Branch Safety and Account Opening Options
For the health and safety of our communities and employees, we have introduced new safety protocols in some branches and temporarily closed others.
To address the challenges facing newcomers, we are happy to schedule an appointment to open a bank account by phone, video conference or in branch.
Settle in Faster with the RBC Newcomer Advantage^Disclaimer
As one of Canada’s largest banks3Disclaimer with over 150 years serving newcomers—we have learned what you need when you first arrive in Canada. With the RBC Newcomer Advantage^Disclaimer you can get what you need for a strong financial start in Canada.
Get Started With an RBC Advantage Banking Account
Get no-monthly-fee banking2Disclaimer
Unlimited Debit Transactions in Canada
Plus
- Free Interac e-Transfer transactions6Disclaimer , 7Disclaimer
- No RBC fee to use another bank’s ATM in Canada8Disclaimer , 9Disclaimer
- Send $0 fee International Money Transfers as often as you want.4Disclaimer Send money to almost any country in the world, including, India, China, and the Philippines13.
- Enjoy the Value Program at no additional cost: Shop online and in-store with your enrolled account to earn Avion Rewards points on debit.12Disclaimer
- Free Small Safe Deposit Box for 1 year5Disclaimer. Offer ends February 28, 2025. Subject to availability.
Ask about our other bank accounts when you talk to an RBC Advisor
Add a Credit Card – No Credit History Required1Disclaimer
Banking in Canada begins with building a credit history to qualify for loans after you open a chequing account.
Ask about our other credit cards when you talk to an RBC Advisor
- Up to $15,000 credit limit*Disclaimer
No credit history required for RBC personal banking clients1Disclaimer. Higher credit limits are subject to higher income and asset requirements. - No annual fee
- Get 10% bonus cash back for the first 3 months (up to a maximum spend of $2,000) with a new RBC Cash Back Mastercard†. That’s up to 12% cash back on grocery store purchases for the first three months and up to 11% on all other purchases for the first three months†. Offer ends February 28, 2025.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Additional Card: $0
- Purchase Interest Rate: 20.99%
- Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99% (21.99% if you reside in Quebec)
ADDITIONAL CREDIT CARD FEES:
- Cash Advance Fee: $5.00
- Balance Transfer Promotional Rate Fee: Up to 3% of transaction amount
- Dishonoured Payment Fee: $45.00
- Overlimit Fee: $29.00 (fee does not apply if you reside in Quebec)
- Additional Copies: $5.00 for Monthly Statement, $1.50 for Statement Updates at the ATM, $2.00 for Transaction Receipts
- Installment Plan Fee: If applicable, either a (i) one-time fee of up to 3% of total purchase amount, or (ii) monthly fee of up to 1.15% of total purchase amount (fee does not apply if you reside in Quebec).
Easy and convenient to earn cash back even after the offer period.
- Up to 2% cash back on grocery store purchases29Disclaimer
- Up to 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases and pre-authorized payments29Disclaimer
No limit to what you can get back
That’s right – get unlimited cashback30Disclaimer. Plus, your cash back credits accumulate automatically so you don’t need to keep track.
Save and earn faster with offers
Load personalized offers from great brands before you shop to get cash savings or to earn bonus Avion points faster31Disclaimer.
Talk to an advisor at an RBC branch about this offer or other eligible credit cards that are suited for you.
Bank How You Want, When You Want
RBC Online Banking17Disclaimer
RBC Mobile17Disclaimer
The largest combined branch and ATM network across Canada
Get the RBC Newcomer Advantage
Start by Opening an RBC Advantage Banking Account
Service available in up to 200 languages.
Start Opening an AccountFAQs
Documents accepted for proof of status in Canada. Please bring any one to the appointment:
- Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM Form #1000)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM Form #5292/5688)
- Temporary Work Permit (IMM Form #1442/1102)
- Study Permit (IMM Form #1208)
- Permanent Resident Card
We also require one of the following as proof of identity:
- A valid passport (Foreign passports are accepted)
- Canadian Driver’s License
- Provincial photo ID cards
- Provincial Health Insurance Cards in the province of British Columbia (BC).
- Canadian Government ID Card
Please note: if you have documentation other than listed above you may still be eligible to open an account, please contact us for details.
Yes, newcomers can open a credit card account in the branch. Please ask the advisor for more details.
Need Some Additional Help?
Book a virtual appointment with an advisor 1-888-404-5143
Your credit limit will be based on financially related information about you, including income and asset information. Offer available to RBC personal deposit accountholders who are (i) permanent residents who arrived in Canada within the last 12 months, or (ii) temporary resident workers who arrived in Canada within the last 48 months, applying for a new RBC Royal Bank personal credit card (excluding the RBC Rate Advantage Visa). Existing RBC Royal Bank personal credit card cardholders are not eligible. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to cancel, modify or withdraw this offer at any time. Higher credit limits are subject to higher income and asset requirements.
