What visitors can and cannot do
A visitor to Canada can open a bank account, but not all banks will do it, and the process is slower and more document-heavy than it is for residents. The major banks—Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto-Dominion (TD), Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank), Bank of Montreal (BMO), and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)—all have policies allowing non-residents to open accounts, but each has different requirements and different branches that will actually process the application. Some smaller banks and credit unions refuse visitors outright.
The core issue is that Canadian banks must verify your identity and your source of funds under anti-money-laundering rules set by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). A visitor has no Canadian address, no Social Insurance Number, and no credit history in Canada. Banks treat this as higher risk, so they ask for more proof.
You can open a chequing account, a savings account, or both. You cannot open them online if you are a non-resident; you must visit a branch in person. Some banks will let you do this on the same day you arrive. Others require you to have been in Canada for a certain number of days first—check with the specific branch before you travel.
Key Takeaways
- Major Canadian banks accept visitors, but you must apply in person at a branch; online applications are not available to non-residents.
- You will need a valid passport, proof of your current address outside Canada, and proof of your source of funds (pay stubs, bank statements, or a letter from your employer).
- Some branches process visitor accounts on the same day; others require you to have been in Canada for 5 to 10 days before they will open one.
- Credit unions and smaller banks have stricter policies and may refuse to open an account for a visitor at all.
- Once open, your account works like any other Canadian account, but you may face limits on how much you can transfer in and out per day.
Documents you need to bring to the bank
Bring your valid passport—this is non-negotiable. Banks will not accept a driver's license or national ID card as your primary identity document if you are a non-resident. The passport must be current and must have your photograph and signature in it.
Bring proof of your address outside Canada. A utility bill, a lease, a mortgage statement, or a government-issued document showing your home address will work. It must be recent—usually dated within the last three months. If you do not have a physical document, some banks will accept a letter from your employer or a government agency on official letterhead stating your address.
Bring proof of your source of funds. This means recent pay stubs (usually the last two months), bank statements from your home country account (usually the last two to three months), or a letter from your employer on official letterhead confirming your employment and salary. If you are self-employed, bring tax returns or business registration documents. If you are a student, bring a letter of acceptance or enrollment from your school and proof that tuition and living expenses are funded (a letter from a parent, a scholarship letter, or a bank statement showing the funds).
Some banks also ask for a completed application form, which you can fill out at the branch. Bring a pen. If English or French is not your first language, bring a translation of your passport if the bank requests it, though most major banks do not require this.
Which banks accept visitors and how long it takes
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Toronto-Dominion (TD) are the most visitor-friendly. Both have explicit policies allowing non-residents to open accounts in person. RBC typically processes the account on the same day if you have all documents. TD usually takes one to two business days. Both have branches in most Canadian cities.
Bank of Montreal (BMO), Scotiabank, and CIBC also accept visitors, but policies vary by branch. Some branches will open an account the same day; others require you to have been in Canada for 5 to 10 days. Call the specific branch where you plan to apply before you go, because the answer depends on that branch's manager and current workload, not on a national rule.
Credit unions (which operate province by province) are less consistent. Some accept visitors; many do not. Tangerine, which is an online-only bank owned by Scotiabank, does not accept non-residents for online account opening, and it has no physical branches where you can apply in person.
If you are staying in Canada for a short time and need a bank account quickly, RBC or TD in a major city (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary) is your best bet. Call ahead to confirm the branch can process a non-resident account that day.
What happens after you open the account
Once the account is open, you can deposit money, write cheques, use a debit card, and set up bill payments like any other account holder. The bank will issue you a debit card, usually within 5 to 10 business days. You can use it at ATMs and retailers across Canada and internationally.
You may face daily or monthly limits on how much you can transfer out of the country or deposit from outside Canada. These limits vary by bank and by how much documentation you provided. A bank might allow you to transfer $10,000 per day internationally but require you to call ahead for larger amounts. Ask the bank what your limits are when you open the account.
