How can I start a credit history in Canada if I have never had a credit card?

A secured credit card is one option the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada describes if you do not have a credit history. You give the issuer a cash deposit. The page says that deposit may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. That range is what institutions may ask, not a required amount. The credit limit is normally equal to the deposit or higher. If you do not pay, the institution may use the deposit toward what you owe. A one-time application or set-up fee is not part of the deposit. You may not get that fee back if the institution says no. The card may also have an annual fee. You must be of legal age in your province. The page says to be careful with a secured card from an unknown institution, and particularly with an issuer outside Canada. This page does not say you will be approved.

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