December is typically the most expensive month of the year. With travel, groceries, clothing, and wish lists piling up, costs can add up. However, with the right credit card, the winter holidays can also be extremely rewarding.

While racking up debt is not recommended, using your credit card strategically can save you money. Cardholders can earn rewards for everyday spending and miscellaneous items like gifts and decorations.

At the same time, many credit card welcome bonuses have minimum spending requirements, and cardholders can use holiday shopping to their advantage.

For example, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offers up to 50,000 Aeroplan points and VIP travel benefits. Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase using your new card. Plus, earn an additional 20,000 points when you spend at least $1,500 in the first 90 days of opening the account, and another 20,000 when you spend $7,500 within the first 12 months (this offer is not available to residents of Quebec).

Holiday spending can be a great way to reach spending requirements faster.

So, compare the best credit cards in Canada using our extensive list of welcome offers for December. Find the card that matches your spending habits and maximize your rewards or cash back potential.

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The best credit card welcome offers for December 2022

^† Terms and conditions apply.

1. TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite^* Card

The TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite^* Card offers up to 50,000 Aeroplan points:

• Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase using your card^†.
• Get 20,000 points when you spend at least $1,500 in the first 90 days (about three months)^†.
• Receive an additional 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in the first 12 months of opening the account†.
• Plus, get an annual fee rebate for the first year^†.

(This offer is not available to residents of Quebec). Must apply online by January 3, 2023.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $139
• Annual fee for additional cards: $75
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases.
• Earn one Aeroplan point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Enroll for NEXUS and get an application fee rebate every 48 months (up to a $100 value). Also, access exclusive Visa Infinite benefits for hotel perks and experiences and Air Canada benefits for savings on baggage fees^†.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

Offer expiry date: January 3, 2023

^† Terms and conditions apply.

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2. American Express Cobalt^® Credit Card

Apply for the American Express Cobalt^® Credit Card to earn 2,500 points for each monthly billing period in which you spend at least $500 on the card for the first year. This could add up to 30,000 points.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Monthly fee: $12.99 ($156 annually)
• Annual fee for additional cards: $0
• Earn five Membership Rewards® points for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant and food delivery purchases.
• Earn three Membership Rewards® points for every $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions.
• Earn two Membership Rewards® points for every $1 spent on eligible travel and transit purchases.
• Earn one Membership Rewards® point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card features mobile device insurance, shopping coverage, and exclusive access to presale tickets, events, and experiences.

Offer expiry date: N/A (Subject to change without notice)

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3. CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite^* Card

Winning RATESDOTCA’s award for Best Overall Travel Credit Card of 2022, the CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite^* Card gets you a total of up to 40,000 Aventura Points (up to $850 in travel value†) when you sign up.

This includes 20,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 or more in the first 4 months. Plus, get the first year $139 annual fee rebated.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• 2 points for every $1 spent on:
• Travel (purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre)
• 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible:
• Gas stations
• Grocery
• Drug stores
• 1 point for every $1 spent on:
• All other purchases

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. 

Offer expiry date: N/A (Subject to change without notice)

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4. RBC Avion^® Visa Infinite Card

The RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Card offers up to 55,000 bonus points. Get 35,000 welcome bonus points upon approval, and another 20,000 bonus points when you spend at least $5,000 on the card in the first six months.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $120
• Annual fee for additional cards: $50
• Earn one RBC Rewards point for every $1 spent on the card.
• Earn 25% more RBC Rewards points on eligible travel-related purchases. That is 1.25 RBC Rewards points for every $1 spent.

Get instant fuel savings at Petro-Canada when you link your card to the Petro-Points program and get additional savings at Rexall. Plus, for a limited time, you can get a free 12-month DashPass subscription when you pay with your eligible card.

Offer expiry date: January 31, 2023

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5. American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card

The American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card offers up to 50,000 welcome bonus Aeroplan points. Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after you spend at least $3,000 on your card in the first six months. Earn 2,500 points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your card for the first six months. This could add up to 15,000 points.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $120
• Annual fee for additional cards:
• $0 for additional cardholders without shared benefits
• $50 for additional cardholders to share some of the benefits
• Earn two Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on purchases made directly through Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations®.
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada.
• Earn one Aeroplan point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Get additional Air Canada benefits with this card. You and up to eight travelling companions can save on baggage fees when your flight originates with Air Canada. Also, get eight types of travel insurance and shopping coverage.

