Transfer Foreign Credit History to Canada: Nova Credit

Key takeaways

Your foreign score does not transfer: Equifax and TransUnion Canada only collect credit activity in Canada
Scotiabank uses Nova Credit to read credit reports from 15 countries, including India, Nigeria and the Philippines
It is for raising the limit on a Scotiabank card you already have, if you have been in Canada less than two years
Scotiabank says limits can go up to twice the current limit, subject to approval
It does not create a Canadian credit score; only using credit in Canada does that

Why your credit score does not move with you

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) says Canada has two main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, and that they only collect information about credit activity in Canada. So when you arrive, you have no Canadian credit file, even with a perfect record at home.

FCAC also notes that some lenders may review credit history from another country. You may need to bring a credit report from that country and meet with a bank officer. Nova Credit is a digital way to do this with some lenders.

New to scores? Start with Canadian credit score 101.

What is Nova Credit and how does it work?

Nova Credit is a United States company that works with credit bureaus in other countries. Its product, the Credit Passport, takes your report from your home bureau, with your permission, and turns it into a standard format a lender can read. Nova Credit says it has bureau links in more than 20 countries.

In Canada, the lender that names Nova Credit on its own site is Scotiabank. The partnership started in 2023. In September 2024 it was extended to Scotiabank’s web and mobile apps, and in August 2025 Scotiabank added it to its digital credit card application. We did not find another Canadian bank naming Nova Credit on its own site as of October 10, 2026.

What Nova Credit does	What it does not do
Lets Scotiabank read your home-country credit report	Create a Canadian credit score or file at Equifax or TransUnion
Can support a higher limit on a Scotiabank card	Guarantee approval or a set limit
Works with your consent, online	Work with every country or every Canadian lender

Which countries are covered?

Scotiabank lists these 15 countries as of October 10, 2026:

Australia, Austria, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya
Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea
Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Scotiabank says the list can change without notice. China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Brazil are not on the list as of October 10, 2026. If your country is missing, see the other options below.

For country-specific banking tips, read banking from India, banking from the Philippines or banking for newcomers from Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

How to use Nova Credit at Scotiabank, step by step

Scotiabank’s page sets these conditions: you are a permanent resident, foreign or temporary worker, or international student; you come from a listed country; you have been in Canada less than two years; and you already have a Scotiabank credit card.

Get a Scotiabank card first. Through StartRight, no Canadian credit history is needed. See the StartRight review.
Apply for a limit increase. Use the link on Scotiabank’s Nova Credit page and choose to use your credit history from home.
Give consent and log in details for your home bureau when Nova Credit asks. Follow its country steps.
Wait for a decision. Scotiabank says that if you are eligible, it can raise your limit to up to twice your current limit. It bases the “2x” on its own results from November 2023 to April 2024. It is not a promise.

Scotiabank does not list a fee for the Nova Credit check. It warns that accessing your report through Nova Credit may affect your home-country credit score.

Worked example: what a higher limit changes

Ravi arrives from India with a good CIBIL record. Scotiabank gives him a no-fee card with a $2,000 limit. His monthly spending on the card is about $800.

With a $2,000 limit, $800 is 40% of his limit. Lenders like to see much less.
If Nova Credit helps him reach $4,000 (2x), the same $800 is 20%.

Lower use of your limit is one of the factors that can help a score, as long as he pays in full and on time. The higher limit does not give Ravi a score. He still needs months of on-time payments in Canada. Check the math with the credit utilization calculator.

Other ways to use your history from home

American Express Global Card Transfer. You may have an Amex card from another country. If you are the main (basic) cardholder, have held it at least 3 months and it is in good standing, you can apply for a Canadian Amex card. Corporate and small business cards do not qualify. Amex says you can be approved without a Canadian credit report if you hold a foreign Amex card. See Amex and other cards for newcomers.
Bring a paper report. FCAC says some lenders may review a report from another country. Ask your bank, and bring a recent report from your home bureau with an English or French translation.
Newcomer card programs. Several big banks have newcomer card programs that do not need a Canadian credit history. Approval depends on status, income and the bank’s review. Compare them in credit cards with no credit history.
Secured card. If you are declined, a secured credit card builds a file with a deposit.

Privacy and safety tips

Only start Nova Credit from your bank’s own website or app. Do not follow links in texts or emails.
Nova Credit asks for consent to pull your home report. Read what you are agreeing to, including its privacy policy.
Keep your home accounts in good standing. A missed payment at home can hurt your score there, and you may need that record later.
Order your free Canadian reports after a few months to check your new file. See how to get your free credit report.

How we handle offers. Offers on this page come from the bank’s own website and were last checked on October 10, 2026. Banks change offers often, so confirm the details on the bank’s site before you apply. No bank pays to be included or ranked here. If a link on this page ever earns us a commission, we will label it next to the link.

Common questions

Does my credit score from India transfer to Canada?

No. Canadian credit bureaus only record credit used in Canada. But if you have been in Canada less than two years and have a Scotiabank card, Scotiabank can read your Indian credit report through Nova Credit to consider a higher limit.

Which countries does Nova Credit cover in Canada?

Scotiabank lists 15 as of October 10, 2026: Australia, Austria, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Does Nova Credit give me a Canadian credit score?

No. It lets a lender read your foreign report. Your Canadian score starts when you use credit in Canada, such as a credit card paid on time.

Does using Nova Credit hurt my credit score?

Scotiabank warns that accessing your report through Nova Credit may affect your home-country credit score. It does not say it affects a Canadian score.

Is Sri Lanka or China covered?

Not as of October 10, 2026. Newcomers from those countries can use newcomer card programs, Amex Global Card Transfer if they hold a foreign Amex card, or a secured card.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Can you transfer your foreign credit history to Canada? Nova Credit explained