How Credit History Works in Canada from Day One
You arrive in Canada with no credit history, even if you had perfect credit back home. Here's exactly what to do in your first 90 days to start building.
Why your old credit doesn't follow you
Canadian lenders use Equifax and TransUnion, and neither imports international files. From their view, you're a blank page. That's not a judgment — it's just the system. The good news: you can change it faster than most newcomers expect.
The first card that actually works
A secured credit card is the fastest start. You deposit (commonly $200–$500), the bank issues a card with that limit, and your on-time payments report to the credit bureaus monthly. After 6–12 months of clean use, most issuers refund your deposit and graduate you to a regular card.
The two habits that move the needle
Pay the full statement balance every month and keep your usage under 30% of the limit. These two behaviours drive roughly two-thirds of your score. Everything else (length of history, mix of credit, hard inquiries) is secondary in your first two years.
What to avoid
Don't apply for three cards in your first month — each application is a hard inquiry. Don't carry a balance 'to build credit' — that's a myth that costs you 19–22% interest. And skip the credit-builder loans with high fees unless your bank refuses you a secured card.
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