Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? Yes! If you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you can open a bank account with proper identification and specific documents. As a temporary resident living, working, or studying in Canada, for instance, an international student studying at Create Career College, you are eligible to open a bank account.

It is always common for foreigners to ask the following questions:

Can foreigners open a bank account in Canada?
Can a non-resident open a bank account in Canada?
Can a tourist open a bank account in Canada?
Can a visitor open a bank account in Canada?

In this article, you will learn all about opening a bank account in Canada as a foreigner. Whether you are an international student or a skilled worker, you will find all the information you need in the following sections.

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Benefits of Opening a Canadian Bank Account

Visitors or non-residents having a bank account in Canada is beneficial. It is not a must to require you to have a Canadian bank account to study and work in Canada as a temporary resident. However, it would be much more convenient to hold a bank account while living in Canada.

Firstly, it is convenient and efficient to manage your finances while living, studying, or working in Canada. You can easily receive and manage your salary, pay bills, make transactions, and track expenses through a local bank account.

Secondly, having a Canadian bank account allows you to build a credit history, which is crucial for accessing loans, mortgages, and credit cards in the future. Establishing a positive credit history can enhance your financial opportunities in Canada.

Moreover, opening a bank account in Canada brings you opportunities for various banking services. You can access investment options, savings accounts, and other financial products that can help you grow your wealth and achieve your financial goals.

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Can a visitor open a bank account in Canada?

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? Yes, absolutely!

According to the Canadian government, non-residents holding valid temporary resident visas or permits have the right to open a bank account at various financial institutions. Foreigners hold the right to open a bank account regardless of whether you are currently employed, have funds to deposit immediately, or have experienced bankruptcy. The bank account can be opened in person, online, or through telephone banking. The bank will verify your identity using appropriate identification methods.

International students studying at the Create Career College for any 2-year diploma program are eligible to open a bank account in Canada. We offer a wide range of 2-year diploma program, which combines 1-year academic studies and 1-year co-op experience.

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What do you need to open a bank account?

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? Newcomers always wonder, “What do I need to open a bank account?” Actually, the required identification and documentation depends on what your designated financial institution requested. Thus, please make sure you had asked what additional documents you may need before opening a bank account.

Here are the documents you need to prepare if you are a foreigner opening a Canadian bank account!

Valid passport
Valid work, study, or resident permit
Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Optional to bring if you have any:

Driver’s License (Local/International)
Identifying documents issued by a governmental authority
Canadian address

Which bank should I go to?

After asking yourself “Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada?”, it is important to carefully research and consider the credibility of different bank institutions before opening an account, especially as a visitor or temporary resident. Not all banks offer the same services, fees, or account options, so please compare and evaluate your options.

Consider factors such as the bank’s reputation, customer reviews, accessibility of branches and ATMs, fees and charges associated with the account, available services (online banking, mobile apps, etc.), and any specific requirements or benefits that may be relevant to your situation.

By conducting thorough research and due diligence, you can make an informed decision and choose a reputable bank that meets your banking needs while ensuring the safety and security of your funds.

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Best Bank for visitor to Open Account in Canada

The Big Five Banks are the five largest banks in Canada. They are:

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
Scotiabank
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank)

Here are the other commonly used local banks in Canada:

National Bank of Canada
Canadian Western Bank

Newcomer Offers

Many banks in Canada offer newcomer offers and services to foreigners who are new to the country. These offers are designed to support and assist newcomers to set up their financial lives in Canada. Specific offers vary among different banks. It is recommended to research and compare the offerings of different banks to find the one that best suits your needs as a newcomer to Canada.

Opening Bank Account Online in Canada

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? Can a foreigner open a bank account online? Although some banks offer online or remote account opening options, it is recommended to visit a physical branch to open a bank account, especially for newcomers.

Visiting a branch in person allows you to interact directly with bank staff, ask questions, and provide any necessary identification or documents. It can provide a more personalized experience and allow for immediate assistance if needed.

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What to expect when opening an account in Canada?

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? Before opening a bank account as a foreigner, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your account requirements and eligibility. Non-residency and limited documentation may result in certain restrictions on the account functions. Therefore, it is crucial to ask yourself the following questions before proceeding with the account opening process and maintain open communication with your chosen financial institution to ensure a clear understanding of the account’s capabilities.

