No foreign transaction fees
Most Canadian credit cards charge 2.5% on purchases made in a foreign currency. On a $5,000 international trip, that is $125 in fees. On $10,000 in annual foreign-currency spending, it is $250. The Passport Visa Infinite eliminates this entirely. The saving grows proportionally with how much you spend internationally, and it applies to online purchases in foreign currencies as well as in-person transactions abroad.
No foreign transaction fee is the primary reason this card appears on most recommended card lists for Canadian travellers. Very few Visa or Mastercard products in Canada offer this feature. It stacks on top of the earn rate: you still earn Scene+ points on international purchases, and you pay no currency conversion surcharge.
Earn rates
The card earns at three tiers. Sobeys-owned grocery banners (Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods) earn 3x Scene+ points. Grocery stores outside those banners, restaurants, bars, food delivery, entertainment (movies, streaming, sporting events), and transit (buses, subways, taxis, rideshare) earn 2x. Everything else earns 1x.
| Spending category | Earn rate | Points per $100 spent |
|---|---|---|
| Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods | 3x Scene+ | 300 pts |
| Groceries (other stores) | 2x Scene+ | 200 pts |
| Dining and food delivery | 2x Scene+ | 200 pts |
| Entertainment | 2x Scene+ | 200 pts |
| Transit (bus, subway, taxi, rideshare) | 2x Scene+ | 200 pts |
| Everything else | 1x Scene+ | 100 pts |
Scene+ points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through the Scotia Rewards travel portal, or for statement credits against travel purchases charged to the card. This makes the math straightforward: 200 points equals $2 in travel value.
Key benefits
Lounge access
The Visa Airport Companion program (powered by DragonPass) provides access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. The six annual passes cover any mix of lounges in the network. Each pass admits one person; there is no built-in guest policy beyond using a second pass. Passes expire at the end of the card year and do not carry forward.
Six passes covers three return trips per year with one lounge visit each way. For a cardholder who takes more than three international trips per year, the included passes run out and additional visits are charged at the DragonPass standard rate (typically US$32–$45 per visit depending on the lounge). Cardholders who want unlimited lounge access should compare the Amex Aeroplan Reserve or TD/CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, which both offer unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access for Air Canada travel.
Scene+ points
Scene+ is a flexible rewards program operated by Scotiabank and Empire Company (the parent of Sobeys). Points earn at everyday spend and redeem for travel, movies, dining at participating restaurants, and grocery purchases at Sobeys-owned stores. The travel redemption rate is 1 cent per point against any travel purchase charged to the card, with no blackout dates and no seat restrictions.
Points do not transfer to airline loyalty programs like Aeroplan. If your goal is to accumulate Aeroplan miles for Air Canada redemptions, the TD, CIBC, or Amex Aeroplan cards are the more direct route. The Passport Visa Infinite suits cardholders who want flexible travel redemptions without being locked into a single airline program.
Travel insurance
- Emergency medical: up to $1,000,000 (3 days if age 65+)
- Travel accident: up to $500,000
- Trip cancellation: up to $1,500 per person
- Trip interruption: up to $1,500 per person
- Flight delay: up to $500 per person
- Baggage delay: up to $1,000 per person
- Lost or stolen baggage: up to $1,000 per person
- Hotel / motel burglary: up to $1,000 per person
- Rental car theft and damage: coverage applies
- Purchase protection: 90 days
- Extended warranty: 1 additional year
The 3-day emergency medical limit for travellers aged 65 and older is a significant constraint. Supplemental insurance is strongly recommended for that age group on any trip longer than three days. Always review the certificate of insurance before departure.
What the earn math looks like
A cardholder spending $2,500 per month, split across typical categories:
| Category | Monthly spend | Rate | Monthly points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobeys / IGA / Safeway | $400 | 3x | 1,200 pts |
| Dining and food delivery | $300 | 2x | 600 pts |
| Transit | $100 | 2x | 200 pts |
| All other spending | $1,700 | 1x | 1,700 pts |
| Total | $2,500 | 3,700 pts / mo |
44,400 Scene+ points per year at this spend mix. At 1 cent per point redeemed for travel, that is $444 in travel value against a $150 annual fee. Add the FX fee saving on international spend and the six lounge passes (worth roughly $30–$45 each), and the card pays for itself several times over for most travellers.
Good fit if
- You spend in foreign currencies regularly, whether travelling internationally or shopping online from foreign retailers.
- You shop at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, or FreshCo and want a grocery bonus rate that stacks with the no-FX benefit.
- You want flexible travel redemptions without being tied to a single airline program like Aeroplan.
Less useful if
- You primarily fly Air Canada and want to accumulate Aeroplan points: Scene+ does not transfer to Aeroplan, so a TD, CIBC, or Amex Aeroplan card earns more directly toward Air Canada redemptions.
- You need more than six lounge visits per year: the included passes run out quickly for frequent travellers, and unlimited access requires a premium card.
- You do not travel internationally or shop in foreign currencies: the no-FX-fee benefit, the card’s main differentiator, provides no value if all your spending is in Canadian dollars.