You will not be able to overdraft the account unless the bank offers overdraft protection and you request it. Most banks do not extend overdraft to non-residents automatically.
If you stay in Canada long enough to become a resident (usually after six months), you can update your account status and gain access to more services, like credit cards or lines of credit. Until then, your account is limited to basic deposit and withdrawal.
Transferring money into and out of your Canadian account
You can deposit money into your account by transferring it from a bank account in your home country using an international wire transfer. This typically takes 3 to 5 business days and costs $15 to $50 depending on the amount and the bank. Some banks charge a flat fee; others charge a percentage of the transfer amount.
You can also deposit cash at the branch where you opened the account or at any ATM belonging to that bank. There is no fee for cash deposits at the branch. ATM deposits may have a small fee or a daily limit.
To transfer money out of Canada, you can use an international wire transfer (same timeline and cost as transferring in), or you can use a service like Wise (formerly TransferWise) or OFX, which often charge less than banks for international transfers. These services are not banks; they are money-transfer companies. You set up an account with them online, link your Canadian bank account, and they handle the transfer to your home country account.
Some visitors use their home country credit card or debit card to withdraw cash from Canadian ATMs instead of opening a bank account. This works if you are only staying a few weeks, but if you are staying longer or need to receive money from a Canadian employer, a bank account is more practical.
If you plan to work in Canada
If you have a work permit, you can open a bank account as a visitor, but you will need to provide your work permit number and a letter from your employer confirming your employment. Some banks ask for this upfront; others ask for it only if you plan to have your salary deposited directly into the account.
Once you have a work permit, you can also apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada. This is a nine-digit number that employers need to pay you and that the Canada Revenue Agency uses to track your taxes. Having a SIN makes banking easier because some banks will upgrade your account or offer better services once you have one. You do not need a SIN to open the account, but getting one early is worth the effort.
If your work permit is for a specific employer, the bank may ask for proof that you are authorized to work in Canada. Bring your work permit and the job offer letter or employment contract.
Alternatives if a bank refuses you
If you cannot open a bank account, you have other options. A prepaid card issued by a Canadian bank (like RBC or TD) does not require a bank account and can be loaded with money online or at a store. You can use it like a debit card at retailers and ATMs. The card costs $10 to $20 upfront and has monthly fees of $2 to $5, but it requires fewer documents than a bank account.
A money-transfer service like Wise, OFX, or Remitly lets you receive money from abroad without a Canadian bank account. You provide your home country bank details, and they deposit money there after converting it from Canadian dollars. This works if you are receiving money from Canada but do not need to spend it here.
If you are staying in Canada for work or study, ask your employer or school if they offer a payroll card or direct deposit to a specific bank. Some employers have partnerships with banks that make it easier for temporary workers to open accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Canadian address to open a bank account as a visitor?
No. You need proof of your address outside Canada, not a Canadian address. If you are staying with a friend or in a hotel, you do not need to provide that address to the bank. You provide your home country address instead.
Can I open a bank account online if I am a visitor?
No. All major Canadian banks require non-residents to apply in person at a branch. Online banking is only for residents. You must visit a branch with your documents.
What if I do not have a passport?
Banks will not open an account without a valid passport. If your passport has expired, renew it before you travel to Canada. A national ID card or driver's license is not sufficient for non-residents.
How long can I keep the account open if I leave Canada?
You can keep the account open indefinitely as long as you maintain a minimum balance (usually $0 to $100 depending on the bank) and do not let it sit inactive for several years. Some banks close accounts that have no activity for 12 months or more. If you leave Canada, contact the bank and let them know you are a non-resident so they do not close the account by mistake.
Can I get a credit card as a visitor?
Most banks will not issue a credit card to a non-resident because you have no credit history in Canada. Once you become a resident and have been in Canada for at least six months, you can apply for a credit card. Until then, use your debit card or a prepaid card.