Highlights
- 2x points on travel, gas, grocery and drugstore purchases
- One $100 Annual Travel Credit in each Cardmembership year
- Four complimentary Plaza Premium Lounge visits in each calendar year
Issuer: American Express
Network: Amex
Card type: Credit card
Annual fee: $250 for the Basic Card; the first Additional Gold Card is free, then $50 per year for each additional Card
Foreign transaction fee: Not disclosed by the bank in the audited official sources
The card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be valuable when transferred or redeemed well.
Related reading
🇨🇦 Canadian Amex Membership Rewards: A Complete Guide
Welcome offer
[Updated August 21, 2026] Up to 60,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points:
- During the first Cardmembership year, earn 5,000 points for each monthly billing period in which at least $1,000 in net purchases posts by the final day of that billing period.
- There can be up to 12 qualifying billing periods, for a maximum of 60,000 points.
Apply through the referral link 🔗 (This partner link supports the blog.)
Past welcome offers
[Updated November 15, 2025] 40,000-point welcome offer:
- Earn 40,000 points after $7,500 in purchases during the first three months
[Updated June 14, 2025] Apply by August 18, 2025 for up to 100,000 points:
- Earn 40,000 points after $7,500 in purchases during the first three months
- Earn 40,000 points after $30,000 in purchases during the first 12 months
- Earn 20,000 points after one purchase between months 15 and 17 of Cardmembership
[Updated January 2023] 110,000-point welcome offer:
- Earn 75,000 points after $5,000 in purchases during the first three months
- Earn 10,000 points for each quarter with $20,000 in purchases, for 40,000 points total
Everyday earning
3x: Eligible hotel or car-rental bookings made through the American Express Travel website where American Express Travel is the merchant earn 3 Membership Rewards® points per $1: the regular 2x rate plus one additional point. The Hotel Collection does not receive the extra point.
2x: Purchases at standalone Canadian gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores, as well as eligible travel services and bookings including air, water, rail and road transportation, lodging and tour operators, earn 2 points per $1. Local and commuter transportation is excluded. Superstores, wholesale clubs, alcohol retailers and general-merchandise retailers do not qualify when gas, grocery, drugstore or travel is not their primary business.
1x: Other eligible purchases at American Express retail merchants earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per $1. This also applies when the merchant is not recognized as an eligible category, the payment uses an electronic wallet or third-party payment/service, or the transaction is not directly with the provider. Returns and credits reduce points; interest, fees and cash-equivalent transactions do not earn points.
Benefits and insurance
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Annual Travel Credit
The Basic Cardmember can receive one $100 Annual Travel Credit in each Cardmembership year for travel bookings through American Express Travel Online. Check the booking page for current eligible uses and terms.
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Plaza Premium Lounge visits
Receive four complimentary visits per calendar year at Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada. Entry fees apply after the complimentary visits are used, and the available lounges and entry rules can change.
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NEXUS Card Statement Credit
Charge a NEXUS application or renewal fee to the Card and receive a $50 CAD statement credit.
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Gold or Rose Gold metal Card
The Card is a 13-gram stainless-steel Card, and you can choose Gold or Rose Gold when applying. The colour cannot be changed after the application is submitted.
Travel insurance
Official insurance certificate 🔗
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Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance
Available to Canadian residents covered by a government health plan who travel outside their home province. Travellers aged 64 or under on departure are covered for the first 15 consecutive days, up to $5,000,000 CAD per insured person per trip for reasonable and customary emergency medical expenses. Pre-existing-condition stability, eligibility and assistance-centre requirements affect coverage.
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Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
For a listed eligible reason, cancellation coverage is up to $1,500 per insured person and $3,000 combined. Interruption coverage is up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 combined. Prepaid arrangements must be charged to the Card, or paid with Membership Rewards® points with taxes charged as required; other rewards-program points are excluded. Eligible meals, accommodation and other out-of-pocket interruption or delay expenses are covered up to $100 per person per day and $1,000 combined.
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Flight and Baggage Delay & Hotel Burglary Insurance
The full ticket price must be charged to the Card. A missed connection, a departure delay of at least four hours, or denied boarding with no alternative within four hours can qualify for reasonable living expenses. Outbound checked baggage delayed more than six hours can qualify for essential clothing and sundries purchased within four days. The flight and baggage-delay limit is $500 per occurrence. Hotel accommodation must be paid in full with the Card; hotel burglary is covered up to $500 per occurrence.
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Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
When the full ticket price is charged to the Card, checked or carry-on baggage can be covered for loss, damage or theft during the air transportation period defined in the certificate. The limit is $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, including $300 for jewellery and $250 for golf clubs and bag. Electronics, cameras, cash and many other items are excluded.
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Travel Accident Insurance
The common-carrier fare must be charged to an American Express Card before the injury. Eligible accidental death or dismemberment is covered up to $500,000. The loss must occur within 100 days of the accident, and each insured person receives only the largest applicable benefit for an accident.
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Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
Charge the entire rental to the Card, or pay with Membership Rewards® points with applicable taxes charged to the Card, and decline the rental company’s CDW. Eligible cars, SUVs and minivans must have an MSRP below $85,000 CAD excluding tax, and each rental can last no more than 48 consecutive days. There is no deductible, but third-party liability is not included.
Purchase insurance
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Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
When the full price of an eligible item is charged to the Card, an original manufacturer’s warranty valid in Canada or the United States and lasting no more than five years can be extended by the length of the original warranty, up to one additional year. The limit is $10,000 per item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year.
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Purchase Protection® Plan
When at least part of a new item’s price is charged to the Card, direct physical damage or theft within 90 days of purchase may be covered. The limit is $1,000 per Cardmember per occurrence, subject to the certificate’s exclusions, other insurance and documentation requirements.
