Daniela Hanna
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is BMO’s premium “everyday life meets travel” rewards card for high-income Canadians. It’s built around one simple idea: turn your biggest regular expenses into travel points — groceries, dining, drugstore, gas, and travel — with 5x points. Layer in a headline welcome offer of up to 200,000 BMO Rewards points, a $200 anniversary lifestyle credit, Visa Airport Companion with 6 lounge visits, and (a bit of a hidden gem) an earnings boost of 25% when you add another cardholder.
Real talk: the $599 annual fee is not subtle. This card makes sense when your spending naturally lives in the 5x buckets and you actually use the perks. If you’re the kind of person who forgets credits and lounge passes exist, you’ll probably overpay. But if you’re organized — or you have a household spender who will put the categories to work — the math can get very attractive.
Quick highlights
- 🎁 Welcome offer: BMO advertises up to 200,000 BMO Rewards points (offer value advertised as part of a “up to $2,300” bundle), typically tied to spending milestones in year one.
- 🛒🍽️⛽💊✈️ 5x points per $1 on eligible groceries, dining in and out, drugstore purchases, gas, and travel.
- 💳 1x point per $1 on everything else.
- 👥 Earn 25% more points on all purchases when you add another cardholder (authorized user) — a big deal for couples/families who share spending.
- 💸 $200 anniversary lifestyle credit each year — flexible statement credit you can use however you want.
- 🛫 Visa Airport Companion membership with 6 complimentary lounge visits per year (enrollment required).
- 🛂 Up to $200 NEXUS statement credit in the first year (as advertised in BMO’s current offer bundle).
- 🧳 Premium travel coverage, mobile device insurance, purchase protections, and Visa Infinite Privilege perks (concierge, hotel perks, curated events).
Why we like the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
A lot of premium cards in Canada ask you to “opt in” to value — book through a portal, chase rotating promos, or keep track of partner transfers. The eclipse VIP is refreshingly straightforward: if you spend heavily on groceries, dining, drugstores, gas, and travel, it just keeps paying you back. The 5x earn rate is what makes this card special, because those categories map cleanly onto real life.
The other reason it stands out is the 25% points boost when you add another cardholder. In a two-spender household, that can be a bigger long-term “perk” than a one-time shiny bonus — especially once the first-year welcome offer is done. It’s also one of the few premium cards where the $200 annual lifestyle credit is genuinely flexible. We like credits that you can use on normal spending (instead of being forced into a narrow travel portal), because they’re harder to waste.
Stand-out features
- ✅ Up to 200,000 BMO Rewards points welcome offer (promo varies; usually milestone-based).
- ✅ 5x points on groceries, dining, drugstore purchases, gas and travel — simple and powerful.
- ✅ 25% earning boost when you add another cardholder (turns 5x into an effective 6.25x).
- ✅ $200 anniversary lifestyle credit each year — easy to use as a fee-offset.
- ✅ 6 lounge visits annually via Visa Airport Companion (enrolment required).
- ✅ Premium travel insurance + mobile device insurance + purchase protections.
Good to know
- ⚠️ $599 annual fee means you should be honest about your spending and travel habits before applying.
- ⚠️ Income requirement is typically $150,000 personal or $200,000 household.
- ⚠️ “Everything else” earns 1x. If you have lots of non-bonused spend, you may want a second card for that.
- ⚠️ Foreign transaction fees generally apply, so this isn’t your best “buy stuff abroad” card.
- ⚠️ Welcome offers are often tiered. If you won’t hit the required spending, value drops fast.
Pros
- Strong welcome offer potential: up to 200,000 points for new cardholders under current promotions.
- Excellent “real life” earn: 5x points on groceries, dining, drugstore purchases, gas and travel.
- The 25% points boost with an additional cardholder is unusually valuable for families/couples.
- $200 anniversary lifestyle credit is flexible and easy to use (great for fee-offset math).
- 6 lounge visits per year via Visa Airport Companion — a nice quality-of-life upgrade for frequent flyers.
