Lena Hayes
The RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold is built for Canadians who spend regularly in U.S. dollars. Instead of paying the typical foreign transaction fee on US$ purchases, you’re billed directly in U.S. dollars, and you earn 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 on eligible purchases. With a US$65 annual fee, extensive built-in travel and purchase insurance, and automatic enrolment in Avion Rewards, it works best as a dedicated cross-border card alongside a strong Canadian-dollar rewards card.
Quick highlights
- 💵 Make purchases in U.S. dollars and avoid foreign transaction fees on US$ spending.
- 🎯 Earn 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 on eligible purchases with no complicated bonus categories.
- ✈️ Automatic Avion Rewards enrolment, with flexible redemptions for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more.
- 🛡 Includes trip cancellation & interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage, travel accident and other travel coverages.
- 🚗 Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance when you pay the full cost of your rental with the card.
- 🛍 Purchase security and extended warranty on eligible new purchases.
- 👨👩👧👦 Annual fee of US$65 for the primary cardholder and US$30 for each additional card.
Why we like the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold
For Canadians who regularly spend in U.S. dollars, a standard Canadian-dollar credit card quietly adds up to 2.5% in foreign transaction fees on top of the exchange rate. The RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold sidesteps that by letting you spend directly in US$ while earning 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 on eligible purchases. If you have U.S. travel, cross-border shopping or US-billed subscriptions, that combination can save real money over time.
On top of the currency angle, the card includes a solid insurance suite for a mid-tier product: trip cancellation and interruption, flight and baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, auto rental collision coverage, hotel/motel burglary, purchase security and extended warranty, plus travel accident coverage. It doesn’t have flashy category multipliers or a giant welcome bonus, but as a USD workhorse card that plugs into the Avion Rewards ecosystem, it does its job well.
Stand-out features
- ✅ No foreign transaction fees on U.S.-dollar purchases — you’re billed in US$, not converted from CAD plus markup.
- ✅ Simple earn structure: 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 spent on eligible purchases.
- ✅ Automatic access to the Avion Rewards program for travel, merchandise, gift cards and statement credit redemptions.
- ✅ Extensive insurance for a USD card, including trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage and more.
- ✅ Auto rental collision/loss damage coverage when you pay the full rental cost with your card and decline the agency’s CDW.
- ✅ Purchase security & extended warranty coverage on eligible new items charged to the card.
Good to know
- ⚠️ No big welcome bonus — this card is more about ongoing USD savings and insurance than front-loaded rewards.
- ⚠️ The earn rate is flat 1× with no category multipliers; pure points maximizers may prefer a richer earn card.
- ⚠️ Because the card is billed in US$, it works best if you have a U.S.-dollar bank account or source of U.S. funds.
- ⚠️ It’s a niche product: if you rarely spend in US$, a regular Canadian-dollar travel or cash-back card will likely offer more value.
- ⚠️ Interest rates are standard premium-card levels; carrying a balance will quickly eat up any savings from avoiding FX fees.
Pros
- No FX fees on U.S.-dollar purchases, which can save frequent cross-border spenders a lot compared to typical CAD credit cards.
- Flat 1 Avion point per US$1 earn rate on eligible purchases with no cap on the total points you can earn.
- Access to the Avion Rewards program with flexible ways to redeem for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more.
- More comprehensive insurance than many competing US-dollar cards, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
- Useful auto rental collision/loss damage insurance for rentals paid in US$.
- Purchase security and extended warranty add extra protection for your online and in-store purchases.
- Visa acceptance is strong across the U.S., making it easy to use almost everywhere.
Cons
- No large welcome bonus, unlike many Canadian-dollar travel cards that offer tens of thousands of points upfront.
- Annual fee of US$65 (plus US$30 for supplementary cards) can feel high if your U.S. spending is modest.
- Only 1× earn on all purchases — no bonus multipliers on travel, dining or gas.
- To get the full benefit, you generally want a U.S.-dollar account or US$ income; otherwise you still face currency conversion when paying your bill.
- Not ideal as a standalone primary card if most of your spending is in Canadian dollars.
- Standard interest rates mean carrying a balance quickly wipes out any gains from FX savings and rewards.
Rewards program
The RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold earns Avion Rewards points, RBC’s flexible rewards currency. Points earned in US$ work just like those from many of RBC’s Canadian-dollar Avion cards: you can redeem for travel, gift cards, merchandise, statement credits and more.
- Base earn rate: 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 spent on eligible purchases.
- No category bonuses: there are no higher multipliers for specific categories — earn is simple and flat.
- Flexible redemptions: use points for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, gift cards, merchandise or to offset your card balance.
- Avion redemption options: depending on the redemption, you may be able to stretch your points further for flights versus other options such as merchandise.
- Points longevity: Avion points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
How to maximize rewards
-
Use it for all US-dollar purchases.
The main advantage of this card is avoiding FX fees on US$ spending. Use it for U.S. travel, cross-border shopping, US-billed subscriptions and US-dollar online merchants. -
Pair it with a strong Canadian-dollar card.
