What the Card Offers
CIBC markets the Aeroplan Visa for Students as a no-fee travel card: up to 10,000 bonus points, 1 point per dollar on groceries, gas and Air Canada, and points that don't expire.
- $0
No annual fee1
No annual fee for you or up to 3 additional cardholders.
- 1x
Groceries, gas and Air Canada1
1 Aeroplan point per dollar on groceries, gas, EV charging and Air Canada purchases.
- No expiry
Points don't expire2
Aeroplan points don't expire while you hold a CIBC Aeroplan card.
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- 10,000
Welcome bonus points3
Up to 10,000 Aeroplan points in the first year.
- $5,000
Student credit limit1
Canadian students can get a limit of up to $5,000, international students up to $2,000; no income required.
Benefits as advertised by the issuer. The conditions attached to them are in the Fine Print Report below.
Sources (3)
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa for Students product page (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa for Students product page, footnote "aeroplan-inactivity-policy" (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa for Students product page, footnote "aeroplan-welcome-bonus" (retrieved 2026-10-18)
Points & Redemption
Rates: TD Aeroplan Visa product pages (retrieved 2026-10-13), redemption section and welcome-offer value footnote; Aeroplan Terms and Conditions for TD Credit Cards 599192 (04/25), section 3.1; CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite product page, welcome offer and footnote "aeroplan-redeem" (retrieved 2026-10-18). The CardTruth estimate is our own valuation, not a rate stated in the terms. The program states no fixed cash value, so what a point is worth depends on how you redeem it. Ranges marked est. are CardTruth estimates, from a conservative redemption to a typical one.
The Fine Print Report
Light fine print. Modest earning and little insurance, as expected for no fee.
Everything else: 1 point per $1.50Impact level: Medium
Most purchases earn 1 point for every $1.50
Outside groceries, gas, EV charging and Air Canada purchases, the card earns 1 Aeroplan point for every $1.50 spent. The bonus rate also stops after $40,000 of total card purchases a year.
Why it matters: Unless most of your spending is on groceries, gas or Air Canada, points add up slowly.
No travel medical or trip insuranceImpact level: Medium
No travel medical, trip cancellation or baggage insurance
The card's insurance is limited to common carrier accident, rental car, and purchase security and extended warranty coverage. There's no emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay or baggage coverage.
Why it matters: If you travel, you'll need separate travel medical and trip insurance.
No bonus if you've had this Aeroplan tierImpact level: Medium
No welcome bonus if you've ever earned one on the same tier of Aeroplan card, from any bank
The bonus requires $1,500 in the first 4 statement periods and $10,000 in the first 12 for the full 10,000 points. Under the Aeroplan program terms, you may not receive any of it, even if CIBC approves you, if you've previously received a welcome, additional or anniversary bonus on an Aeroplan credit card of the same category from CIBC or any other issuer, such as TD or Amex.
Why it matters: If you've held a TD or Amex Aeroplan card of the same tier, check before you apply: you could get the card and its fee without the bonus.
2.5% FX fee, also charged on refundsImpact level: Medium
Foreign currency purchases cost 2.5% extra, and refunds are converted at a new rate
Purchases in a foreign currency are converted to Canadian dollars at the rate CIBC pays, plus a fee of 2.5% of the converted amount. The fee applies to both debits and credits, and a refund is converted at the rate on the day it's applied, which may differ from the original purchase.
Why it matters: Every $1,000 spent in a foreign currency costs about $25 in fees, and a refunded foreign purchase can still leave you out of pocket.
2 missed payments: 25.99% for a yearImpact level: Medium
Two missed payments in 12 months raise your rates to 25.99% and 27.99% for at least a year
If CIBC doesn't receive your Required Payment on time twice in any 12-month period, your rates rise to 25.99% on purchases and 27.99% on cash advances, balance transfers and convenience cheques, for at least 12 months.
Why it matters: If you ever carry a balance, two late payments make it far more expensive. Automatic minimum payments avoid this.
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Default: CIBC can debit your depositsImpact level: Medium
If your account isn't in good standing, CIBC can take the balance from your CIBC deposit accounts and term deposits
When the account isn't in Good Standing, CIBC can demand the full balance and collect it by debiting any deposit account you have with it, or by redeeming fixed-term deposits, whether or not they've matured. It can also suspend or cancel the account without notice, for that or any other reason.
Why it matters: If you bank at CIBC, a missed payment can lead to withdrawals you didn't schedule and to a GIC being cashed early.
Page and footnote differ on bonus rateImpact level: Low
The product page and its own footnote disagree on the bonus earn rate
The product page advertises 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada, but the footnote attached to that rate describes a bonus of 1.5 points per $1 on the same purchases and refers to the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
Why it matters: Confirm the rate with CIBC before counting on it. We've used the page's 1 point per $1.
Points lost if not in good standingImpact level: Low
Aeroplan points earned in a month are cancelled if the account isn't in good standing on the statement date
Aeroplan points are awarded only if your account is in Good Standing on each monthly statement date; otherwise, the points earned in that period are cancelled.
Why it matters: A missed payment can wipe out a month of points as well as costing interest.
Who This Card Is For
Great fit if you...
- Want a no-fee card that earns Aeroplan points
- Spend on groceries and gas
- Fly Air Canada occasionally
- Are a student building credit
Consider alternatives if you...
- Already earned an Aeroplan no-fee card bonus
- Want travel medical insurance
- Spend mostly outside bonus categories
- Make foreign-currency purchases
Welcome Bonus History
CIBC Aeroplan Visa (Student) Welcome Bonus History
The Verdict
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa for Students is a reasonable no-fee way to collect Aeroplan points, with rental car coverage and points that don't expire.
Most purchases earn 1 point per $1.50, there's no travel medical insurance, and half the welcome bonus needs $10,000 of spending in the first year.
The Recommendation: A good no-fee option if you fly Air Canada; heavier travellers get far more from the Visa Infinite.
Before you apply: This teardown is general information, not financial, legal or insurance advice, and reflects the issuer's documents as of October 2026. Terms, rates, fees and offers change, and the issuer's own agreement, disclosure statement, insurance certificates and program terms are what govern your card. Read them in full and confirm details with the issuer before you apply. Full disclaimer