The bonus landscape in 2026

• Referral credit: ~$25 cash to both referrer and referee after funding minimum is met
• Transfer-in reimbursement: up to $150 per account on $15,000+ transfers
• Periodic promotions: Wealthsimple occasionally runs limited-time match offers (e.g. 1% match on transfers in)
• Generation tier perks: tax filing, financial planning sessions, lower fees — bundled in, not paid as a one-time bonus

What the referral credit actually requires

1. Sign up via a friend's referral link (not a generic promo code)
2. Fund your account with the qualifying minimum within the deadline (typically 30 days)
3. Hold the funds for the required period (typically 30 days)
4. The credit lands in your Wealthsimple Cash account automatically

Wealthsimple periodically tweaks the minimum funding amount, the holding period, and the credit size. Always read the current terms on the referral page before you fund.

Transfer-in reimbursement — the bigger lever

This is where the real money is. If you're moving an RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, or non-registered account from another broker, Wealthsimple will cover the outgoing institution's transfer-out fee — typically $135 per account at the big banks, capped at $150.

Process: initiate the transfer in your Wealthsimple app → wait for it to settle (usually 2–6 weeks) → submit the fee receipt from your old institution via in-app support. The reimbursement is paid as a Cash credit.

See our full transfer-to-Wealthsimple walkthrough for the step-by-step.

Periodic promotions to watch for

• 1% transfer match: Wealthsimple periodically offers a 1% cash match on transfers above a threshold (e.g. $50K+). Limited windows, usually announced via email.
• Cash account boost rates: short-term high-rate offers on Wealthsimple Cash for new deposits
• Generation upgrades: waived management fees on transferred-in assets for the first year

What's NOT a real promo

Avoid sketchy "Wealthsimple coupon code" sites — Wealthsimple doesn't issue traditional coupon codes. Anything claiming "$500 free" with a code is almost always a referral-link redirect or a phishing attempt. Use the official app or the published referral page.

Tax treatment of Wealthsimple bonuses

• Non-registered account: taxable income — Wealthsimple may issue a T5 if material
• TFSA / RRSP / FHSA: the bonus uses contribution room. Stay under your annual limit.
• Transfer-in fee reimbursement: generally treated as a cost recovery, not income, when the original fee was non-deductible

Math: when transferring in is worth it

At $15K minimum, you save your old broker's transfer-out fee ($135–$150) AND skip the FX-margin hit on USD positions if you move to Premium. Add the (occasional) 1% match offer and the swing on a $50K transfer can be $700+. Use our Wealthsimple fee calculator to model the full-year savings.

Related guides

• Wealthsimple transfer bonus 2026
• How to transfer to Wealthsimple
• Wealthsimple fees explained 2026
• Wealthsimple Hub

Sources: Wealthsimple Help Center, official referral terms, Big-5 bank transfer-out fee schedules. Bonus terms change frequently — always read current Wealthsimple terms before funding. We do not accept referrals from Wealthsimple. Last reviewed: April 22, 2026.