Wise Debit Card Canada 2026: Fees, ATM Limits, Travel Use
TL;DR
Best general-purpose travel card for Canadians who don't have specific airline/hotel loyalty. $9 one-time fee, no monthly cost, near-mid-market FX, $350/mo free foreign ATMs. Pair it with a no-FX credit card (Wealthsimple Cash, Scotia Passport Visa Infinite) and you've covered every travel spend scenario.
The card economics
- Card issue fee: $9 CAD one-time
- Monthly fee: $0
- FX margin: 0.43% to ~0.65% above interbank, varies by corridor
- ATM withdrawals abroad: First $350 CAD/month free (max 2 transactions); after that ~$1.50 fixed + 1.75%
- Card replacement: $9 if lost/stolen (free if Wise's fault)
How spending actually works
When you tap the card in, say, Tokyo:
- Wise checks if you hold a JPY balance. If yes — paid from JPY directly with $0 conversion fee.
- If no JPY balance — Wise auto-converts from your CAD (or whichever currency you have) at near-mid-market plus the corridor fee.
- You get a real-time push notification with the exact CAD amount charged.
Pre-loading currencies is the power move. Going to Europe? Convert CAD → EUR in app at low cost before you fly. Then every spend in Europe is from your EUR balance with zero conversion at the point of sale.
Wise card vs major Canadian bank card abroad
Spend $2,000 in EUR over a 2-week trip:
| Card | FX margin | Cost on $2K | $200 ATM cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise debit | ~0.5% | $10 | $0 (within $350 free) |
| Scotia Passport Visa Infinite | 0% | $0 | Cash advance APR — avoid |
| Big-bank debit | 2.5% | $50 | $5+ each (3 ATMs = $15) |
| KOHO Spending | 1.5–2% | $30–40 | Plan-tier dependent |
For the math on different transfer/spend amounts, use our Wise fee calculator or the currency converter for live mid-market rates.
Security features
- Card freeze/unfreeze instantly in app
- Mastercard Zero Liability for unauthorized purchases
- Disposable virtual card numbers for online shopping
- Real-time transaction notifications
- Geographic spend limits configurable by user
Where the Wise card falls short
- No rewards. No cashback, no points. It's a cost-minimizer, not an earner.
- Not credit. Doesn't build credit history. Pair with a credit card for credit-building.
- Limited offline backup. If you lose the card abroad, replacement takes 2+ weeks. Always carry a backup card.
- ATM 2-per-month free cap. Heavy cash users will pay extra.
The optimal travel stack
- Wise card — for ATM withdrawals + small POS spend in foreign currency
- No-FX credit card — for big purchases (hotels, car rentals) where you want fraud protection and credit-card chargeback rights
- Backup card — kept separately in case primary card is lost/stolen
See more travel-card options in our credit card comparison.
Verdict
For any Canadian who travels more than once a year, the Wise card pays for itself on the first trip. It is, plainly, the best travel debit card available in Canada in 2026. Get the card, prefund the currencies you'll need, and stop paying 2.5% to your bank for the privilege of spending your own money abroad.
Related guides
Sources: Wise Canada card fee schedule, Mastercard Zero Liability terms. Fees and ATM thresholds change — verify in-app. We accept no referrals. Last reviewed: April 22, 2026.
Editorial disclaimer
This article is published by LoonieLabs for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal, accounting, or immigration advice and must not be relied on as such. Rules, dollar figures, interest rates, and program eligibility change — always verify with the Canada Revenue Agency, IRCC, or a qualified professional before acting. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy. Last reviewed: April 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written and reviewed by Shrey Patel — Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Winnipeg, MB · Figures cross-checked against official banking & credit sources · Last reviewed April 22, 2026 · LinkedIn
Founder of LoonieLabs · based in Winnipeg, MB · writes and reviews every page on the site I oversee every figure on this page personally — verified against primary sources (CRA, IRCC, Statistics Canada, the Bank of Canada, or the originating provincial ministry). LoonieLabs has no affiliate relationships with any bank, credit card, or immigration consultant featured on this site. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
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