Lena Hayes
The ScotiaGold Passport® Visa* Card is an established travel rewards card that now earns flexible Scene+™ points. You’ll earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 in everyday purchases, plus the ability to earn points on rent, condo fees and housing-related bills when you pay through the Casa™ platform. It also comes with solid travel medical coverage up to 25 days for eligible cardholders under 65, comprehensive trip and baggage insurance, car rental collision coverage, and classic Visa travel conveniences. While it’s no longer widely marketed, existing cardholders can still get a lot of practical value from it.
Quick highlights
- 💰 Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on everyday purchases.
- 🏠 Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 on eligible rent, condo fees and housing-related bills when you pay via the Casa platform and spend at least $350/month on other purchases.
- ✈️ Travel emergency medical insurance up to $1 million per person for 25 consecutive days (under age 65).
- 🧳 Delayed and lost baggage insurance when you charge your common carrier tickets to the card.
- 🚗 Rental car collision and loss damage insurance on eligible rentals up to 48 consecutive days.
- 🏨 Hotel/motel burglary insurance for covered personal property stolen from your room in Canada or the U.S.
- 🛍 Purchase Security & Extended Warranty — 90-day purchase protection and doubled manufacturer’s warranty (up to one extra year).
Why we like the ScotiaGold Passport Visa
The ScotiaGold Passport Visa is a bit of an old-school nameplate that’s quietly evolved with the Scene+ program. Instead of complicated bonus tiers, it keeps things simple: 1 Scene+ point per $1 on virtually all purchases, plus a neat ability to earn points on rent and housing-related payments through Casa as long as you’re also putting at least $350 in other monthly spend on the card.
Where it stands out in 2025 is the insurance bundle for the fee. You get up to 25 days of travel emergency medical coverage (under 65), along with delayed and lost baggage protection, rental car collision coverage, travel accident insurance, hotel/motel burglary protection, and solid purchase security and extended warranty. If you’re already inside the Scotiabank/Scene+ ecosystem and still hold this card, it can be a dependable “travel and protection” workhorse.
Stand-out features
- ✅ 1 Scene+ point for every $1 on your everyday credit card purchases.
- ✅ Ability to earn Scene+ on rent and housing-related bills via Casa when you also spend at least $350/month in other purchases.
- ✅ Travel emergency medical insurance for trips up to 25 days (under age 65) with up to $1 million in coverage.
- ✅ Rental car collision/loss damage insurance when you pay fully with the card and decline the agency waiver.
- ✅ Delayed and lost baggage coverage when you charge your plane, train, bus or cruise tickets to the card.
- ✅ Travel accident insurance up to $250,000 per eligible person (maximum $500,000 per occurrence).
- ✅ Hotel/motel burglary insurance on eligible stays in Canada and the U.S.
Good to know
- ⚠️ Scotiabank notes that this card is primarily for existing cardholders and may only be available through limited digital channels.
- ⚠️ No big headline welcome bonus — value is in ongoing rewards and insurance rather than a one-time promo.
- ⚠️ Annual fee is $110 for the primary card and $30 per supplementary card.
- ⚠️ Interest rates are 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.
- ⚠️ Foreign currency purchases still incur a typical 2.5% FX fee on top of the Visa rate.
Pros
- Simple earn structure: 1 Scene+ point per $1 on everyday purchases is easy to understand and track.
- Ability to earn points on rent, condo fees and housing-related bills through Casa with no extra surcharges from Casa when conditions are met.
- Comprehensive set of travel insurance benefits for the fee, including emergency medical, baggage and travel accident coverage.
- Rental car collision/loss damage insurance and up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations.
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty provide extra peace of mind on many everyday purchases.
- Scene+ is a flexible rewards program with useful travel, dining, grocery and entertainment partners.
Cons
- 1× earn rate on all spending is modest compared with newer cards that offer higher multipliers in key categories.
- No major welcome bonus or first-year fee waiver, which makes the first year less compelling for new applicants.
- Foreign transaction fee of around 2.5% makes it less appealing for heavy foreign-currency spenders.
- Card is no longer widely marketed; new applications are limited, suggesting it may be more of a legacy product.
