The Visa Infinite Privilege program offers high-income Canadians a range of credit cards with high earn rates, luxury benefits, and comprehensive insurance coverage. While many of the best Visa credit cards are Visa Infinite cards, the cream of the crop are VIPs.
The income and credit score requirements are quite high, as are the annual fees, but the benefits can easily outweigh the cost for the right users.
Key Takeaways
- Visa Infinite Privilege is Visa’s premier luxury credit product.
- Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards provide 8 major perks and benefits, including airport lounge access, exclusive event tickets, and complimentary luxury hotel upgrades.
- You’ll need at least $150,000 of personal income (or $200,000 of household income) and a solid credit score to qualify for a Visa Infinite Privilege credit card.
- The best Visa Infinite Privilege credit card is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege.
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What is Visa Infinite Privilege?
Visa Infinite Privilege is the highest tier of Visa credit cards. You only need to look at the initials to know what the program’s all about: "VIP," as in VIP events, VIP rewards, and VIP travel.
Compared to the 5 lowest tiers of Visa credit cards, VIP cards have incredibly high annual fees, credit score, and income requirements.
But if you qualify, you’ll be rewarded with equally high spending limits, earning rates, and welcome bonuses – plus an astonishing array of luxury perks and benefits.
8 Visa Infinite Privilege perks and benefits
The VIP program caters to high-income extroverts, shoppers, and travellers. Its partners span the globe, tempting cardholders with Michelin-starred meals, priority airport services, and complimentary breakfast at 200+ chalets and villas.
The top 8 perks of carrying a Visa Infinite Privilege credit card are:
- 24/7 Visa Complimentary Concierge: Let a specialist arrange your trip or book your next event tickets or restaurant reservations with year-round, global service.
- Exclusive offers: Browse 50+ offers in 4 categories – entertainment and retail, food and wine, sports, and travel – including discounts, golf course memberships, world-class restaurant reservations, and a complimentary night’s stay in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
- Global Airport Lounge Access: Receive 6 complimentary passes to over 1,200+ airport lounges through the Visa Airport Companion program.
- VIP Travel treatment: Enjoy airport parking and valet discounts, dedicated priority security lanes, and dedicated taxi and limo lanes at major Canadian airports like Toronto Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Montréal, and Vancouver.
- Visa Infinite Dining Series: Access tickets to exclusive culinary events such as live cooking shows, tasting menus, wine tastings, and more.
- Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection: Enjoy 7 benefits at 900+ luxury hotels around the world, such as automatic room upgrades, preferred rates, and complimentary breakfast for 2 each day.
- Visa RSVP Rewards Benefit: Go straight to the top with automatic Diamond Status at 60+ Sandman, Sandman Signature, and Sutton Place Hotels, and enjoy perks like free room upgrades, early check-ins, late check-outs, and bonus loyalty points.
- Visa Infinite Wine & Country Program: Enjoy in-person and online benefits at 60+ wineries in B.C. and Ontario, including complimentary tastings, tours, and discounts.
And that’s not all – VIP cards tend to offer more comprehensive credit card insurance and bigger welcome bonuses than other credit cards.
Visa Infinite Privilege vs. Visa Infinite
If you don’t qualify for a Visa Infinite Privilege card – or you don’t travel frequently – your next-best option is a Visa Infinite credit card. Like their premium cousins, Visa Infinite cards benefit from acceptance at tens of millions of merchants worldwide and 1.9 million ATMs.
Visa Infinite cardholders can access 24/7 Complimentary Concierge services and the Visa Airport Companion, Infinite Dining, Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and Infinite Wine & Country programs. And while they still enjoy Visa RSVP Rewards and discounts at hundreds of international hotels, rental car agencies, restaurants, and retailers, they aren’t eligible for VIP airport treatment.
Visa Infinite Privilege vs. World Elite Mastercard
Mastercard’s answer to the Visa Infinite Privilege program is the World Elite Mastercard collection. It too offers a concierge service, airport lounge access through the Mastercard Travel Pass, and access to exclusive entertainment, events, and experiences
Visa and Mastercard travel passes are roughly the same because they’re both powered by DragonPass. But Mastercard can’t quite match the travel benefits and perks included in the VIP program – especially those of an Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit card. Its strengths lie in basic no fee and cash back credit cards for ordinary Canadians.
