François CharronPowered by Milesopedia

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • +Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points
  • +Airport lounge access
  • +Purchase protection included

Cons

  • High annual fee ($250/yr)
  • Foreign Transaction Fee (2.5%)

Our Review

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

  • 5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

  • 60,000 Aeroplan points
  • 60,000 Avios
  • 60,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

  • $100 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
  • $50 NEXUS credit

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

  • gas stations
  • grocery stores
  • drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Rewards

All Spending

1x

Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar

Pharmacy

2x

Gas

2x

Travel

2x

Groceries

2x

Credit Card Rewards Calculator

See how much you could earn with this card based on your spending.

¢/ point
0.85¢5.1¢
Groceries2x
$700/month
Gas & EV2x
$200/month
Transit1x
$100/month
Restaurants1x
$300/month
Pharmacy2x
$50/month
Travel2x
$150/month
Bills & recurring payments1x
$250/month
Telecom1x
$150/month
Entertainment & streaming1x
$100/month
Office supplies1x
$0/month
All other spending1x
$500/month

Points Earned

43,200

Amex Membership Rewards/yr

Estimated Value

$734

After Fees

+$484

1st Year Value

$1,504

incl. welcome bonus

Annual rewards breakdown

Groceries$8,400/yr × 2x16,800 pts
Gas & EV$2,400/yr × 2x4,800 pts
Transit$1,200/yr × 1x1,200 pts
Restaurants$3,600/yr × 1x3,600 pts
Pharmacy$600/yr × 2x1,200 pts
Travel$1,800/yr × 2x3,600 pts
Bills & recurring payments$3,000/yr × 1x3,000 pts
Telecom$1,800/yr × 1x1,800 pts
Entertainment & streaming$1,200/yr × 1x1,200 pts
All other spending$6,000/yr × 1x6,000 pts
Total annual spend$30,000
Monthly spend$2,500
Average earn rate on spend per year1.44x
Average earn rate on spend 1st year with welcome bonus3.44x
Total points earned on spend43,200 pts
Welcome bonus points+60,000 pts
  • Earn 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards after $12,000 in purchases in 12 months
  • $100 annual credit (year 2)
Total points earned103,200 pts
Value of accumulated points$1,754

Travel Insurance

Travel Medical

Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Trip Cancellation

Up to $1,500

Trip Interruption

Up to $1,500

Delayed Baggage

Up to $500

Lost Baggage

Up to $500

Flight Delay

Up to $500

Hotel Burglary

Up to $500

Travel Accident

Up to $500,000

Purchase Protection

Purchase Protection

Included

Extended Warranty

+1 year(s)

Auto Rental

Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Interest Rates

  • Purchase Rate
    21.99%
  • Cash Advance
    21.99%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee
    2.5%

Perks & Benefits

Airport Lounge

4 visits/year

NEXUS Credit

Annual Statement Credit

$100/year

Terms & Conditions

Card Features

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points:

  • New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card

Card features

  • Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases for eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases at eligible gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada, and 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
  • The Card is now available in your choice of Gold or Rose Gold metal options
  • Receive a C$50 statement credit when you charge your American Express Gold Rewards Card for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
  • You have access to an annual $100 CAD Travel Credit, compliments of your American Express Gold Rewards Card. Use the credit once annually towards any single travel booking of $100 or more charged to your Gold Rewards Card through American Express Travel Online
  • As a Gold Rewards Cardmember, you can receive complimentary membership in Priority PassTM – one of the world’s largest independent airport lounge programs. Escape the chaos of airports and relax in an oasis of calm and simply enjoy the fact that the travel experience has begun before your plane has even left the ground. Enrollment is required and entry fees apply
  • Enjoy four (4) free visits per calendar year to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada. Entry fees apply once complimentary visits have been used
  • Charge any eligible purchase to your credit Card then log in to redeem your earned points for a statement credit
  • Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
  • 1 Free Additional Gold Rewards Card (a $50 value) to help you earn points faster
  • Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.

Apply with confidence!

  • See if you’ll be approved before you apply – with no impact to your credit score.*
  • When applying for a new card, businesses will typically run a “hard check” of your credit report. A hard credit check can cause a temporary impact to your credit score.
  • Unlike many lenders, for American Express’ personal cards, you can see if you will be approved before you apply without impacting your credit score
  • A soft credit check is a check into your credit report initiated either by you or a company even if you didn’t apply for credit. It is primarily used to screen for pre-approval financing offers or for a background check
  • Available for American Express personal cards, we’ll let you know your eligibility with no impact to your credit score, so you can submit your application with confidence.*

*Instant decisions are only available for Consumer (also known as Personal) Card applications.

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Conditions apply. All information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Card details, rewards, and offers are subject to change at any time. Always verify the latest terms on the issuer’s website before applying. François Charron may receive compensation through affiliate links. This does not affect our editorial choices or card rankings. © 2026 American Express Canada. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.