- Premium Visa Infinite Privilege perks: concierge, hotel program access, dining/wine experiences, and more.
- Solid travel coverage plus mobile device insurance and purchase protections.
Cons
- $599 annual fee is steep; the card only shines when you use the categories and perks consistently.
- High income requirements make it out of reach for many Canadians.
- Base earn rate of 1x can feel weak for a premium card if you have lots of uncategorized spending.
- Foreign transaction fees can make it less appealing for heavy international spending.
- Welcome offers are often milestone-based — if you miss the spending tiers, you miss a lot of value.
- Lounge visits are limited (6); if you travel constantly, you may want unlimited access via another premium product.
Rewards program
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege earns BMO Rewards points. Points can be used for travel through BMO Rewards, or applied to eligible purchases using Pay with Points. In practice, most Canadians get the cleanest value when they use points for travel or for statement-credit style redemptions on eligible spend.
- 5x points per $1 on eligible groceries, dining in and out (including many food delivery merchants), drugstore purchases, gas, and travel.
- 1x point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- +25% points on all spending when you add another cardholder (authorized user). In real terms: 5x becomes 6.25x, and 1x becomes 1.25x.
- Welcome offer: advertised as up to 200,000 points, typically split into multiple milestones (early spend, higher spend, and anniversary/ongoing conditions).
- Extra first-year value adds: BMO’s offer bundle may include up to $200 NEXUS statement credit plus the $200 anniversary lifestyle credit.
How to maximize rewards
-
Do the first-year plan before you apply.
This card’s welcome offer is usually tiered. Map your next 3–12 months of natural spending (insurance, taxes, travel, home projects, big purchases) so you’re not “manufacturing” spend just to chase points. -
Make it your default for the 5x categories.
Groceries and dining are usually the biggest household categories. Add gas, drugstore, and travel and you’ve covered a huge share of typical spend. This card wins when it becomes your daily driver for those buckets. -
If you share expenses, the authorized user boost is a power move.
The 25% boost is meaningful. In a two-income home where both people spend on groceries/dining, it can be the difference between “nice card” and “points machine”. Just be sure the additional card fee is worth it for your household. -
Use the $200 lifestyle credit early each card year.
Don’t treat it like a “maybe”. Use it in month one or two — dinner, a weekend getaway, a larger purchase — whatever you were going to do anyway. The easiest credit to maximize is the one you use before you forget it exists. -
Stretch your lounge visits where they matter.
Save lounge passes for longer layovers, morning flights (breakfast/coffee), or when airport food prices are painful. If you travel as a couple, remember that guest access may count against your six visits. -
Pair it with a “specialist” card.
If you spend a lot in foreign currencies, consider a no-FX-fee card for travel abroad. If you have heavy non-bonused spend, consider a strong flat-rate cash back card for everything that only earns 1x here.
Insurance & benefits
Included coverage & perks
- Emergency medical insurance (BMO highlights up to $5 million per insured person, per trip, up to 22 days — check certificates for eligibility/age limits).
- Trip cancellation & trip interruption insurance.
- Flight delay insurance (BMO highlights up to $1,000 per trip for all insured persons).
- Delayed / lost baggage insurance.
- Hotel burglary insurance (BMO highlights up to $2,500 per occurrence for all insured persons).
- Car rental collision/loss damage insurance when you pay with the card and decline the rental agency’s coverage.
- Mobile device insurance (BMO highlights up to $1,000 when purchased with the card or financed with eligible wireless-bill payments charged to the card).
- Extended warranty and purchase protection (terms vary; confirm length and caps).
- Visa Airport Companion membership + 6 lounge visits (enrolment required).
- Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge and access to premium collections (hotel, dining/wine, golf benefits, select airport perks).
Limitations & fine print
- ⚠️ Insurance is only as good as its terms: pre-existing condition language, maximum trip lengths, age limits, and exclusions matter a lot.