For domestic spending, keep a high-earning Canadian-dollar rewards or cash-back card as your primary option. Think of the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold as your dedicated US$ sidekick. -
Pay from a U.S.-dollar account when possible.
To avoid converting CAD to USD at payment time, link the card to a U.S.-dollar bank account or US$ income stream, so you lock in your exchange rate on your own terms. -
Charge eligible travel to the card to activate insurance.
When you book trips, flights or rental cars that you want covered, pay with this card so you benefit from its built-in trip, baggage and rental car protection. -
Redeem Avion points strategically.
Review the Avion travel portal and redemption charts to see where your points stretch furthest. If you don’t travel often, consider using points toward statement credits or gift cards instead. -
Avoid interest whenever possible.
Always aim to pay your balance in full by the due date. With standard premium-card interest rates, carrying a balance can easily cost more than you save in FX fees and rewards.
Insurance & benefits
Included coverage
- Trip cancellation insurance that can reimburse non-refundable, prepaid travel costs when you need to cancel for a covered reason before departure.
- Trip interruption insurance that helps cover additional expenses and unused prepaid portions of your trip if it’s disrupted for eligible reasons after departure.
- Flight delay insurance to cover reasonable expenses like meals and accommodations when your flight is delayed beyond a specified number of hours.
- Delayed baggage insurance that can reimburse the cost of essential items if your checked baggage is delayed beyond the covered time threshold.
- Lost or stolen baggage insurance if your bags are lost, stolen or damaged while in the care of a common carrier.
- Travel accident insurance that provides coverage in the event of accidental death or serious injury while travelling on a covered common carrier.
- Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance for eligible rental vehicles when you charge the full cost to your card and decline the rental agency’s CDW.
- Purchase security on eligible new items against theft, loss or accidental damage for a limited period (typically up to 90 days from purchase).
- Extended warranty that can automatically double the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items up to a maximum of one additional year.
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance that may cover theft of eligible personal items from your hotel or motel room when you’ve paid with the card.
Travel & lifestyle perks
- Avion Rewards membership with access to travel bookings, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits and more.
- Partner offers from time to time with RBC partners such as fuel, pharmacy or delivery services, adding extra value to everyday spend.
- Visa benefits including worldwide acceptance, tap-to-pay convenience and standard Visa Zero Liability protection for unauthorized transactions.
- Higher credit limit potential compared to basic cards, designed to support larger U.S. travel and shopping spend.
- Emergency assistance from RBC and insurance partners if something goes wrong while you’re travelling in the U.S. or abroad.
All insurance coverage is subject to eligibility criteria, maximums, limitations, exclusions and conditions set out in the official certificates of insurance. Always review those documents carefully before relying on any specific benefit or travelling outside your home province or territory.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | US$65 for the primary cardholder. |
|---|---|
| Additional cards | US$30 per supplementary card per year. |
| Purchase APR | 19.99% on purchases (a slightly different rate may apply in Quebec). |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99% on cash advances and cash-like transactions (often 21.99% in Quebec), with interest accruing immediately. |
| Foreign transaction fees | No FX fee on U.S.-dollar purchases. Standard foreign transaction fees may apply on purchases in currencies other than US$. |
| Grace period | At least a 21-day interest-free grace period on new purchases when you pay your statement balance in full by the due date. No grace period on cash advances. |
| Minimum payment | Generally the greater of a fixed dollar amount or a small percentage of the balance, plus any past-due and over-limit amounts, as detailed in your cardholder agreement. |
| Income requirement | No specific minimum income is typically published; approval depends on your overall creditworthiness and RBC’s underwriting criteria. |
Best for
- 🌎 Frequent U.S. travellers who regularly book flights, hotels, rental cars and activities priced in U.S. dollars.
- 🛍 Cross-border shoppers who buy from U.S. retailers in person or online and want to avoid typical foreign transaction fees.
- 💵 Canadians with a U.S.-dollar account or income who can easily pay their statement in US$.
- ✈️ Travellers who value built-in trip and baggage insurance when they charge their travel to the card.
- 💳 People who already have a strong CAD rewards card and want a dedicated US-dollar card as a complement.
Where it falls short
- No large welcome bonus, which makes the first year less exciting than many Canadian-dollar travel cards.
- Flat 1× earn rate with no category multipliers; pure rewards maximizers may prefer richer earn structures.
- Annual fee and supplementary card fee are in US$, which can feel pricey if your US-dollar spend is limited.
- Works best when paired with a U.S.-dollar bank account or US$ income; otherwise you still face currency conversion when paying the bill.
- Not a great standalone option if you rarely travel to or shop in the U.S. — a strong CAD card would usually be better.
- High interest rates mean that carrying a balance can negate the benefits of FX savings and rewards very quickly.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“We drive down to the U.S. a few times a year and do a lot of online shopping in US dollars. Being able to pay everything in US$ with no FX fee has made this card a real money-saver for us.”
“I like that the card ties into Avion Rewards. The earn rate isn’t huge, but the points add up slowly and I’ve used them to offset flights and small travel expenses.”
Critiques
“You really need a U.S.-dollar account for this card to make sense. Converting CAD to US$ just to pay the bill can cancel out some of the benefits.”