Available to newcomers to Canada who are Eligible Personal Clients and do not have an existing credit card account with Royal Bank of Canada.
“Eligible Personal Client” means a client who meets all of the following conditions:
- Is a newcomer to Canada having arrived in Canada within the last five years of the date an Eligible Personal Banking Account is opened. Must show proof of entry into Canada and provide supporting documents such as landing papers or permanent resident card;
- Is a resident of Canada and is of the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of the date that an Eligible Personal Banking Account is opened. Residence is determined by the jurisdiction (province or territory) where a person has their primary tax filing obligation based on their regular place of residence; and,
- Does not have an existing Personal Banking Account with us.
For full details, including defined terms, visit https://www.rbc.com/newcomers/_assets-custom/pdf/Terms-and-Conditions.pdf(PDF opens in new window).
Available to newcomers who are (i) permanent residents or international students who arrived in Canada within the last 12 months, or (ii) temporary resident workers who arrived in Canada within the last 48 months, provided you meet all of the eligibility and credit criteria of Royal Bank of Canada.
You must apply for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard by February 28, 2025, at an RBC Royal Bank branch, and be approved by us. You will earn an additional $10.00 back for every $100.00 (10% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases (including pre-authorized bill payments) charged on your RBC Cash Back Mastercard account within the first 3 months of account opening, up to a maximum total combined spend of $2,000 (“Welcome Bonus”). Thereafter, the standard Cash Back Credit earn rates of up to 2% on Grocery Store Purchases and up to 1% on other Net Purchases (that are not Grocery Store Purchases) apply. The Welcome Bonus is in addition to the standard Cash Back Credit earn rates. Cash Back Credits are not earned on cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the cash back credits earned by the amounts originally charged. The Welcome Bonus will appear on your next monthly statement after it was earned, and will be credited as set out in disclosure 29 (below). For complete details on the RBC Cash Back Program including standard earn rates and crediting of Cash Back Rewards, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions at www.rbc.com/cashbackterms(PDF). Offer applies to new RBC Cash Back Mastercard accounts only.
One offer per eligible account. Existing cardholders of any RBC personal credit card, applying for or transferring to an RBC Cash Back Mastercard card, are not eligible for this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer except as otherwise set out. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to modify, cancel or withdraw this offer at any time. This offer may be revoked at any time if we suspect you may be manipulating or abusing it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by Royal Bank of Canada in its sole discretion.
An RBC Royal Bank credit card with no credit history required is available to RBC personal deposit clients who are (i) permanent residents and international students who arrived in Canada within the last 12 months, or (ii) temporary resident workers who arrived in Canada within the last 48 months, provided you meet all of the eligibility and credit criteria of Royal Bank of Canada.
Monthly fee will be waived for the first twelve months upon account opening of the RBC Advantage Banking account or RBC VIP Banking account. Thereafter the monthly fee will be charged: monthly fee of $11.95 for the RBC Advantage Banking account or monthly fee of $30.00 for the RBC VIP Banking account. For RBC VIP Banking account, $10,000 CAD must be deposited into the account within 20 days of account opening to qualify for the promotional offer, and offer expires February 28, 2025. Other account transaction fees may apply. Monthly fee waiver for the first twelve months may be replaced with any in-market offer that applies to the RBC Advantage Banking or RBC VIP Banking account. Available only to newcomers; please see the eligibility requirements in above note *. Offer may be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice. See complete terms and conditionsPDF opens in new window that apply to this promotional offer.
Based on market capitalization
Currency conversion fees and service fees by an intermediary or receiving bank may apply. Individual limits may vary. Please refer to your RBC Online Banking or your RBC Mobile App
Available only to newcomers (please see the eligibility requirements in above note *). For RBC No Limit Banking, RBC Advantage Banking and RBC Signature No Limit Banking accounts (eligible account), up to one-year rental (offer ends February 28, 2025) of a small safe deposit box (SDB) with annual fees waived, where boxes are available. Safe deposit box fees are collected in advance in January for each calendar year. If you open, switch or are converted to an eligible account, your fees for the box will be waived in full or in part for the current year, depending on the time when the box is opened, and in full for the following year. RBC VIP Banking account holders receive one small box free for every year they maintain the account in good standing as part of the ordinary product construct; offer cannot be combined with any other safe deposit box offer. Offer is subject to change without notice.
There is a limit of 999 free Interac e-Transfer Transactions per Month per Account; for every Interac e-Transfer Transaction over the limit, you will be charged $1.00.
Interac e-Transfer Transactions expire 30 days after they are sent and cannot be claimed by the recipient after this time. You have 15 days after the Interac e-Transfer Transaction is sent to cancel without charge. A $5.00 Interac e-Transfer Transaction Reclaim Fee is charged when a recipient does not accept it before it expires and the sender does not cancel the transaction before the 15-day cancellation period.