- Higher-fee Scene+ cards (like Passport Visa Infinite or Gold Amex) can deliver stronger earn rates and richer perks.
Rewards program
The ScotiaGold Passport Visa now earns Scene+ points, Scotiabank’s flexible rewards currency shared across credit cards, debit cards and partners like Sobeys, Cineplex and more. Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, statement credits, gift cards and experiences, with travel typically offering some of the better value.
- Everyday purchases: Earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases charged to your card.
- Rent & housing-related bills via Casa: When you spend at least $350 per month on other everyday purchases with your ScotiaGold Passport Visa, you can also earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 on eligible rent, condo fees and housing-related bills paid online through the Casa™ platform.
- Scene+ Travel (powered by Expedia): Use your card to book flights, hotels and more through Scene+ Travel, then redeem points directly for travel bookings or apply points against eligible travel transactions.
- Other redemptions: Redeem Scene+ points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, dining and entertainment rewards through Scene+ partners.
- Exclusions: As usual, cash advances, Scotia Credit Card Cheques, fees, interest and some other transactions do not earn points.
How to maximize rewards
-
Use it consistently for everyday spending.
Because the card earns a flat 1 Scene+ point per $1, it works best when you reliably put your general purchases through it rather than spreading spend across lots of low-earning cards. -
Leverage Casa for rent and housing-related bills.
If you’re eligible and comfortable using Casa, route your rent, condo fees and housing-related bills through the platform so you can earn Scene+ points on those big monthly expenses — just make sure you also hit the required $350/month in other purchases to unlock the Casa earn. -
Redeem Scene+ for travel first.
Travel redemptions via Scene+ Travel or the Apply Points to Travel feature typically offer good, predictable value. Use those options before lower-value redemptions like some merchandise if you want to stretch your points further. -
Take full advantage of the insurance.
Always charge eligible trips, rental cars and hotel stays to this card so your travel medical, baggage, rental car and hotel burglary coverages are in force. The insurance can easily be worth more than the annual fee if you travel a couple of times a year. -
Pair with a stronger earn card if needed.
If you also hold a higher-earning Scene+ card (like Passport Visa Infinite or Gold Amex), you can use those for accelerated categories and keep ScotiaGold Passport Visa as a backup travel/insurance card and for Casa rent payments.
Insurance & benefits
Included coverage
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
- Covers eligible cardholders, spouses and dependent children under age 65 for up to 25 consecutive days per trip.
- Up to $1 million in coverage per insured person for sudden and unexpected illness or accidental injury while travelling outside your province or territory of residence.
- Includes eligible expenses like hospital care, doctors’ fees, nursing, ambulances, prescription drugs and more, subject to the policy conditions.
- Top-up coverage can be purchased if you’re travelling more than 25 days.
- Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
- Covers eligible rental vehicles when you decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW and charge the full rental cost to your ScotiaGold Passport Visa.
- Coverage typically applies for rentals up to 48 consecutive days and up to a maximum vehicle value (for example, $65,000).
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- When you charge your common carrier tickets (air, bus, train or cruise) to the card, you’re protected if your checked luggage is delayed or lost.
- Lost luggage benefit up to a combined maximum (for example, $1,250) and delayed luggage benefit up to $1,000 for essential items after a qualifying delay.
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage up to $250,000 per insured person, maximum $500,000 per occurrence, when at least 75% of the common carrier ticket is charged to the card.
- Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
- Covers theft of eligible personal items from your hotel/motel room in Canada or the U.S. when the stay is charged to your card, up to around $1,000 after other coverages.
- Purchase Security
- Most eligible items purchased with your card are insured against theft, loss or damage for up to 90 days from the purchase date.
- Extended Warranty Protection
- Extends the manufacturer’s warranty on most eligible items purchased with your card, doubling it for up to one extra year, subject to limits and lifetime caps.
Travel & lifestyle perks
- Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia — full-service travel agency where you can book flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages and redeem Scene+ points directly.
- Car rental savings — save up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations when you pay with your ScotiaGold Passport Visa.
- Digital wallet support — compatible with Visa payWave, My Mobile Wallet, Apple Pay and Click to Pay for quick, secure payments.