The bottom line: If you qualify for a Visa Infinite Privilege credit card, we’d say you owe it to yourself to give the best Visa cards a look.
How do you qualify for a Visa Infinite Privilege card?
The Visa Infinite Privilege program contains only premium credit cards, as evidenced by the stringent eligibility requirements.
To make a successful credit card application, you’ll need:
- At least $150,000 of personal income OR $200,000 of household income
- At least $395 for annual fees
- At least $99 for extra card fees
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, the creditcardGenius quiz can help you figure it out. It takes less than a few minutes and no hard credit checks to complete.
The best Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards in Canada
The top Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards in Canada enjoy all the benefits of the VIP program, plus special perks added by their credit card issuers. Every card is unique.
To make comparison easier, we ranked our results by their Genius Rating:
| Category | Credit card | Welcome bonus | Annual fee | Genius rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Visa Infinite Privilege credit card in Canada | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | Up to 70,000 bonus points (terms) | $399 | 5.0 |
| Best Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms) | $599 | 4.5 |
| Lowest interest rate Visa Infinite Privilege credit card | Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege | None | $395 | 4.4 |
| Most valuable perks Visa Infinite Privilege credit card | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Up to 120,000 bonus points (terms) | $599 | 4.4 |
| Highest return rate Visa Infinite Privilege credit card | CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Up to 80,000 bonus points (terms) | $499 | 4.2 |
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
×1 Award winner 
Pros:
- 50 Be Well Points per $1 spent at Rexall
- 20% off and 3x points at Hertz rental cars
- 12 types of insurance included
- 2-for-1 ski lift passes on Friday at participating resorts
- 3 cents off per litre at Petro-Canada
- $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
- Points worth up to 2.33 cents each
- Optional add-ons available, including identity theft monitoring and roadside assistance
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $399 annual fee
- $99 extra card fee
- Only 1.25 points per $1 spent
- Non-metal credit card
- Points worth as little as 0.58 cents each
Why we love it:
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege offers a straightforward way to earn rewards, awarding 1.25 points for every $1 spent. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you spend your points wisely, the Avion Rewards can be one of the most valuable rewards programs in Canada.
You can book a flight knowing you’re covered by up to $500,000 of travel accident insurance, $5,000 of trip interruption coverage, and $3,000 of hotel burglary insurance. Plus, your international purchases are covered for up to 120 days by RBC’s purchase protection insurance.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
Pros:
- $100 NEXUS fee rebate every 2 years
- 12 types of insurance included
- 1 annual $99–$599 round-trip companion pass (plus taxes and fees) after spending $25,000
- 1st free checked bag on Air Canada flights
- Points worth an average of 2 cents each on Air Canada flights
- Premium metal credit card
- Priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and other services on Air Canada flights
- Unlimited access and 1 guest pass per visit to Maple Leaf Lounges
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $12 annual fee
- $199 extra card fee
- Points worth as little as 0.71 cents each
Why we love it:
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards out there. Cardholders earn up to 2 Aeroplan Points per $1 spent, which they can redeem on flights, car rentals, hotels, merchandise and more – but really, why spend them on anything but flights?
Not only do Air Canada flight tickets yield an average value of 2 cents per point, but this premium metal credit card also grants priority airport services, unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges, and Visa Infinite Privilege benefits. Top it off with a full complement of travel insurance and you have few reasons not to fly.
Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
Pros:
- 25% off Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty rental cars
- 12.9% cash advance interest rate
- 12 complimentary passes to Odyssey airport lounges at Montréal-Trudeau (YUL)
- 11.9% purchase interest rate
- 9 types of insurance included
- Points worth as much as 1 cent each
- Unlimited trip interruption coverage
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $25,000 annual cap on eligible spending for rewards
- $395 annual fee
- $95 extra card fee for non-members of Desjardins
- No welcome bonus
Why we love it:
With the Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege card in your wallet, you’ll earn up to 4% on restaurants, entertainment, and transit; 3% on groceries and travel; and 1.75% on all other purchases. For every Desjardins BONUSDOLLAR you earn, you get $1 to spend in 6 rewards categories, including travel, merchandise, and gift cards.
