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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Credit Card Review [Updated 2019]

If you're looking for a travel rewards card and spend more than $40,000 annually on your card, then the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card may be for you.
Rack up rewards points quickly with a signup bonus of 25,000 points, annual bonus points awarded when you spend over $40,000 annually and double the rewards on groceries, dining, entertainment, and daily transit. The rewards points can be redeemed for travel, used for merchandise at Scotia Rewards or converted to Scene points for redemption at Cineplex movie theatres.
The extra rewards points and the additional perks that come from this premium card are what makes the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card stand out among its peers.
PROS
- Earn 2 rewards points on every $1 spent on groceries, dining, entertainment, and daily transit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 10,000 bonus rewards points when you spend at least $40,000 in purchases annually and 2,000 bonus rewards points for every additional $10,000 in annual spending
CONS
- An annual fee of $139
- Must spend $1,000 to get 25,000 bonus points
- Must maintain a credit limit of at least $5,000 on the card and have a minimum annual income of $60,000
SIGNUP BONUS
In addition to earning double the rewards points for every single dollar spent on groceries, dining, entertainment, and daily transit, cardholders also get 25,000 bonus points when they spend $1,000 or more on everyday purchases within three months of acquiring this credit card. There's also the annual bonus rewards points of 10,000 points for the first $40,000 spent annually and 2,000 points for each additional $10,000 above that.
All these points can be redeemed for travel through Scotia Rewards Travel Service, a full-service travel agency or for travel anywhere, anytime, with no travel restrictions. Just keep in mind that you have to spend at least $1,000 to get the 25,000 bonus points. If you can’t pay that $1,000 off in a timely manner, it will accumulate interest and grow as a debt over time.

ANNUAL FEE
With a $139 annual fee, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card does have a higher annual fee than some other travel rewards cards in Canada which typically come with a $99 fee.
However, the increased rewards and annual bonus points help to offset the cost of the annual fee. Also, there is no fee for the first supplementary card and $50 for each supplementary card thereafter which can help cut down on costs if planning to share the account with others.
INTEREST RATES
The annual percentage rate (APR), or interest charged for purchases of 19.99% and 22.99% on balance transfers and cash advances are fairly standard for Canadian travel rewards cards. Note that interest rates will increase to 24.99% on purchases and 27.99% on cash advances and balance transfers if you don't make the minimum payment by the payment due date 2 or more times in any 12 month period.
One area where the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card stands out is its 0% foreign transaction fee. Having no foreign exchange markup makes it a great card to take travelling and isn't that the point of having a travel rewards card after all?
APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age. You must also not have declared bankruptcy in the past 7 years.
All the above are standard approval requirements for Canadian credit cards. However, to qualify for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card you must also agree to a minimum credit limit on the card of $5,000 and have a personal annual income of at least $60,000 or an annual household income of at least $100,000 or have at least $250,000 in assets under management.
OTHER FEATURES
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card comes with even more features to help out while travelling. Added features include preferred rates and privileges on rental cars, hotels, and dining through the Avis Preferred Plus membership and Visa Infinite benefits.
The card also comes with comprehensive travel protection in the form of a range of insurances to cover unexpected travel costs including travel emergency medical insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
WHO SHOULD NOT GET THIS CARD
If you're looking for a low-interest rate, low-fee credit card or you don't spend a significant amount on your credit card every year then the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card isn't for you.
It's a credit card for those with above-average incomes who end up spending a lot on their credit cards every year to maximize the rewards value and offset the slightly higher annual fee.
ALTERNATIVE CARD: American Express Cobalt Card
A comparable card is the American Express Cobalt card. It offers more rewards points in several categories, a similar signup bonus, and a similar annual fee but with a comparably low introductory interest rate.
The American Express Cobalt card has an introductory rate of 7.99% for the first 6 months and 5 times the rewards points for purchases at eligible grocery stores and restaurants. With a monthly fee of $10 ($120 annually) and similar other features to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card, the American Express Cobalt card is a good alternative especially if your spending doesn't cross $40,000/year.
CONCLUSION
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card offers good travel rewards especially the more you spend annually. With its 0% foreign transaction fee and other travel perks it's great for big spenders who like to travel a lot and get the most out of their rewards card.
With a good signup bonus of 25,000 points and the flexibility to use those points on travel with no travel restrictions as well as several other ways to utilize the points, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card will help offset the cost of that next trip.
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