RBC Banking for International students
Current pathway: Student banking route.
Which RBC program applies?
RBC Advantage Banking for 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.
Documents to prepare
- Study permit or accepted IRCC document
- Letter of Acceptance or Confirmation of Enrolment for applicable pre-arrival applications
- Valid passport
Credit-card note
RBC currently publishes a no-Canadian-credit-history card path for international students who arrived within the last 12 months, subject to eligibility and credit criteria.
Can you apply 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.
See RBC pre-arrival requirements →
If you do not qualify for the special newcomer offer
FCAC states that a person may be able to open a bank account with proper identification even if they are not a Canadian citizen or live in another country. Special newcomer promotions have narrower bank-specific eligibility than the underlying right to seek a basic account.
This matters because a five-year newcomer window, minimum work-permit term or student-program rule can determine whether you receive a promotion without necessarily deciding whether an ordinary personal account can be opened.
Primary sources
RBC — New to Canada →
RBC pre-arrival banking →
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Opening a bank account →
Next step: compare costs
RBC newcomer account fee calculator →
Check all four major-bank pathways →
See the full eligibility reference →
Research snapshot: September 13, 2026. This page screens published eligibility language; it does not guarantee account opening or credit approval.