An ATM operator surcharge (also called convenience fee) may be charged by other ATM operators. The convenience fee is not a Royal Bank fee. It is added directly to the amount of your cash withdrawal. All clients who use non-RBC ATMs may be charged a convenience fee regardless of the type of Account they hold.
When you use your Client Card to make a withdrawal in a currency other than Canadian dollars at an ATM outside Canada displaying the PLUS system symbol, we will convert the amounts withdrawn and any associated charges imposed by any third party for the use of the ATM to Canadian dollars when we deduct the funds from your Account. We will convert these amounts to Canadian dollars no later than the date we post the transaction to your Account at our exchange rate, which is 2.5% over a benchmark rate set by Visa International, a subsidiary of Visa Inc., and which Royal Bank of Canada pays on the date of conversion. This rate may be different from the rate in effect on the date your ATM withdrawal occurred or on the date of the transaction.
Debit transactions made using your Virtual Visa Debit Number do not count against any monthly transaction limits applicable to your personal deposit account. Other account fees may apply. Please see the RBC Royal Bank Disclosures and Agreements related to Personal Deposit Accounts booklet or other applicable account agreement for further details. You must request a Virtual Visa Debit card.
When you enrol your eligible RBC personal bank account into the RBC Value Program, you will be eligible to earn Avion points within the Avion Rewards Program as an Eligible Personal Banking Client, and any such points earned will be deposited into the Avion Rewards account tied to your enrolled account. Purchases from your account refers to using your RBC Client Card to pay for items at a merchant or service provider with the amount electronically debited directly from your enrolled account or using your RBC Virtual Visa Debit for purchases online. Avion points are governed by the Avion Rewards Terms and Conditions available on our website, or a copy may be provided to you by contacting us. For complete details on the Value Program, please see the Value Program Terms & ConditionsPDF opens in new window.
Must be enrolled in RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app and have either a Canadian RBC Royal Bank chequing or savings account. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot send funds from a US dollaraccount, the RBC High Interest eSavingsaccount, or Foreign Currency Accounts.
RBC Canada, the Avion Rewards app and RBC Online Banking are operated by Royal Bank of Canada. RBC Mobile is operated by Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Direct Investing Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Standard message and data charges apply to any bonus offers you fulfill using your device.
You will earn i) $2.00 back for every $100.00 (2% Cash Back Credit) in Grocery Store Purchases you make, up to a maximum of $6,000 in Grocery Store Purchases and for a maximum Cash Back Reward of $120.00 per Annual Period, ii) $1.00 back for every $100.00 (1% Cash Back Credit) in Grocery Store Purchases you make in excess of $6,000 per Annual Period, unlimited, iii) $0.50 back for every $100.00 (0.5% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases you make (including pre-authorized bill payments), other than Grocery Store Purchases, up to a maximum of $6,000 in Net Purchases (other than Grocery Store Purchases) and for a maximum Cash Back Reward of $30.00 per Annual Period, and iv) $1.00 back for every $100.00 (1% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases you make (including pre-authorized bill payments), other than Grocery Store Purchases, in excess of $6,000 in Net Purchases (other than Grocery Store Purchases) per Annual Period, unlimited. Grocery Store Purchases are purchases made at merchants classified by Mastercard's "Merchant Category Code" as "grocery stores and supermarkets" (MCC 5411). Royal Bank of Canada ("Royal Bank") cannot guarantee that any merchant, operating in whole or in part as a grocery store, is classified by MCC 5411 and in no event will Royal Bank be liable or responsible for any claims with respect to a grocery store purchase made at a merchant that is not classified by MCC 5411. To consult the list of participating merchants, please visit: www.rbc.com/nofeecashbackinfo (opens new window). Provided your New Cash Back Balance is $25.00 or more, Cash Back Credits earned during the year will i) automatically be credited to your January Account balance and appear on your February monthly statement, ii) and/or be credited to your account at any other time, upon request. Cash Back Credits are not earned on cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and certain bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the Cash Back Credits earned by the amounts originally charged. For complete details, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions at www.rbc.com/cashbackterms(PDF).
Unlimited means there is no maximum cash back credits you can earn on Grocery Store Purchases and other purchases (up to your available credit limit) per Annual Period. For complete RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions, please visit: www.rbc.com/cashbackterms(PDF).
The offers program is available to clients with an RBC Royal Bank (i) debit card tied to a personal or business chequing account, and/or (ii) personal or business credit card, other than an RBC Commercial Visa or RBC US Dollar Visa card. Eligibility criteria for an RBC Offer: (a) is determined by RBC, (b) may vary depending on the offer, and (c) may be based on the client’s preferences and account status. Eligible clients will refer to the terms and conditions applicable to each specific RBC Offer for more details. For complete terms and conditions that apply to the Avion Rewards program, please visit: www.avionrewards.com (opens new window) or call 1-800-769-2512.