The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card is a premium travel card built for people who travel often and want airport lounge access built in, not bolted on as an extra purchase. It comes with a $599 annual fee, so it’s priced for frequent flyers, not occasional trips.
The headline perk is 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per cardholder every year, paired with strong travel insurance and a $250 annual travel credit. Everyday spending earns Scene+ points, with the highest rate reserved for travel purchases.
This card sits at the top of Scotiabank’s Passport lineup, above the standard Passport Visa Infinite. The Privilege version trades a lower fee for deeper travel benefits and a much higher income bar to qualify.
Who This Card Makes Sense For
This card is a good fit if you:
- Travel several times a year and would actually use airport lounges
- Meet the high income requirement and want a premium travel card
- Spend often outside Canada and want to skip foreign transaction fees
- Already collect Scene+ points and want to earn them faster
It’s a weaker fit if you:
- Travel rarely, since the $599 fee is hard to justify without using the travel perks
- Don’t meet the income or asset thresholds Scotiabank requires
- Held a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past two years, which can affect welcome bonus eligibility
Eligibility and Documents Needed
Scotiabank sets a clear income bar for this card. You’ll need one of the following:
- Minimum personal income of $150,000 per year
- Minimum household income of $200,000 per year
- Or a minimum of $400,000 in assets under management
Scotiabank also requires a minimum credit limit of $10,000 on the account. The card page doesn’t break down a separate documents checklist beyond the income verification built into the application itself, so be ready to confirm your income or assets directly during the process.
These thresholds put the card out of reach for most applicants by design. Scotiabank is pricing the Privilege tier for high earners who will use premium travel perks often enough to justify them.
How to Apply
Scotiabank says the online application takes about 15 minutes. You can also book an appointment with an advisor if you’d rather apply in person.
One detail worth checking before you apply: the current welcome offer runs for accounts opened between May 1 and November 1, 2026, and it excludes anyone who was a primary or secondary cardholder on a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past two years. That restriction is common on premium card offers, so confirm your eligibility for the bonus before counting on it.
Fees and Conditions
The numbers that matter most:
- Annual fee: $599 (reduced by $150 with an Ultimate Package chequing account)
- Supplementary cardholder fee: $199
- Purchase interest rate: 20.99%
- Cash advance rate: 22.99%
- Foreign transaction fee: none — only the exchange rate applies
At $599 a year, this card only pays for itself if you actually use what it offers. The $250 annual travel credit and lounge access alone can offset most of the fee for someone who travels regularly, but they add nothing if you rarely fly.
Scene+ points build up fastest on travel:
- 3 points per $1 on travel purchases, plus an extra 3 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel
- 2 points per $1 on dining and entertainment
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
Travel insurance is where the card earns most of its value: emergency medical coverage up to $5 million, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage protection up to $2,500, and flight delay coverage up to $1,000. For someone who travels internationally a few times a year, that coverage alone can be worth more than a standalone travel insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many airport lounge visits do I get?
10 complimentary visits per cardholder, per year. Supplementary cardholders get their own allotment as well.
Can I reduce the $599 annual fee?
Yes. Pairing the card with a Scotiabank Ultimate Package chequing account reduces the annual fee by $150.
Does this card charge foreign transaction fees?
No. Purchases in foreign currency are converted at the exchange rate only, with no additional conversion fee on top.
What’s the welcome bonus?
New cardholders can earn up to 80,000 Scene+ points over their first 14 months: 30,000 for $3,000 in spend within 3 months, another 30,000 for $20,000 in spend within 6 months, and 20,000 for an eligible purchase in month 14.
What travel insurance comes with this card?
Emergency medical coverage up to $5 million, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage coverage up to $2,500, and flight delay coverage up to $1,000. Coverage details and exclusions apply, so review the certificate of insurance before relying on it.