- Supplementary cards — add additional cardholders so their spend also earns Scene+ points at the same rate.
- Optional credit card protection — Scotia Credit Card Protection can help cover your balance or payments in specific life events (optional, for an extra fee).
- Fraud and security features — Visa Zero Liability, chip & PIN, online security tools and Scotiabank’s fraud monitoring.
As always, insurance coverage is subject to the detailed terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility rules set out in the official Certificates of Insurance. It’s important to review those documents carefully before travelling or relying on a particular benefit.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $110 for the primary cardholder. |
|---|---|
| Additional cards | $30 per supplementary card per year. |
| Purchase APR | 19.99% on purchases. |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99% on cash advances, including balance transfers, Scotia Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions. |
| Minimum credit limit | $5,000. |
| 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. |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% fee added to the converted amount of purchases made in foreign currencies. |
| Minimum payment | Typically a small percentage of your statement balance (plus fees, interest and any past-due amounts), subject to Scotiabank’s current minimum payment rules and provincial regulations. |
Best for
- ✈️ Travellers who want built-in travel medical, baggage and rental car insurance on a mid-tier Visa card.
- 🏠 Renters and condo owners who like the idea of earning Scene+ points on housing costs via the Casa platform.
- 🎟 Scene+ members who value simple 1× earning and flexible redemption options for travel, dining, movies and more.
- 🧳 Canadians who take a few trips a year and want classic travel protections without jumping to a premium-card annual fee.
- 💳 Existing ScotiaGold Passport Visa cardholders who want to keep a long-standing account with decent perks and protections.
Where it falls short
- Flat 1× earn rate is no longer competitive with newer cards that offer 2–5× points in popular categories.
- No major welcome bonus or first-year fee rebate, which reduces first-year excitement and value.
- Foreign transaction fee makes it weaker for heavy foreign-currency spending compared with no-FX-fee cards.
- Card is effectively a legacy product with limited application routes; newer Scotiabank cards may be better long-term bets for many people.
- Interest rates are standard credit-card levels — carrying a balance will quickly erase any value from rewards and insurance.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“I’ve had this card for years and the insurance has been the main reason I keep it. Knowing I have 25 days of travel medical coverage when I leave the province is a big relief.”
“Scene+ points are easy to use. I just let them build up and then knock a chunk off my next vacation through Scene+ Travel. No complicated charts or blackout dates.”
Critiques
“The 1 point per $1 earn rate feels dated now that so many cards offer 2–4x in everyday categories. I keep it mainly for the travel coverage, not the points.”
“I wish there was a proper welcome bonus or some kind of ongoing benefit like no FX fees or lounge access to justify the $110 fee for new users.”
Community insights
Among Canadian rewards fans, the ScotiaGold Passport Visa is generally seen as a solid legacy card rather than a headline contender. Its strength lies in travel insurance and steady, uncomplicated earn, especially for long-time Scotiabank customers who now earn Scene+ across multiple products. However, many points enthusiasts note that newer cards — including Scotiabank’s own Passport Visa Infinite and Gold American Express — offer richer earn rates and modern perks, making ScotiaGold Passport Visa more of a “keep if you already have it” proposition than a must-have new application.
AI review (straight talk)
The ScotiaGold Passport Visa feels like a dependable, slightly old-school travel card that has been updated just enough to stay relevant in the Scene+ era. It’s not flashy and it’s not trying to compete with premium lounge-heavy products. Instead, it quietly delivers 1× rewards, strong mid-tier travel insurance and some useful extras on rental cars and hotel stays.
