The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card is BMO’s top-tier travel card, built for people who spend heavily on groceries, dining, gas, and travel and want a big points multiplier on all of it. The $499 annual fee comes with a large welcome bonus and a set of premium travel perks.
The core pitch is 5 points per $1 on everyday categories most people already spend on, plus airport lounge access, travel insurance, and a NEXUS statement credit. BMO also adds a bonus for adding an authorized user, which is unusual among premium cards.
This sits above BMO’s standard eclipse Visa Infinite, and the Privilege tier is where the airport perks and higher income requirement kick in. It’s aimed at people who already spend enough across groceries, dining, gas, and travel that a flat 5x rate meaningfully adds up.
Who This Card Makes Sense For
This card is a good fit if you:
- Meet the income requirement and spend regularly on groceries, dining, gas, or travel
- Travel enough to use airport lounge access and NEXUS credits
- Want a large welcome bonus to offset the annual fee in year one
- Plan to add an authorized user, since it boosts your points further
It’s a weaker fit if you:
- Don’t meet BMO’s income threshold and can’t hit the alternative spend requirement
- Spend mostly outside the 5x bonus categories
- Don’t travel enough to benefit from lounge access or NEXUS
Eligibility and Documents Needed
BMO requires a minimum annual income of $150,000 individually, or $200,000 for a household. If you don’t meet that, BMO offers an alternative: at least $50,000 in total spend across other credit cards in the past 12 months.
You’ll also need to be a permanent Canadian resident, be at the age of majority in your province, and have no bankruptcy filed in the past seven years. The spend-based alternative is worth noting if you’re a newer immigrant or otherwise light on Canadian income history but already use credit cards heavily.
When applying, BMO asks for:
- Full name, date of birth, and contact information
- Social Insurance Number and home address
- Employment status and income source
- Rent or mortgage amount and intended use of the account
How to Apply
BMO says most online applications get a response in under 60 seconds. The card page doesn’t specify a delivery timeline once approved, so budget a standard mailing window of a week or two. As with most premium cards, unusual income or credit situations may still trigger a longer manual review.
Fees and Conditions
The numbers that matter most:
- Annual fee: $499
- Additional cardholder fee: $99 per card
- Purchase interest rate: 20.99%
- Cash advance rate: 23.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)
BMO frames the total value of the welcome package at up to $2,300, combining bonus points, a NEXUS credit, an anniversary lifestyle credit, and lounge access. That’s meant to more than offset the $499 fee in the first year — the real test is whether the ongoing 5x earn rate keeps pace after that.
Points build up fastest in everyday categories:
- 5 points per $1 on groceries, dining, gas, drugstore, and travel purchases
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
- 25% more points when you add an authorized user
Travel coverage includes emergency medical insurance up to $5 million per person, per trip, for stays up to 22 consecutive days, plus trip cancellation, interruption, and flight delay coverage up to $1,000. There’s also coverage for theft from a hotel room, up to $2,500.
Airport perks include a Visa Airport Companion membership with 6 complimentary lounge visits a year, a priority security lane, and parking discounts at select Canadian airports. For someone flying a handful of times a year, that combination of insurance and airport access does most of the heavy lifting toward justifying the fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the welcome offer worth?
BMO advertises up to $2,300 in combined value: up to 200,000 welcome bonus points, a $200 NEXUS statement credit, a $200 anniversary lifestyle credit, and an airport companion membership with lounge passes.
What if I don’t meet the income requirement?
BMO offers an alternative path: at least $50,000 in total spend on other credit cards over the past 12 months.
How many airport lounge visits are included?
The Visa Airport Companion membership includes 6 complimentary lounge visits per year, plus priority security lane access at select airports.
Is the cash advance rate the same across Canada?
No. It’s 23.99% in most of Canada, but 21.99% for Quebec residents.
Does adding an authorized user cost extra?
Yes, $99 per additional card, per year. In exchange, BMO gives you 25% more points on top of your regular earn rate, which can offset that fee for households that spend enough together.
