Review BMO's NewStart Program: signup bonus, free period, and credit-card access without Canadian credit history.
BMO Canada Newcomers — BMO NewStart Program (2026)
Free guide
Updated April 2026
Newcomer banking
Credit card · no Canadian credit needed
BMO's NewStart Program packages 12 months of free Performance Plan chequing with up to $400 cash, AIR MILES bonuses, and the BMO CashBack Mastercard for Newcomers — no Canadian credit history needed.
BMO NewStart Program — at a glance
Signup bonus
Up to $400 cash + AIR MILES bonus
Free period
12 months free BMO Performance Plan
After free period
$17.95/mo (downgrade to Practical Plan $4.00 or Plus Plan free with $4k balance)
Branch network
~900 branches across Canada plus a US division (BMO Bank N.A. / Harris Bank)
Open from abroad?
Yes — apply before arriving
Eligibility
Permanent residents, foreign workers, and international students within their first 5 years in Canada.
BMO credit card for newcomers — no Canadian credit history?
BMO CashBack Mastercard for Newcomers — no Canadian credit history needed, 3% cash back on groceries, $0 annual fee.
You technically don't need a SIN to open the account either — federal regulations only require two pieces of valid ID (passport plus work or study permit is enough). You'll add your SIN later for tax-slip reporting (T5 / T3), but it's not a barrier to getting the account or the credit card on day one. For the full breakdown of newcomer cards across all Big Six banks, see our guide to credit cards for newcomers without a SIN.
What BMO NewStart Program actually gives you
Up to $400 cash welcome bonus + AIR MILES
Unsecured BMO CashBack Mastercard with no Canadian credit history
12-month free safety deposit box included
BMO US division (Harris Bank) — useful if you'll spend time in Chicago, Phoenix, or other US cities BMO covers
Multilingual staff at most urban branches
Honest tradeoffs
AIR MILES portion of the bonus requires 2 direct deposits within 3 months
After-promo monthly fee ($17.95) is the highest of the Big Six
How to open BMO NewStart Program
Start the application online from your home country at the official BMO newcomer page. You'll need your passport, immigration document number, and a Canadian destination address (a friend's place, a hotel, or your Airbnb works).
Within 90 days of arriving in Canada, visit a BMO branch with two pieces of valid ID to verify in person and pick up your debit card.
Apply for the BMO newcomer credit card during the same branch appointment — most newcomers don't realize this is a separate application, so ask the account opener to start it the same day.
Set up direct deposit and at least two pre-authorized bill payments within the first 90 days to trigger the full welcome bonus.
Set a calendar reminder for month 11 — the account typically flips to $17.95 once the promotional period ends. Either downgrade in branch or move your direct deposit to a no-fee bank like EQ Bank or Tangerine.
For a full side-by-side of all 11 newcomer accounts (Big Six plus EQ Bank, Tangerine, Simplii, Wealthsimple, and Neo), see our pillar guide to the best banks for newcomers to Canada in 2026. If you're earlier in the journey, the newcomer financial checklist walks through bank, SIN, credit, and tax setup in order.
FAQ
Verified 2026-04-19 against BMO's official newcomer landing page · No affiliate relationship · Confirm current promotional terms directly with the bank before applying.