*This card is a charge card, meaning the balance must be paid in full each month, or a 30% annual interest rate applies to unpaid balances.

Offer expiry date: N/A (Subject to change without notice)

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6. Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

This card wins RATESDOTCA’s Best No Foreign Transaction Fees Credit Card for Long Stay Travellers award and Best Credit Card for Staying Home and Ordering In award for 2022. Apply for the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card to earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points. Scotiabank will waive the annual fee for the first year.

Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus from RATESDOTCA upon approval until December 16, 2022.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $120
• Annual fee for additional cards: $29
• Earn five Scene+ points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, restaurant, food delivery, food subscription, and entertainment purchases.
• Earn 6X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Earn three Scene+ points for every $1 spent on eligible gas and daily transit purchases and select streaming services.
• Earn five Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Access excellent travel perks with this card. Get travel insurance and concierge services, pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad or at foreign merchants online, and access Scene+ Travel (a full-service travel agency).

Offer expiry date: April 30, 2023

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7. TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite^* Card

The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite^* Card offers up to 145,000 TD points. Plus, TD will rebate the $139 annual fee for the first year^†.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $139^†
• Annual fee for additional cards: $50
• Earn four TD Rewards Points for every $1 on recurring bills^†.
• Earn six TD Rewards Points for every $1 spent on groceries and restaurant purchases^†.
• Earn two TD Rewards Points for every $1 spent on all other purchases^†.
• Earn 50% more points (1.5 TD Points per $1) at Starbucks.

Get travel insurance coverage and an annual Priority Pass Membership discount with this card.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

Offer expiry date: May 28, 2023

† Terms and conditions apply.

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8. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and earn up to 40,000 Scene+ points.

Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus from RATESDOTCA upon approval until December 16, 2022.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• 3 Scotia Scene+ Points earned for every $1 spent at on:
• Select grocery stores
• 2 Scotia Scene+ Points earned for every $1 spent at on:
• Groceries
• Dining
• Entertainment
• Transit
• 1x Scotia Scene+ Point:
• All other purchases

The $150 annual fee for this card is also waived for the first year.

Offer expiry date: April 30, 2023

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9. World Elite™ Mastercard® from National Bank

Apply for the World Elite^™ Mastercard^® from National Bank to earn 30,000 reward points after charging a net purchase amount of $5,000 to the card within three months of account activation. Plus, earn another 30,000 reward points if you charge a net amount of $12,000 to the card with 12 months of opening the account.

You can also earn 10,000 rewards points if you sign up for credit card payment insurance for a minimum of three months. Plus, enjoy having the $150 annual fee waived for the first year.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Up to 5x À la carte Rewards spent on:
• Groceries
• Restaurants
• 2x À la carte Rewards spent on:
• À la carte Travel™
• Gas
• Recurring bill payments
• 1x À la carte Rewards spent on:
• All purchases

Get unlimited free access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau for you and one guest with this card.

Offer expiry date: January 13, 2023

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10. Scotiabank^®* Platinum American Express^® Card

Apply for the Scotiabank^®* Platinum American Express^® Card and earn up to 70,000 bonus Scene+ points.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $399
• Annual fee for additional cards: $99
• Earn two Scene+ points for every $1 spent on the card.

This card features excellent travel perks. Pay no foreign transaction fees on foreign currency purchases, typically around 2.5% (only the exchange rate applies). Get complimentary membership to Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium lounges, with 10 free visits annually. Plus, earn and redeem Scene+ points for travel-related purchases through Scene+ Travel.

Offer expiry date: January 3, 2023

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11. BMO CashBack World Elite^* Mastercard^*

Apply for the BMO CashBack World Elite^* Mastercard^* to earn up to 10% cash back for the first three months. Plus, BMO will waive the $120 annual fee for the first year.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $120
• Annual fee for additional cards: $50
• Earn 5% cash back on your first $500 in grocery purchases monthly.
• Earn 4% cash back on your first $300 in ground transportation purchases monthly.
• Earn 3% cash back on your first $300 in vehicle fuel purchases monthly.
• Earn 2% cash back on your first $500 in recurring bill payments monthly.
• Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

The BMO CashBack World Elite* Mastercard* offers handy perks like roadside assistance and concierge services.

