up bonus Aeroplan miles (if you apply before July 5, 2020); earn 20,000 after the first purchase and earn 15,000 after spending $3,000 within the first 4 months
• Earn 1.5 mile for every $1 spent on airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, travel agencies, gas stations
• Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Credit approval based on business

CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Earn 35,000 sign up bonus Aeroplan miles (earn 20,000 after the first purchase and another 15,000 after spending $10,000 in the first year that will be posted on the anniversary year of the card) (if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Normally 20,000 points
• Have at least $35,000 in personal annual income

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card

• $120 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Earn 35,000 sign up bonus Aventura points (earn 20,000 points after the first purchase, and earn 15,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first anniversary year) (if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Normally 15,000 Aventura miles
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income or $100,000 household income

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Earn 35,000 sign up bonus Aventura points (earn 20,000 points after the first purchase, and earn 15,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first anniversary year) (if you apply before July 5, 2020)
• Normally 15,000 points
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income or $100,000 household income

TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• $50 annual fee for supplementary cardholders
• Earn 30,000 sign up bonus miles (earn 15,000 Aeroplan miles after the first purchase, earn 5,000 miles per month for spending $1,000 per month for the first 3 months) (Quebec only requires good standing) (if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• Earn 1.5 mile for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, drugstore and aircanada.com purchases
• Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Receive 1 free checked bag when travelling on an Aeroplan reward flight
• Receive 1 annual Maple Leaf Lounge guest pass when travelling on an Aeroplan reward flight operated by Air Canada
• Receive priority check-in and priority boarding (with Aeroplan reward flight)
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income or $100,000 in annual household income

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

• $120 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• $50 annual fee for supplementary cardholders
• Earn 65,000 sign up bonus points (earn 20,000 points after the first purchase and earn 15,000 points for spending $1,000 per month for the first 3 months) (if you apply before May 31, 2020)
• Earn 9 points for every $1 spent on Expedia
• Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Have at least $60,000 in personal annual income or $100,000 household income

HSBC World Elite MasterCard

• $149 annual fee (first year fee waived if you apply before June 29, 2020; except Quebec)
• Earn 90,000 sign up bonus points (Quebec only), (if you apply before June 29, 2020) (earn 20,000 after the first purchase and earn 70,000 bonus points for keeping the account active for 180 days)
• Earn 60,000 sign up bonus points (rest of Canada), (if you apply before June 29, 2020); earn 20,000 after the first purchase and earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 180 days)
• Receive $100 annual travel enhancement credit
• Earn 6 HSBC points for every $1 spent on travel purchases
• Earn 3 HSBC points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Have at least $80,000 in personal annual income, $150,000 household income or have $400,000 asset under management

BMO World Elite MasterCard