If you want to stop paying 2.5% foreign transaction fees on international spending, these are Canada’s two most recommended no-FX-fee cards: the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite ($150/year, with lounge access and Scene+ earn) and the Home Trust Preferred Visa ($0/year, 1% cash back, no perks). They’re not really competitors — they serve completely different roles. But many Canadians want to know which one to hold, and whether paying $150 is worth it over a free card.
Quick Verdict
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | Home Trust Preferred Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Choose if | You travel 2+ times a year, value lounge access, and want to earn Scene+ on spending | You want zero cost and just need to eliminate FX fees as a backup card |
| Annual fee | $150 | $0 |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | Home Trust Preferred Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $0 |
| Additional cardholder | $0 | $0 |
| Income requirement | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household | None |
| Network | Visa Infinite | Visa |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Cash back / points earn | 2x Scene+ all purchases | 1% cash back (CAD purchases) |
| Airport lounge passes | 6 per year (Visa Airport Companion) | None |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive Visa Infinite package | None |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% | 19.99% |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 60,000 Scene+ points | None / verify at hometrust.ca |
The Core Question: Is the $150 Annual Fee Justified?
The Scotiabank Passport offers value beyond just eliminating FX fees. Here’s what you get for the $150:
| Benefit | Annual Value |
|---|---|
| No FX fee (vs 2.5% on $5,000 international spend) | $125 saved |
| 6 airport lounge passes (DragonPass — ~$35/visit value) | $210 value |
| Scene+ earn on all spending (2x vs Home Trust’s 1%) | Varies |
| Comprehensive travel insurance (medical, trip cancel, etc.) | Significant peace-of-mind value |
| Welcome bonus (up to 60,000 pts = ~$600) | First-year only |
If you use the lounge passes even twice, the card is cash-flow positive versus its annual fee. For frequent travellers, the Passport’s $150 is straightforwardly worth it.
When Home Trust wins: If you travel once a year or less, never use airport lounges, and already have travel insurance through another card or your employer — the Home Trust Preferred is the right call. You get the same FX-fee elimination for free, with 1% cash back on Canadian purchases.
Earn Rates on Foreign Spending
| Card | Foreign spend earn |
|---|---|
| Scotiabank Passport | 2x Scene+ = 2 cents in Scene+ value per dollar |
| Home Trust Preferred | 1% cash back (verify FX purchase eligibility at hometrust.ca) |
The Passport earns more on foreign purchases too — 2 Scene+ cents per dollar vs Home Trust’s 1% cash back. For a $5,000 international trip, the Passport earns ~$100 in Scene+; Home Trust earns ~$50 in cash back. This is before counting the lounge and insurance benefits.
Travel Insurance: A Major Differentiator
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite includes a full Visa Infinite travel insurance package:
| Coverage | Scotiabank Passport | Home Trust Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical (out of province/country) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Trip cancellation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Trip interruption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Common carrier accident | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rental car collision/loss | ✓ | ✗ |
| Purchase protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Extended warranty | ✓ | ✗ |
The Home Trust Preferred Visa has no travel insurance. For Canadians without travel medical coverage from an employer or provincial plan, travelling without emergency medical insurance is a serious risk. This alone can justify the Passport’s $150 annual fee — comprehensive travel medical insurance typically costs $50–$150 for a single trip through standalone policies.
Accessibility
| Scotiabank Passport | Home Trust Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Income requirement | $60,000 personal | None |
| Application availability | Always available | Periodically paused — verify at hometrust.ca |
Home Trust occasionally pauses new applications for the Preferred Visa. If you need a no-FX card right now, don’t rely on Home Trust’s availability — the Scotiabank Passport is a guaranteed option.
Bottom Line
Choose Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite if:
- You travel internationally 2+ times a year
- You’d use airport lounge passes (6 free passes per year)
- You don’t have travel medical insurance through another source
- You want a Visa card that earns rewards on both Canadian and international spending
Choose Home Trust Preferred Visa if:
- You only need a backup card to eliminate FX fees at zero cost
- You already have travel insurance through work or another card
- You don’t qualify for the $60,000 income threshold on the Passport
- You travel infrequently and won’t use lounge passes
Consider both: Some Canadians hold the Passport as their primary travel card and the Home Trust Preferred as a backup Visa for specific international merchants — particularly during first years when the Passport welcome bonus alone justifies the $150 fee several times over.
See Full Reviews
Related Articles
- Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards in Canada
- Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada
- Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Canada
Card details current as of June 2026. Home Trust application availability, earn rates, and Scotiabank welcome bonus amounts change — verify with each issuer before applying. See our Advertiser Disclosure.