Which newcomer banking pathway fits your status?
Compare published status windows, pre-arrival routes and document requirements before choosing an account based on a cash bonus or temporary fee waiver.
Major-bank eligibility pages
CIBC newcomer banking eligibility
CIBC has distinct newcomer, foreign-worker and student routes, plus Smart Arrival for eligible applicants before landing.
Check eligibility →BMOBMO NewStart eligibility
BMO NewStart covers permanent residents and foreign workers in their first five years, while international students use the student route; all three can use the qualifying-country pre-arrival process.
Check eligibility →RBCRBC newcomer banking eligibility
RBC publishes newcomer banking for permanent residents and workers, a student route for international students, a pre-arrival account from eligible countries, and explicit no-credit-history card windows.
Check eligibility →ScotiabankScotiabank StartRight eligibility
Scotiabank StartRight covers permanent residents, foreign workers and international students, with a separate international-account process before arrival.
Check eligibility →Bank × newcomer-status answers
CIBC for permanent residents
CIBC currently offers the newcomer benefit to people who received landed immigrant or permanent resident status within the past 5 years. The published monthly-fee rebate is 24 months.
Open guide →CIBC for foreign workers
CIBC currently requires a Canadian work permit issued for at least a 12-month term for its foreign-worker newcomer route. The published monthly-fee rebate is 24 months.
Open guide →CIBC for international students
CIBC directs international students to its student banking offer. A study permit is also an accepted status for the CIBC Smart Arrival pre-arrival process.
Open guide →BMO for permanent residents
BMO currently states that its NewStart Performance Plan offer is open to permanent residents who arrived in Canada within the last 5 years. The published plan-fee rebate is 24 months.
Open guide →BMO for foreign workers
BMO currently states that NewStart is open to foreign workers who arrived in Canada within the last 5 years. The published plan-fee rebate is 24 months.
Open guide →BMO for international students
BMO currently offers no-monthly-fee student banking for qualifying full-time students for the length of the school program, with an additional year after graduation when eligibility is confirmed.
Open guide →RBC for permanent residents
RBC currently markets newcomer banking to permanent residents and publishes a first-year monthly-fee waiver on RBC Advantage Banking. The bank-account offer terms should be checked at application because promotional eligibility can change.
Open guide →RBC for foreign workers
RBC currently markets newcomer banking to temporary resident workers and publishes a first-year monthly-fee waiver on RBC Advantage Banking. Promotional eligibility should be checked at application.
Open guide →RBC for international students
RBC currently offers no-monthly-fee RBC Advantage Banking to qualifying full-time students and supports international students through its newcomer/pre-arrival program.
Open guide →Scotiabank for permanent residents
Scotiabank currently defines eligible permanent-resident newcomers as people who have lived in Canada for less than 5 years. The current Preferred Package StartRight offer waives the monthly fee for the first 12 months for eligible clients.
Open guide →Scotiabank for foreign workers
Scotiabank currently lists foreign workers as an eligible StartRight group. The current Preferred Package StartRight offer waives the monthly fee for the first 12 months for eligible clients.
Open guide →Scotiabank for international students
Scotiabank currently lists international students as an eligible StartRight group. Student-account and GIC options have their own terms.
Open guide →Can you open the account before landing?
Open CIBC before arriving in Canada
CIBC Smart Arrival lets eligible permanent residents, foreign workers and international students apply before arrival. CIBC currently requires arrival within the next 12 months, a valid passport, UCI and applicable Canadian immigration documents.
Check pre-arrival route →Open BMO before arriving in Canada
BMO currently allows eligible permanent residents, foreign workers and international students from qualifying countries to open a pre-arrival chequing account when coming to Canada within 12 months. The pre-arrival account is activated in Canada after arrival.
Check pre-arrival route →Open RBC before arriving in Canada
RBC currently lets eligible permanent residents, foreign workers and international students open an RBC Advantage Banking account before arrival, with arrival planned within 12 months. The account must later be activated in Canada.
Check pre-arrival route →Open Scotiabank before arriving in Canada
Scotiabank publishes a pre-arrival International Account pathway. Its newcomer guidance states applicants should be coming to Canada within 18 months and not be coming on a tourist or visitor visa.
Check pre-arrival route →Use the eligibility checker first
Newcomer Bank Eligibility Checker → screens the published pathways by status, time since arrival, work-permit term and pre-arrival timing.
Then compare the economics
Once you know which special routes may apply, compare what happens after the newcomer period. A 12- or 24-month fee waiver matters less if the normal account is expensive for the next several years.
Newcomer Bank Fee Calculator →
2026 Newcomer Banking Cost Study →
2026 Newcomer Bank Eligibility Reference →
Account access versus promotional eligibility
Not qualifying for a special newcomer offer does not automatically mean you cannot open a personal bank account. FCAC publishes separate basic-account access and identification rights. Bank-specific newcomer programs layer additional status, timing and document conditions on top.