- ⚠️ Many coverages require you to charge all or a significant portion of the trip to the card.
- ⚠️ Lounge access beyond the included visits is paid; guest rules vary by lounge and program.
- ⚠️ “Travel” merchant coding can be messy (some bookings code differently). Don’t be shocked if a niche merchant earns 1x.
- ⚠️ Always review the latest insurance certificate before relying on coverage for a big trip.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $599 for the primary card. |
|---|---|
| Additional cards | Typically $99 annually per additional authorized user card. |
| Purchase APR | 21.99% on purchases. |
| Cash advance APR | 23.99% on cash advances (often 21.99% for Quebec residents). |
| Balance transfer APR | 23.99% (often 21.99% for Quebec residents). BMO sometimes advertises a promo (e.g., 0% introductory balance transfer for 12 months with a 2% fee) depending on the current offer. |
| Foreign transaction fee | Typically about 2.5% on purchases made in currencies other than Canadian dollars (plus any FX spread built into the rate). |
| Grace period | At least 21 days interest-free on new purchases when you pay your statement balance in full by the due date. |
| Minimum income / assets | Generally $150,000 individual or $200,000 household annual income. |
| Minimum credit limit | Visa Infinite Privilege cards typically come with a higher minimum credit limit (often around $10,000+), subject to approval. |
Best for
- ✈️ Frequent travellers who’ll actually use lounge visits and value premium airport perks.
- 🛒 High-spend households where groceries + dining + gas + drugstore are major monthly categories.
- 👥 Couples/families who can benefit from the 25% points boost by adding another cardholder.
- 💼 Professionals who travel for work (or “work-ish” trips) and want a single premium card for lifestyle + travel.
- ✅ Anyone who will reliably use the $200 lifestyle credit each year (and treat it as a fee offset).
Where it falls short
- If you’re not spending heavily in the 5x categories, the return won’t justify a $599 fee for most people.
- The income requirements make it a “premium club” card by design.
- International travellers who spend a lot abroad may dislike paying foreign transaction fees.
- There’s no huge advantage on non-bonused spending (1x), so it’s rarely a one-card setup for optimized earners.
- The perks are only “valuable” if you actually use them — lounge passes and credits don’t help if they expire unused.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“Once I stopped scattering my spending across different cards and pushed groceries + dining onto this one, the points ramped up fast. It’s surprisingly rewarding for day-to-day life.”
“The lifestyle credit is easy. I used it on a big dinner early in the year and basically treated it as a $200 discount on the annual fee.”
“Lounge passes aren’t unlimited, but six visits covers a few trips a year and makes airports way less miserable.”
Critiques
“If you don’t hit the welcome bonus tiers, the first-year hype fades. You really need to have the spending to unlock the big numbers.”
“It’s annoying that foreign transaction fees still apply. I carry a separate no-FX card for anything in USD or abroad.”
“Outside the 5x categories, 1x feels weak for a premium card. I use a different card for random purchases.”
Community insights
In Canadian points communities, the eclipse VIP is often treated as a “category crusher.” People use it for groceries/dining/gas/drugstore/travel, then pair it with a no-FX card (for international spend) and/or a strong flat-rate earner for everything else.
The most common advice from experienced cardholders is simple: don’t let the annual fee bully you into overspending. If you can unlock the welcome offer using normal life expenses, it’s fantastic. If you have to manufacture spending to chase points, you can quickly erase the value.
AI review (straight talk)
This card is premium in the “Canadian premium” way: excellent earn on everyday categories, good travel perks, strong insurance, and a fee that forces you to be intentional. The 5x categories are genuinely competitive, and the 25% authorized user boost is a standout feature that doesn’t get enough attention.
