Can you use your debit card in Canada on vacation if you're from the US?

Question

I have a friend coming to visit me from the US, and was wondering if she can use her Visa Debit card while here in Canada? Or does she need to convert her money from US to Canadian dollars? If so how would she go about doing that?

Answer 1

Seems to be some confusion here...

As a Canadian retailer, I can assure you YES you can use the Visa debit card here anywhere interac debit cards are accepted - and that's just about everywhere.

Good advice about exchanging cash at a bank, though - you'll get the best rate if you buy Canadian funds at a US bank. Retailers are walloped at the bank when we deposit US cash, so we have to charge a bit more than the current exchange just to break even. We always suggest the bank to our US cash customers.

FYI: many retailers here are indeed set up to accept chip-pin credit cards (I am). But that is a completely different thing than  a Visa debit card. The chip-pin can still be swiped & used without the pin on older machines until all the technology is updated. US card companies are holding off on issuing chip-pin cards, there are far more in Canada & Europe.

Answer 2

Your friend will find that debit cards are even more widely accepted in Canada than in the US. However, beware of the exchange rate scammers. Best bet is to either use the Visa credit card (the issuing bank will give a fair exchange rate and it will be out of the hands of the merchants), or withdraw cash at a bank ATM (NOT the private ATMs, they scam you on exchange as well). Stick to the big banks, like TD Canada Trust, Scotia Bank, RBC, CIBC - they are all Visa associated banks and will give a fair exchange rate. If you use the debit card for point of sale purchases, you are at the mercy of the merchant and they can charge whatever exchange rate they feel like.

Answer 3

No she can use her Visa debit card anywhere that Visa is accepted.  She cannot use it as a debit card and get money back though when paying for things.  It will be converted automatically by the bank into US funds and there can be a foreign conversion fee for each transaction.  She can also take money out at most ATM's.

Note:  The Visa Debit card is one used in the US, it has a Visa logo on it and accepted like a credit card but it is then taken immediately out of the checking/chequing account that it is linked with. It is not a regular credit card where you get a statement for it each month and pay interest.

Answer 4

Yes.  Have your friend notify the bank that she will be using the card in Canada.  Make sure she tells merchants to run it as a credit card not an interac card.

Now to clear up some misconceptions on debit cards.

In the U.S.  

U.S. issued Visa debit and Mastercard debit cards can work at least two ways,  signature transaction and pin transaction.  Both methods come out of your checking account.

Yes in some case outside of the U.S. it could work as a pin purchase but I would recommend running it as a credit card.

Some U.S. Visa/Mastercard Debit cards and Some Canada interac cards have the Maestro logo on them and should work at merchants that take Maestro pin based debit cards.  Check with your bank first.

Some interac cards will work in the U.S. on the Nyce system.

Some US cards may have the interac logo.  Reason, the issuing bank have a branch in Canada.

Again all methods come out of your checking account.

Answer 5

Sure.  There may be a lot of the same bank but it's still THE SAME BANK.  Just like you can by clothes at one store and then return them in the same store in a different area.  Visa is Visa.

Answer 6

Canadian debit cards work same way than US debit cards.

Don't care if  either Visa/MasterCard, it can be used the exact same way as a credit card.

Because of the weak U.S. dollar, You should exchange a small amount of cash before leaving the U.S. This will cover incidentals such as taxis, cars and food while you’re en route. Canadian bill is a little stronger than the US dollar, so $1 US will get you a little less than 1 dollar Canadian.

One advise ,don't use your debit card for retail purchases in a foreign country. ATM machine (just in banks not in  retail shops) is fine but not to buy gas or at a Small shops so dont use it.!

You can convert cash at a bank, foreign-exchange office in Canada

Answer 7

I know that some people have a debit account on their credit card. In canada, it may not be possible in a retail store to use debit account on their credit card (where you enter a pin). Canadian machines aren't currently set up to deal with pin numbers from credit cards. However you can still use your credit card using your credit account, and your debit card (bank card) for debit.

Answer 8

Are you talking about a "debit" card or a "credit" card?  They are two very distinct things and are not inter-changeable.

A debit card is used when you buy something and are withdrawing money out of your actual bank account for the purchase.  That would be advertised in a store as "Interac". (this is NOT credit)

A credit card (like Visa) is when you buy something and it is charged to your credit account and you get a statement in the mail showing a balance owing.

If it is solely a debit card (not credit) your friend many find she can use it at major stores here (like Best Buy, etc.) but independent stores will not likely take it.  I am Canadian and going by my own experience with a debit card in the U.S.  ie.  Sears, Target, etc., accept it, but smaller stores don't.

If it's a Visa credit card, your friend won't have a problem.  The amount of her purchase will show up on her statement converted to American dollars at the exchange rate that was in effect the day of the purchase.  For example:  she buys something for $20.00 Canadian.  It may show up on her Visa statement at $19.85 (the exchange rate is close now).

I would advise if you are converting money to preferably do it at your bank before you come, or even at a bank here.  Don't convert it at the border or at one of those highway conversion stops.  These places charge a substantial fee on top of the exchange rate.  Also, most retailers will not give you the exchange rate that a bank will.  You are best to change over your money first.