How long to get credit/debit card

[kabirs2010]

Hey all,

I am arriving in Toronto on Dec 16th. After I land I will open a bank account and ask for a debit and credit card from the bank. How long does it take to get a debit or credit card? Do they give you a debit card right there or do they mail it to you?

It is hard to do things like book an airbnb or buy anything online without an electronic payment method so I was wondering if anyone can recall how long they had to wait to get their card after they opened their bank account.

 

[Samoinp]

RBC issued a client card immediately. It did have a 2 dollar charge for each swipe at retail store. Credit card can be requested to be mailed to the branch. They give one without credit history or job.

If nothing, you could buy mastercard or visa gift card with cash and use for online transactions.

Also to be safe, have a credit card from your home country, give them a travel update. Yes, some will have foreign currency transaction fee

 

[BC4life]

You can use a credit card from your home country for the beginning if you have one. Any credit card that you get as a newly landed immigrant will likely have a $500 to 1,000 limit.

In my personal case, with TD, I had the option to have the card mailed to my mailing address or pick it up at the branch when ready.

 

[sistemc]

Seven years ago when I arrived to the Canada things with the Scotiabank looked like:

You get debit card immediately. I deposited some money on the savings account, they put a $ 5000 lien on it, and I got the proper cashback credit card mailed in a few days with the credit limit equal to the lien.

After some time banking with them they removed the lien.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Seven years ago when I arrived to the Canada things with the Scotiabank looked like:

You get debit card immediately. I deposited some money on the savings account, they put a $ 5000 lien on it, and I got the proper cashback credit card mailed in a few days with the credit limit equal to the lien.

After some time banking with them they removed the lien.

Things have changed since then. New immigrants are getting unsecured credit card easily. Lien for secured credit card is no longer required.

 

[Samoinp]

Yup both RBC and CIBC have issued unsecured credit cards for 2000.

Also if you are an AMEX customer at your home country, they have a global transfer program. I got mine transferred from US and they gave a 7000 limit.

 

[Alex54321]

Yup both RBC and CIBC have issued unsecured credit cards for 2000.

Also if you are an AMEX customer at your home country, they have a global transfer program. I got mine transferred from US and they gave a 7000 limit.

My spouse (PR) got her card by mail as TD bank promised within 7-10 business days, but with funny credit line - $1000 CND. What a joke, compare with her US Credit Cards limits in excess of $50K US...

We don't care much, since I am working in US and using my (ours) US credit cards in Canada with great (so far) exchange rate ~1.31

 

[foodie69]

My spouse (PR) got her card by mail as TD bank promised within 7-10 business days, but with funny credit line - $1000 CND. What a joke, compare with her US Credit Cards limits in excess of $50K US...

We don't care much, since I am working in US and using my (ours) US credit cards in Canada with great (so far) exchange rate ~1.31

Well, $1000 is perfectly normal for a newcomer. Used to be $500.
No joke, just good business sense. We all remember what happened 10 years ago with the housing market in the US when every Tom, Dick and Harry got a mortgage for a house they could not afford.

 

[BC4life]

My spouse (PR) got her card by mail as TD bank promised within 7-10 business days, but with funny credit line - $1000 CND. What a joke, compare with her US Credit Cards limits in excess of $50K US...

We don't care much, since I am working in US and using my (ours) US credit cards in Canada with great (so far) exchange rate ~1.31

So do you get a $50K limit credit card as a newcomer in the US without any job nor credit history and 0 credit score? You are comparing apples to oranges here. In most countries the best you could get would be a low limit secured card.

 

[Alex54321]

So do you get a $50K limit credit card as a newcomer in the US without any job nor credit history and 0 credit score? You are comparing apples to oranges here. In most countries the best you could get would be a low limit secured card.

The US and Canada are not "most countries", they have big history together... For us it's not big a deal, US credit cards work just fine in Canada and this initial TD credit card will do it's magic and credit history will be progressing. Also, soon we will transfer our AmExpress card to Canada. No need a credit in Canada currently anyways - fresh cars are paid off, the house is free from mortgage, do not need all these special 0% APRs...