Here’s how I’d think about it: if you’re reliably spending a meaningful amount every month across groceries, dining, gas, drugstore, and travel, and you’ll use the lifestyle credit and at least a few lounge passes, it can be a very satisfying card. If your spending is more scattered — or you prefer a simple “set it and forget it” cash back setup — you’ll likely be happier (and richer) with a lower-fee option.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories / Earn | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | $599 | 5x points on groceries, dining, drugstore, gas & travel | 1x | $200 lifestyle credit, 6 lounge visits, up to $200 NEXUS credit, +25% with extra cardholder | High-income households optimizing everyday categories |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card | $120 | 5x points on select everyday categories (with lower caps) | 1x | Lower fee, similar “eclipse” earning style | Everyday spenders who want high earn without VIP pricing |
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* | $150 | Strong earn on select categories | 1x+ | No FX fees + 6 lounge visits | Travellers who care most about avoiding foreign FX fees |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $799 | Travel/dining-focused earn | 1x | Big lounge footprint + premium hotel perks | Frequent flyers chasing premium experiences |
| RBC Avion® Visa Infinite Privilege* | $399+ | Flexible Avion points | Up to ~1.25x | Premium travel features + strong program flexibility | Travellers who value point flexibility and RBC ecosystem |
FAQ
What is the annual fee for the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card?
The annual fee is $599 for the primary cardholder. Additional authorized user cards are typically $99 each per year.
What is the current welcome bonus?
BMO advertises an offer of up to 200,000 BMO Rewards points, often packaged as part of an “up to $2,300 in value” headline. The bonus is usually split into multiple milestones tied to your spending in the first months and across year one. Because BMO changes promo structures, always confirm the exact thresholds and timing when you apply.
How does the card earn BMO Rewards points?
You earn 5 points per $1 on eligible groceries, dining in and out, drugstore purchases, gas, and travel. You earn 1 point per $1 on everything else. When you add another cardholder (authorized user), the account can earn 25% more points.
How can I redeem BMO Rewards points?
You can redeem points for travel through BMO Rewards, or use Pay with Points to apply points toward eligible purchases. You can also redeem for gift cards and merchandise, but those options typically deliver less value than travel-style redemptions.
Does the card include airport lounge access?
Yes. You get a Visa Airport Companion membership and six complimentary lounge visits per year for the account (enrolment required). Extra visits are paid, and guest rules vary.
What travel insurance is included?
The card includes a suite of travel insurance (emergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage, and more), plus mobile device insurance and purchase protections. Coverage is subject to detailed terms and exclusions, so review the insurance certificate before relying on it for a major trip.
Does the card charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. Purchases made in non-CAD currencies are typically subject to a foreign transaction fee (commonly around 2.5%).
What income do I need to qualify?
BMO lists a minimum income requirement of $150,000 (individual) or $200,000 (household), with approval subject to BMO’s credit assessment.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is at its best when you treat it like a lifestyle engine: you funnel your main household categories into the 5x buckets, lock in the welcome offer with planned spending, and “use up” the credits and lounge visits each year like clockwork.
For the right person, it’s a premium card that feels rewarding in everyday life — not just when you travel. For the wrong person, it’s a $599 reminder that perks don’t matter if you don’t use them. If you’re on the fence, the easiest sanity check is this: will you comfortably use the $200 lifestyle credit and at least a few lounge visits, every year? If yes (and your spending fits the 5x categories), this card is a very strong contender.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.4 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.6 / 5 — excellent earn in everyday categories, especially with the +25% additional cardholder boost. |
| Benefits & protections | 4.5 / 5 — strong travel protections, mobile device insurance, lounge access, and premium Visa benefits. |
| Fees & costs | 3.6 / 5 — high fee, but can be justified with consistent use of credits, perks, and category spend. |
| Ease of approval | 3.0 / 5 — high income thresholds and standard underwriting make it selective. |
I’ve been using the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege for about a year now. One thing I really love is how fast the points add up on everyday stuff like groceries and gas — it actually surprised me how much value I got back just from normal spending. That said, I do wish the annual fee wasn’t so high, because it definitely makes you think twice if you’re not hitting all the bonus categories every month. Overall I’m happy with it, but that fee is the one thing I’m still on the fence about.