The short version

• Credit scores in Canada usually range from 300 to 900. A higher score is better.
• Credit bureaus only collect Canadian credit activity. Credit from another country does not appear on a Canadian report.
• Payment history is the most important part of your score, according to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).
• You can get your credit report free from Equifax and TransUnion. Checking your own report does not affect your rating.

The situation

You apply for a phone plan. Or an apartment. Or a credit card. The answer comes back: not enough credit history.

You paid every bill on time back home. That history did not travel with you.

This is not a judgment about you. It is how the system works. Here is what FCAC says, and what you can do about it.

How the system works

• A credit report is a summary of how you have used credit in the past. The credit bureaus create it when you first borrow or apply for credit.
• A credit score is a three-digit number based on your credit report. It estimates how likely you are to repay borrowed money. Scores usually range from 300 to 900.
• The bureaus only collect Canadian credit activity. Foreign credit does not appear on a Canadian report. Some lenders may still consider your credit history from another country. If so, you may need to provide a foreign credit report and meet with a bank officer.

What goes into your score

FCAC groups the factors in two parts.

• Credit history: how long you have had credit, how long each account has been open, the types of credit you use, and any collection referrals or insolvency filings.
• Credit habits: whether you carry a balance, missed payments, how much you owe, how close you are to your credit limit, and how often you apply for new credit.

Bureaus and lenders use different formulas, so there is no single exact recipe.

Where newcomers commonly go wrong

1. Assuming the score from home transfers. It does not. Canadian bureaus do not collect it.
2. Applying for several cards at once. Hard inquiries, such as credit card or mortgage applications, can affect your score. Apply only when you need credit.
3. Using almost the whole limit. FCAC's example: a $5,000 limit with $4,500 owed may look riskier to lenders than owing $1,000.
4. Skipping a payment. Do not skip a payment, even if you are disputing a charge. If you cannot pay in full, make at least the minimum payment.
5. Closing your oldest account. FCAC says to keep older accounts open and active, even with a zero balance, if they have no annual fee. Opening a new card to transfer a balance counts as a new account and may lower your average account age.

What to do: four steps

1. Get your free reports. Both Equifax and TransUnion offer free online access, and the information updates monthly. You can also request a free copy by mail or phone. Checking your own report or score does not affect your credit rating. If you have no Canadian credit activity yet, there may be little to see. That is your starting point.
2. Open one account you can afford. Ask your bank what card you may be offered. FCAC says a secured card may be an option if you have no credit history, and it names newcomers to Canada. With a secured card you give the issuer a deposit, which may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The limit is normally equal to or higher than the deposit. A one-time set-up fee and an annual fee may apply.
3. Pay on time, every time. Pay in full if you can. If you cannot, pay at least the minimum, and contact your lender right away if you expect trouble. Ask your financial institution about electronic alerts for due dates.
4. Keep the balance low. FCAC says to try to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. Example from FCAC: $1,000 used on a $5,000 limit is 20%. Keep your use low each month, even if you pay the full balance.

Before you pay a secured card deposit, ask:

• Is the deposit insured?
• Is the card from a recognized brand, such as Visa or Mastercard? FCAC warns that cards without one may have limited uses.
• Does the issuer report my payments to Equifax and TransUnion? FCAC's page does not say they all do, so ask.
• Be cautious with offers from unknown issuers, especially issuers outside Canada.

Where to check

• Free reports and scores: Getting your credit report and credit score (FCAC)
• By phone: Equifax Canada 1-800-465-7166. TransUnion Canada 1-800-663-9980.
• Free scores: Equifax, in all provinces and territories. TransUnion, only if you live in Quebec or Ontario, with your Consumer Disclosure.
• Secured cards and other cards: Choosing a credit card (FCAC)
• Building your score: Improve your credit score (FCAC)
• How scores work: Credit report and score basics (FCAC)

The bottom line

Your credit history from home does not count on a Canadian report. That is fixable. Get your free report, open one account you can afford, pay on time, and keep the balance low. It starts with one report and one account.

This is general information, not financial advice. Credit rules, products and fees differ by lender and can change. Confirm details with your financial institution and the official pages above.

Sources: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Credit report and score basics; Getting your credit report and credit score; Improve your credit score (all dated 2026-07-01); Choosing a credit card (dated 2025-10-15). Checked 2026-10-14.