Canadian Credit Card Reapplication Rules

Every Canadian card issuer has rules about how long you must wait before you can get a welcome bonus on the same card again. This reference covers the major issuers, sourced from official application terms and conditions. Rules change — always confirm on the issuer's application page before applying.

American Express (Amex)

Amex has the strictest rules in Canada. Their policy is widely known as once per lifetime:

• Welcome bonus rule: You can receive a welcome bonus on a given Amex card only once in your lifetime. If you have held the card before (even years ago), you are ineligible for the bonus.
• Card versions matter: The personal and business versions of the same card family (e.g., Cobalt personal vs. Cobalt for business) are treated as separate products. You can get the bonus on one even if you have held the other.
• Upgrade/downgrade: Moving between tiers of the same card family (e.g., Green → Gold → Platinum) may trigger a welcome offer on the higher tier if you have never held it before.
• Current cardmembers: Current cardmembers of the specific card are not eligible for the welcome bonus. You must cancel, wait, and apply as a new cardmember — but the once-per-lifetime rule still applies.

Source: Amex application terms: "Welcome Bonus is not available to applicants who have or have had this Card."

RBC

RBC's reapplication rules vary by card:

• Avion cards: You typically must wait 6–12 months from the date you received the welcome bonus to be eligible again. RBC uses a "one bonus per card per period" policy.
• WestJet cards: Similar to Avion — generally a 6-month gap between welcome bonuses.
• RBC Cash Back Mastercard: New cardmembers only. Existing cardmembers upgrading from the standard to World Elite may not receive the welcome bonus.
• Business cards: Separate qualification from personal cards. You can hold both a personal and business version of the same card and get the welcome bonus on each.

Source: RBC application terms: "This offer cannot be combined with any other offer, and is not available to existing RBC Royal Bank cardholders who have previously received this offer."

TD

TD's rules are generally per-card, not per-issuer:

• Aeroplan Visa cards: You must not be an existing cardmember to receive the welcome bonus. TD checks this at application time.
• First Class Travel Visa: Same policy — open to new cardmembers only.
• Cash Back Visa: New cardmembers only.
• Business cards: Separate from personal. You can hold both and get the bonus on each.
• Product switches: Moving between TD cards (e.g., Cash Back → Aeroplan) usually does not qualify for a welcome bonus on the new card.

Source: TD application terms: "Offer applies only to new TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card accounts."

CIBC

• Aeroplan cards: New cardmembers only. Internal product switches do not qualify.
• Aventura cards: Welcome bonus is for new cardmembers who have not held the card in the past 12 months.
• Dividend cards: New cardmembers only.
• Business cards: Separate from personal. You can hold both and qualify for each bonus.

Scotiabank

• Scene+ cards: You must not be an existing cardmember of the specific card. A 12-month gap is recommended between applications for the same card.
• Momentum cards: New cardmembers only.
• Passport Visa Infinite: New cardmembers only.
• Business cards: Separate qualification from personal.

BMO

• Air Miles / Ascend cards: New cardmembers only. The welcome bonus is not available if you currently hold or have held the card.
• CashBack cards: New cardmembers only.
• Eclipse cards: New cardmembers only.
• Business cards: Separate from personal.

MBNA

MBNA has a more flexible policy than Amex:

• Rewards cards: You typically must wait 6–12 months between applications for the same card.
• Smart Cash cards: Same 6–12 month window.
• True Line cards: Same policy.
• Business cards: Separate from personal.

National Bank

• World Elite / Platinum: New cardmembers only. Suggests a 12-month gap between applications.
• mycredit Mastercard: Open to new cardmembers.

Tangerine

• Money-Back Credit Card: Welcome offers are for new cardmembers. Tangerine periodically sends targeted re-engagement offers to former cardmembers.

Canadian Tire

• Triangle cards: Welcome offers change frequently. Offers are generally for new cardmembers.

PC Financial (President's Choice)

• PC Mastercard: PC Optimum points welcome offers change regularly. Offers are for new cardmembers or those who have not held the card in the past 12 months.

Rogers Bank

• Rogers Red cards: Welcome offers are limited-time promotions. Check current terms.

Key Takeaways

Issuer	Reapplication window	Once per lifetime?
American Express	Never (once per lifetime)	Yes
RBC	6–12 months	No
TD	New cardmember only	No
CIBC	12 months	No
Scotiabank	12 months	No
BMO	New cardmember only	No
MBNA	6–12 months	No
National Bank	12 months	No

Always check the specific card's application page before applying. Issuers change terms, and this guide is updated when we catch changes in the daily data refresh.