If you want to squeeze every last bit of value out of your spending, you’ll probably look at newer cards with higher multipliers or no FX fees. But if you’re already in the Scotiabank ecosystem, appreciate Scene+, and like the comfort of a familiar card that still offers meaningful protection when you travel, keeping — or selectively applying for — the ScotiaGold Passport Visa can absolutely make sense.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories / Earn | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScotiaGold Passport Visa | $110 | 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all purchases; ability to earn points on rent & housing via Casa | Same 1 point per $1 | Travel medical up to 25 days, baggage, travel accident, rental car insurance, hotel/motel burglary, Scene+ flexibility | Existing cardholders and travellers who value insurance and simple Scene+ earning |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | Higher (typically $150) | Higher Scene+ earn on travel, dining and groceries; no FX fees | 1 point per $1 or better | No foreign transaction fees, airport lounge access, stronger earn rates | Travellers who want modern perks and no FX fees |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | Higher | Up to 6 Scene+ points per $1 in select categories | 1 point per $1 | Rich multipliers on groceries, dining and entertainment, no FX fees on most purchases | Heavy spenders in bonus categories who are comfortable with Amex acceptance |
| Typical no-fee Scene+ Visa | $0 | 1–2 points per $1 in select categories | 0.5–1 point per $1 | No annual fee, basic rewards, limited insurance | Light spenders and those who want Scene+ without a fee |
| Premium travel rewards card | $150–$500+ | High multipliers on travel and everyday spend | 1–2× points per $1 | Global lounge access, rich insurance bundles, large welcome bonuses | Frequent travellers willing to pay more for extra perks |
FAQ
What is the annual fee for the ScotiaGold Passport Visa?
The annual fee is $110 for the primary ScotiaGold Passport Visa cardholder and $30 for each supplementary card.
What are the interest rates on this card?
The current preferred interest rates are 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances, including balance transfers, Scotia Credit Card Cheques and cash-like transactions. Rates can change, so always check Scotiabank’s latest disclosures.
How does the rewards program work?
ScotiaGold Passport Visa earns 1 Scene+ point per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. If you also pay your rent, condo fees or certain housing-related bills via the Casa platform and put at least $350/month in other purchases on the card, you can earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 on those housing payments as well. Points can then be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and more.
Does the ScotiaGold Passport Visa have a welcome bonus?
Unlike some newer cards, ScotiaGold Passport Visa generally does not come with a large headline welcome bonus. Any promotional offers can change over time and may be targeted, so it’s worth checking Scotiabank’s site or speaking with a representative to confirm if any limited-time bonus is available.
What travel insurance is included?
The card includes travel emergency medical insurance for eligible cardholders under 65 for trips up to 25 consecutive days, with up to $1 million in coverage per person. It also offers coverage for delayed and lost baggage, travel accidents, rental car collision/loss damage and hotel/motel burglary when you charge eligible expenses to the card, subject to the Certificate of Insurance.
Does this card include car rental insurance?
Yes. When you charge the full cost of an eligible rental vehicle to your ScotiaGold Passport Visa card and decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW, you are protected by rental car collision and loss damage insurance, typically for rentals up to 48 consecutive days and up to a specified maximum vehicle value.
Is the ScotiaGold Passport Visa still available to new customers?
Scotiabank notes that the information on its product page is primarily for existing cardholders and that the card may only be applied for through limited digital channels. Availability can change, so check directly with Scotiabank if you’re interested in applying.
Who should consider the ScotiaGold Passport Visa?
This card is a good fit for travellers who value mid-tier travel insurance, simple Scene+ earning and the ability to earn points on rent via Casa, particularly if they already bank with Scotiabank or hold other Scene+-earning products.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take The ScotiaGold Passport Visa is a classic Canadian travel rewards card that has aged reasonably well. It can’t compete with the highest-earning modern cards on raw points, but it still offers strong practical value through its travel insurance bundle, simple Scene+ earning structure and the ability to earn points on rent and housing via Casa.
If you’re a brand-new applicant comparing today’s cards, you may find more exciting earn rates, welcome bonuses and perks elsewhere in the Scotiabank lineup. But for existing cardholders — or anyone who really values the mix of Scene+ and insurance at this annual fee — ScotiaGold Passport Visa remains a perfectly respectable card to keep in your wallet.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.0 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 3.7 / 5 — straightforward, but a flat 1× earn rate is modest by today’s standards. |
| Benefits & protections | 4.3 / 5 — strong travel and shopping coverage for a mid-tier annual fee. |
| Fees & costs | 3.9 / 5 — reasonable $110 annual fee, standard interest and FX costs. |
| Ease of approval | 4.0 / 5 — typical mid-tier requirements; availability now skewed toward existing or targeted customers. |