Offer expiry date: July 31, 2023

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12. RBC^® ION+ Visa

The new RBC^® ION+ Visa offers 12,000 Avion points upon approval. Plus, earn and redeem points fast on everyday purchases.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• 3x Avion points per $1 spent on:
• Groceries
• Restaurants and food delivery
• Gas
• Daily transit and rideshare
• Select streaming services, digital gaming, and subscriptions
• 1 Avion point per $1 spent on:
• All purchases

This card lets you pay your bills, the balance on your credit card, and send Interac e-Transfers using Avion points at a minimum redemption amount of only $10.

Offer expiry date: January 31, 2023

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13. CIBC Aventura Visa

Apply for the CIBC Aventura Visa and get up to 12,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase (up to $120 in travel value^†).

This includes 2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* account approval and 9,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• 1 point for every $1 spent on:
• Travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
• 1 point for every $1 spent at eligible:
• Gas Stations†
• Grocery stores†
• Drug stores†
• 1 point for every $2 spent on:
• All other purchases

This offer does not apply to customers in Quebec.

Offer expiry date: N/A (Subject to change without notice)

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14. MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus^® Mastercard^®

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus^® Mastercard^® offers four points for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases for 90 days (about three months), up to the $10,000 annual spend cap.

Plus, earn 5,000 bonus points after you spend at least $500 in eligible purchases during the first 90 days and another 5,000 bonus points for signing up for paperless e-statements within the same period. That is up to 10,000 bonus points.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $0
• Annual fee for additional cards: $0
• Earn two points for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $10,000 is spent annually.
• Earn one point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card features a birthday bonus (up to 10,000 points annually), mobile device insurance, extended warranty benefits, and purchase assurance.

Offer expiry date: N/A (Subject to change without notice)

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15. Scotiabank^®* American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank^®* American Express^® Card offers up to 12,000 bonus Scene+ points. That’s a $120 value toward travel.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $0
• Annual fee for additional cards: $0
• Earn two Scene+ points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, takeout, restaurant, entertainment, gas, and daily transit purchases, as well as select streaming services.
• Earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Earn one Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Access exclusive experiences and offers through American Express Invites® and get mobile device insurance with this card.

Offer expiry date: April 30, 2023

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16. Tangerine World Mastercard^®

New cardmembers of the Tangerine World Mastercard^® can earn 15% cash back for the first two months on up to $1,000 in total purchases. That is up to $150 cash back.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $0
• Annual fee for additional cards: $0
• Earn 2% cash back in up to three categories of your choice. Start with two Money-Back Categories and earn the third when you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account. The 10 Money-Back Categories include groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotel-motel, gas, recurring bill payments, drugstore, home improvements, entertainment, and public transportation and parking.
• Earn 0.50% cash back on all other purchases.

This card provides basic travel perks, such as rental car collision damage/loss insurance, Mastercard® Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey, and Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard. It also features mobile device insurance.

Offer expiry date: December 29, 2022

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17. BMO CashBack Mastercard^®*

Apply for the BMO^* CashBack^® Mastercard^®* to earn 5% cash back on up to $2,500 in total purchases in the qualified categories ($500 groceries, $500 recurring bill payments, $1,500 on all other purchases) for the first three months.

This card also offers a 1.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for nine months. A 1% balance transfer fee does apply.

Regular features and benefits of this card include:

• Annual fee: $0
• Annual fee for additional cards: $0
• Earn 3% cash back on your first $500 in monthly grocery purchases.
• Earn 1% cash back on your first $500 in recurring monthly bill payments.
• Earn 0.5% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

Save up to 25% off rental cars at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car locations. This card also provides shopping insurance, including an extended warranty and purchase protection.

Offer expiry date: July 31, 2023

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Rates, product information and reward estimates are subject to change at any time and do not constitute financial advice. This post was not sponsored. RATESDOTCA may receive a referral fee from our partners or affiliate links featured on the site; however, our editorial choices are objective and free from bias. The opinions expressed in this article are purely those of RATESDOTCA; thus, the credit card issuers and partners are not responsible for any editorials or reviews that may appear. Please visit the associated brand’s website for complete and current terms and conditions on any product or service mentioned. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of this posting, December 1, 2022. Read our full disclaimer.

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