How do I build a credit history?
Your UK credit record stays in the UK. In Canada you start with no credit file at all, which can make renting, a phone contract or your first credit card harder. Most people build a usable record within a year.
In 30 seconds
- Canadian scores run from 300 to 900 and come from two bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. Your UK history doesn’t carry over
- Newcomer credit cards from the big banks and secured cards are the usual first steps
- Pay every bill in full and on time, keep balances low, and check both reports free at least once a year
Why you start from zero
A credit report is a record of your borrowing, built from information lenders send to the credit bureaus at least once a month. Your score is a three-digit number drawn from that report that shows how likely you are to repay. Credit history from another country generally isn’t carried over to Canada, so even a long, clean UK history usually doesn’t count. Unlike the UK, where you may have had a file for years, your Canadian file is created only when you first apply for or use credit here.
What affects your score
- Payment history: paying on time, every time, matters most
- How much of your credit limits you use: keep balances low relative to your limits
- How long you have had credit
- How many times you have applied for credit recently
- Having a mix of credit products
Your first credit card
| Option | How it works | Points to check |
|---|---|---|
| Newcomer card from a big bank | RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC and others offer cards that rely on your immigration status rather than a Canadian credit file, often alongside a newcomer bank account | Each bank has its own time limit since arrival. RBC, for example, offers its newcomer cards to permanent residents within 12 months of arriving and temporary workers within 48 months |
| Secured card | You give a deposit, from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and get a limit usually equal to or higher than it | Setup and annual fees; whether the deposit is insured; when you can move to a normal card. You get the deposit back when you close the card and clear the balance |
| American Express Global Card Transfer | If you already hold a UK Amex card, you can apply for one Canadian personal card and Amex may use your UK account history | Apply from the Canadian site with your Canadian address and phone number, entering your UK card number |
Open a Canadian bank account first: see How do I open a Canadian bank account? Then use the card for a few regular costs and pay it off in full by direct payment each month.
Phone contracts and renting
Most monthly (postpaid) phone plans include a credit check, so newcomers may be asked for a deposit or offered a newcomer plan. Bring your work permit or PR document. Prepaid plans need no credit check and are a simple stopgap: see How do I get a SIM, internet and call home? Landlords also often run credit checks. With no file yet, a job letter, bank statements and UK references help: see How do I find a place to rent?
Checking your report
- You can see your report online free from both Equifax and TransUnion, and order it free by post or phone
- Equifax shows your score free in every province; TransUnion’s free score is for people living in Ontario or Quebec
- The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) suggests checking both reports at least once a year, and straight away after fraud or a data breach
- Checking your own report or score doesn’t lower your score
How long information stays
| Information | Equifax | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts paid as agreed | While open; closed accounts up to 10 years | Up to 20 years, even after closing |
| Late or unpaid loans and cards | Up to 6 years | Up to 6 years |
| Credit applications (hard enquiries) | 3 years | 6 years |
| Bankruptcy | 6 years after discharge | 6 years, or 7 in some provinces including Ontario and Quebec |
Fixing mistakes
If something on your report is wrong, or you see an account you don’t recognise, dispute it with each bureau directly. It is free, and you don’t need a paid “credit repair” company.
What to do next
- Open a bank account and ask about the bank’s newcomer credit card
- Set up automatic full payment so no bill is ever late
- Check your Equifax and TransUnion reports about 6 months after your first card
Keep going
- FCAC: Credit report and score basics
- FCAC: Getting your credit report and credit score
- FCAC: How long information stays on your credit report
- FCAC: Checking your credit report for errors and fraud
- FCAC: Choosing a credit card
- CIC News: Credit scores in Canada, helpful tips for newcomers (Oct 2025)
- American Express Canada: Global Card Transfer
- Savvy New Canadians: RBC newcomer credit card
- WelcomeAide: Newcomer phone plans in Canada, avoiding contract traps (2026)