Overview
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is one of the few premium Canadian travel credit cards that charges no foreign transaction fees — saving you 2.5% on every purchase made outside Canada. Combined with 6 complimentary airport lounge passes, robust insurance, and flexible Scene+ rewards, it's purpose-built for Canadians who travel internationally.
The current welcome offer delivers up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points (worth $500 in travel value) after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months and $10,000 in the first 6 months. For travellers tired of paying inflated foreign exchange markups, this card pays for itself quickly.
Earning Scene+ Points
The card earns Scene+ points on every purchase with bonus multipliers on popular categories:
- 4 Scene+ points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 at eligible grocery stores (Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, IGA, co-ops, and more)
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 on dining out and other eligible grocery stores
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 on eligible entertainment purchases (movies, theatre, ticket agencies)
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 on eligible transit options (rideshare, buses, taxis, subways, and more)
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Annual Spending Bonus
Big spenders are rewarded: when you spend $40,000 per year on the card, you receive a 10,000 Scene+ point bonus. For every additional $10,000 spent beyond that threshold, you earn another 2,000 bonus points.
What Are Scene+ Points Worth?
Scene+ points have consistent value across most travel redemption options:
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cineplex theatres | 1.0¢ | Movies and concessions |
| Recipe Unlimited restaurants | 1.0¢ | Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, Montana's, etc. |
| Any travel via Scene+ / Expedia | 1.0¢ | Best value — flights, hotels, packages |
| Sobeys stores | 1.0¢ | Pay with points at checkout |
| Any travel (credit/debit cardholders) | 1.0¢ | Book with any provider |
| Home Hardware | 1.0¢ | In-store redemption |
| Statement credits | 0.8¢ | Lower value — avoid if possible |
| Gift cards | 0.74¢ | Poorest value |
At 1.0¢/point, earning 2x on dining effectively gives you a 2% return — competitive for a no-FX-fee card in Canada.
Welcome Bonus Breakdown
The welcome offer is structured in two tiers:
| Tier | Requirement | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Spend $2,000 in the first 3 months | 40,000 Scene+ points |
| Tier 2 | Spend $10,000 in the first 6 months | 10,000 Scene+ points |
| Total | 50,000 Scene+ points |
The welcome bonus offer ends July 1, 2026. At 1.0¢/point, the 50,000 points are worth $500 in travel — a solid return that nearly covers four years of the annual fee.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This is the card's headline feature. While most Canadian credit cards charge a 2.5% foreign exchange markup on purchases in non-CAD currencies, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite charges 0%.
For context: on a $5,000 international trip, you'd save $125 compared to a card with the standard 2.5% fee. Frequent international travellers can easily save more than the $150 annual fee in FX savings alone.
Airport Lounge Access
The card includes 6 complimentary worldwide airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program, with access to 1,200+ global lounges. This is more generous than most cards at this price point — the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, for example, only offers 4 passes.
Insurance & Benefits
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite includes 11 types of insurance — one of the most comprehensive packages at the Visa Infinite tier:
- Travel emergency medical insurance — Up to $1,000,000 coverage for 25 days per trip (3 days if over 65)
- Travel accident insurance — $500,000 coverage
- Trip cancellation insurance — Up to $1,500
- Trip interruption insurance — Up to $1,500
- Flight delay insurance — Up to $500
- Baggage delay insurance — Up to $1,000
- Lost or stolen baggage insurance — Up to $1,000
- Hotel burglary insurance — Up to $1,000
- Car rental collision/loss damage waiver — Decline the rental company's coverage
- Purchase protection — 90 days
- Extended warranty — 1 additional year
Coverage Over Age 65
A standout detail: the card provides emergency medical coverage even for cardholders over age 65 (3 days of coverage), which is rare among Canadian travel credit cards. Cardholders over 75 are also covered under the same terms.
Visa Infinite Benefits
As a Visa Infinite cardholder, you also enjoy:
- Visa Infinite Hotel Collection — Free nights, room upgrades, and breakfast at luxury properties
- Visa Infinite Dining Series — Curated dining experiences at top Canadian restaurants
- Visa Infinite Wine Country — Complimentary tastings and wine deliveries
- Visa Concierge — 24/7 personal concierge service
Who Should Get This Card?
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is ideal if you:
- Travel internationally frequently and want to eliminate the 2.5% FX fee
- Shop at Sobeys, Safeway, or FreshCo and want 3x points on groceries
- Value lounge access — 6 annual passes is above average for this fee level
- Want flexible rewards — Scene+ points redeem across travel, dining, movies, and groceries
- Need medical insurance over age 65 — few other cards cover this
If you rarely travel outside Canada and don't shop at Sobeys-family stores, you may get better returns from a higher-earning card like the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite.