Charging only 11.9% interest on purchases, the Odyssey VIP card also qualifies as a low interest credit card. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher on this list is the $25,000 annual cap on eligible reward spending, after which your earn rate drops to 1.75%.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Pros:
- $200 annual lifestyle credit
- 25% bonus points when you add an authorized user
- 12 types of included insurance
- 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Premium metal credit card
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $599 annual fee
- $99 extra card fee
- Points worth as little as 0.5 cents each and up to 0.67 cents each
Why we love it:
The biggest selling point of the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card is its $200 annual lifestyle credit. No spending minimum, no conditions, just $200 for you to redeem as you please on any purchase you make with your credit card.
For the rest of the year, you’ll earn 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on dining, drugstores, gas, groceries, or travel, and 1 point everywhere else. It’s too bad BMO points aren’t more valuable or this card would rate a lot higher.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Pros:
- $200 annual travel credit
- $100 NEXUS fee rebate every 2 years
- $139 rebate on extra card fees with a CIBC Smart Plus Account
- 12 types of insurance included
- 10% off per litre with Journie Rewards
- Points worth up to 2.29 cents each
- Premium metal credit card
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $499 annual fee
- $99 extra card fee
Why we love it:
Aventura Rewards Points can be incredibly valuable, giving the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card a 3.34% return rate on just $2,000 of monthly spending. Cardholders earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre; 2 points on dining, entertainment, EV charging, gas, groceries, and transportation; and 1.25 points on everything else.
Unfortunately, you must qualify for flights on CIBC’s airline rewards chart to make your points count. That means departing and returning to one major Canadian airport, purchasing a round-trip flight that doesn’t exceed the maximum ticket cost, and covering at least 80% of your base flight fare in Aventura Points.
Bonus: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Pros:
- $50 NEXUS fee rebate every 4 years
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card types of insurance included
- Points worth up to 2 cents each
- 1 annual $99–$599 round-trip companion pass (plus taxes and fees) after spending $25,000
- 1st free checked bag on Air Canada flights
- Priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and other services on Air Canada flights
- Unlimited access and 1 guest pass per visit to Maple Leaf Lounges
Cons:
- $150,000 personal income or $200,000 household income required
- $599 annual fee
- $149 extra card fee
- High credit score requirements
If you combined the TD Aeroplan and the CIBC Aventura VIP cards, you’d probably end up with something like the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card. It pairs VIP treatment from Air Canada with excellent travel insurance – plus complimentary membership to the Avis President’s Club!
Cardholders 2 Aeroplan Points per $1 spent on Air Canada; 1.5 points per $1 spent on dining, EV charging, gas, groceries, and travel; and 1.25 points everywhere else. Our only criticism is that its welcome bonus is less than 33% the size of its TD counterpart.
FAQ
Is it hard to get a Visa Infinite Privilege credit card?
Visa Infinite Privilege cards have demanding eligibility requirements, including a high credit score, high annual fees, and at least $150,000 of personal income or $200,000 of household income.
Do Visa Infinite Privilege cards have lounge access?
Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards provide 6 annual complimentary airport lounge passes per year, courtesy of DragonPass and the Visa Airport Companion program.
What is the minimum income for a Visa Infinite Privilege card?
The minimum income needed to qualify for a Visa Infinite Privilege card is $150,000 (personal) or $200,000 (combined household).
Is Visa Infinite Privilege better than Visa Infinite?
Visa Infinite Privilege offers the same perks and benefits as Visa Infinite plus priority airport services, more exclusive offers, and more luxurious hotel and dining partners.
Is there a metal Visa Infinite Privilege credit card?
There are several metal Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards available in Canada: the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card, CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card, and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card.
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