American Express does not publish a minimum income requirement for any of its Canadian personal credit cards. Unlike TD, RBC, or CIBC — which require $60,000–$150,000 for premium Visa cards — Amex makes all cards available to all applicants based on creditworthiness rather than a stated income floor.
However, approval is not guaranteed. Amex will assess your full credit profile — credit score, existing debt, payment history, and income — and may approve you for a lower credit limit rather than decline outright.
Amex Canada Card Income Requirements
| Card | Annual Fee | Stated Income Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Amex Platinum Card | $799 | None stated |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card | $599 | None stated |
| Amex Business Platinum Card | $899 | None stated |
| Amex Gold Rewards Card | $250 | None stated |
| Amex Business Gold Rewards Card | $199 | None stated |
| Amex Cobalt Card | $155.88/yr ($12.99/mo) | None stated |
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred Card | $119.88/yr ($9.99/mo) | None stated |
| Amex SimplyCash Card | $0 | None stated |
What “No Stated Income Requirement” Means in Practice
Amex’s approval model is credit-based rather than income-threshold-based. In practice:
- The Amex Cobalt and SimplyCash cards are frequently approved for applicants with good credit (600+) and moderate incomes
- The Amex Gold and Platinum are premium cards — applicants with higher incomes, lower debt-to-income ratios, and strong credit histories will have better approval odds
- Amex may approve you with a lower credit limit rather than declining outright — this can be increased later with demonstrated payment history
Monthly Fee Structure (Cobalt and SimplyCash Preferred)
Two Amex cards charge monthly fees rather than a single annual fee:
| Card | Monthly Fee | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt Card | $12.99/month | $155.88/year |
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred Card | $9.99/month | $119.88/year |
This monthly billing means you can cancel mid-year and pay only for the months you held the card — unlike annual fee cards where the fee is charged upfront.
Comparison with Canadian Banks
| Issuer | Premium Card Income Requirement |
|---|---|
| American Express | None stated |
| CIBC, TD | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household (Visa Infinite) |
| RBC, BMO | $80,000 personal / $150,000 household (World Elite) |
| Scotiabank | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household (Visa Infinite) |
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Approval decisions are at Amex’s sole discretion. Stated requirements current as of June 2026. See our Advertiser Disclosure.