Questions to ask yourself before you open a bank account as a foreigner in Canada

Are there any charges for each transaction?
What are the fees for taking money from ATMs?
Any limit on the number of transactions each month?
Any limit on transferring money from a saving account to a chequing account?
Any monthly fees for owning a bank account and how much deposit should I put in the bank to exclude the monthly fee?
Do I need to apply in person?
Do I need to bring the original document or should I bring a copy?
Am I eligible for applying for a debit card or a credit card? (Can international students apply for credit card?)
Do I need to place a certain amount of unmovable deposit into my account at first?
Is there an online banking service or mobile banking?
Does the bank provide multi-currency?

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What if I do not have a SIN as a visitor?

SIN refers to Social Insurance Number. It is a 9-digit number issued by the Government of Canada that uniquely identifies your income or taxes. Meanwhile, tourists with Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) are not eligible to apply for a SIN. Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada without a SIN?

If you apply for an interest-earning account in Canada, you must provide a SIN. This is because interest earned on your account is considered taxable income, and the financial institution is obligated to report this information to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). However, as long as you are not applying to open an interest-earning account, you are not required to provide SIN.

Tourists can open bank accounts even if they do not own a SIN, but depending on the financial institutions of their choice.

What are the common banking fees and service charges?

After answering “Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada?”, foreigners should also know what are the banking fees and service charges. When comparing different bank institutions, one of the considering factors is all the different fees you may possibly pay in the future. It is essential to recognize all the fees that associate with your daily usage in bank accounts, or else you might accidentally lose a significant amount of money to the bank!

Here are the 4 most common fees you need to be aware of when you have a bank account in Canada!

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Monthly fee or service fee

Many banks will charge a monthly fee for holding a bank account in Canada. But nowadays most banks would exclude your monthly fee if you consistently hold a certain amount of money in your bank account every month. With the uprising number of newcomers, many banks in Canada also eliminate this charge for the first few months if you have just come to Canada. Make sure you ask your bank beforehand as it might save you some money!

ATM transaction fee

Some banks in Canada have a limited number of ATM transactions per account which means you will need to pay an extra fee every time you withdraw money from the ATM if you exceed the limits. Moreover, most banks will charge a non-network ATM transaction fee. In other word, if you withdraw money from an ATM that’s not your bank, you are required to pay an extra fee. However, this fee could be easily avoided as long as you use the ATM of your bank or cash out when you pay with your debit card in a cash register.

Overdraft fee

Sometimes you might mistakenly use more than you have in your bank account without knowing it. Instead of directly declining your payment, some banks will actually cover the payment and ask for an overdraft fee afterward which may cost you more than you should pay. To prevent such a situation from happening, you could simply request your bank to set up a direct deposit which allows your account to automatically be charged with the required amount of money. This could help maintain your account’s minimum balance and prevent being charged with overdraft fees.

Interac E-transfer fee

Canadians often use a fund transfer service called “Interac E-transfer”. It allows you to receive or send funds across different banks or financial institutions. However, some banks may put the hidden fee in the transactions. Therefore, you might want to make sure there are no limits or charges associated with Interac E-transfer.

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How possible will the bank reject the application?

Can a visitor open a bank account in Canada? Yes! However, there is a possibility that the bank may reject your application. In case of rejection, they must send you a written letter of rejection clearly explaining the reasons for refusal and the contacts of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

A bank may decline your application to open a bank account if any of the following conditions apply:

The bank has reasonable grounds to suspect that you intend to use the account for illegal or fraudulent activities.
You have a history of engaging in illegal or fraudulent activities with financial service providers within the past seven years.
The bank has reason to believe that you knowingly provided false information during the application process.
The bank determines that you pose a potential risk of causing physical harm, harassment, or abuse to other customers or its employees.
If you do not already have an account, and the bank only offers accounts that require a linkage to an existing account with another bank, they may decline your application.
If you refuse to cooperate with the bank’s efforts to verify the validity of the identification documents you provided.
In the case of a federal credit union, if you do not agree to become a member as requested by the bank.

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Can a visitor open a bank account in Canada: Conclusion

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Canada? The answer is Yes! Opening a bank account as a foreigner could be easier than you think! If you have any questions about opening an account, call your bank institution beforehand!