Yes, you can use your credit card in Canada, but you’ll have better luck with some types of cards than others. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit card networks, and you should be able to use their cards at any merchants that take credit cards in Canada. American Express cards aren’t accepted everywhere in Canada but they work at “thousands” of places, according to Amex. Fortunately, you can check where American Express cards are accepted in major Canadian cities before you travel.
You don’t need a chip card to use your credit card in Canada, either. Yes, cards issued by Canadian banks use chip-and-PIN authentication. But merchants will be able to swipe a magnetic stripe card and validate the transaction with a signature, according to EMV Canada.
Here’s where you can use your credit card in Canada:
- Mastercard: Should be accepted everywhere credit cards are.
- Visa: Should be accepted everywhere credit cards are.
- American Express: Not quite as widely accepted as Mastercard or Visa, but over 90,000 places in Canada take Amex.
- Store Cards: Only usable at the merchant they’re associated with. If that merchant has locations in Canada, you should be able to use your card there.
If you’re going to use a credit card in Canada, Visa and Mastercard are your surest bets. You should also make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees so you don’t pay extra. With such a card on your side, you’ll be able to save an average of 3% on all purchases processed abroad.
This answer was first published on 03/13/18 and it was last updated on 08/25/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