“It would be nice to have a better earn rate or a welcome bonus. As it stands, the main appeal is avoiding FX fees and the insurance, not the points.”
Community insights
Among Canadian rewards enthusiasts, the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold is seen as a specialized tool rather than a core everyday card. Its main fans are cross-border travellers, snowbirds and heavy U.S. online shoppers who appreciate the no-FX structure and solid insurance. For this group, it often sits alongside a premium Canadian-dollar card as part of a two-card setup.
People who don’t spend much in USD or who don’t have easy access to U.S. funds tend to be more lukewarm. They often prefer a strong Canadian-dollar travel or cash-back card with a bigger welcome bonus and richer earn multipliers. Overall, the consensus is that this card can be excellent in the right niche, but it’s not intended to be a one-size-fits-all solution.
AI review (straight talk)
This card is all about fit. If you rarely spend in U.S. dollars, the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold is probably not for you — the annual fee, US-dollar billing and modest earn rate won’t make sense compared with a solid Canadian-dollar travel or cash-back card.
But if you travel to the U.S. often, shop at U.S. retailers or have U.S.-billed subscriptions, the equation flips. Avoiding FX fees on US$ spending, earning Avion points on top and having a surprisingly strong insurance package for a USD card can more than justify the fee, especially if you pay your bill from a U.S.-dollar account. In short: as a niche cross-border tool, it’s very good; as a main everyday card for mostly Canadian-dollar spending, not so much.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories / Earn | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold | US$65 | 1× Avion point per US$1 on all eligible purchases | Same 1× rate | No FX on US$, strong insurance, Avion Rewards | Frequent U.S. travellers and cross-border shoppers |
| CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa | US$35 | 1× Aventura point per US$1 on some purchases | Reduced earn on others | No FX on US$, Aventura program, lower fee but more limited insurance | US$ spenders who want a lower fee and basic rewards |
| TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card | US$39 | No rewards | No rewards | No FX on US$, basic purchase protection | People who just want a simple US$ card without rewards |
| No-FX Canadian travel card | $0–$150 (CAD) | 2–4% back in select categories | 1–2% back | No FX fees on all foreign currencies, but billed in CAD | Travellers who want global no-FX in any currency, not just US$ |
FAQ
What is the annual fee for the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold?
The annual fee is US$65 for the primary cardholder. Each supplementary card costs US$30 per year.
Does the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold charge foreign transaction fees?
On purchases made in U.S. dollars, there is no foreign transaction fee; your transactions are billed directly in US$. For purchases made in currencies other than U.S. dollars, standard foreign transaction fees may apply.
How do rewards work on this card?
You earn 1 Avion Rewards point per US$1 spent on eligible purchases. Points accumulate in your Avion Rewards account and can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits and more. There are no bonus categories — the 1× rate applies broadly.
Is there a welcome bonus with this card?
There is typically no large welcome bonus on the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold. The main value comes from avoiding FX fees on US$ purchases, earning Avion points and using the built-in insurance benefits.
What insurance coverage does the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold include?
The card includes a range of coverages such as trip cancellation and interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision/loss damage, hotel/motel burglary, purchase security and extended warranty. All coverages are subject to the terms and conditions in the certificates of insurance.
Do I need a U.S.-dollar bank account to use this card?
You don’t strictly need a U.S.-dollar account to be approved or to use the card, but having one makes it much easier to pay your balance in US$ without currency conversion. Otherwise, you’ll still be converting CAD to US$ when you pay, which can reduce the benefit of avoiding FX fees at purchase.
Is there a minimum income requirement?
RBC does not typically publish a specific minimum income for this card. Approval is based on your overall credit profile, including income, existing debts and credit history, as assessed under RBC’s underwriting criteria.
Who should consider the RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold?
This card is best for Canadians who regularly spend in U.S. dollars — through travel, cross-border shopping or US-billed services — and who want to avoid FX fees while still earning flexible Avion Rewards points. If your spending is mostly in Canadian dollars, a CAD-based rewards or travel card will usually be a better fit.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take The RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold is a strong option if you live a cross-border lifestyle. It lets you sidestep foreign transaction fees on U.S.-dollar purchases, earn Avion Rewards points and benefit from a surprisingly robust insurance package for a US$ card. Used alongside a good Canadian-dollar card, it can slot neatly into a broader strategy that covers both CAD and USD spending efficiently.
It won’t win awards for eye-popping earn rates or huge welcome bonuses, and it’s a poor fit if you barely spend in US$. But for frequent U.S. travellers and shoppers — especially those with a U.S.-dollar account — it does exactly what it promises: simplifies U.S. spending, trims FX costs and adds useful protections without getting overly complicated.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 3.7 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 3.4 / 5 — straightforward 1× earn; the real value is FX savings rather than pure points. |
| Benefits & protections | 4.2 / 5 — strong insurance coverage for a niche US-dollar card. |
| Fees & costs | 3.8 / 5 — US$65 fee is reasonable if you use the card heavily for US$ purchases. |
| Ease of approval | 3.9 / 5 — no published income minimum, but approval still requires solid credit. |
