Transferable points$250/yrAmex

Amex Gold Rewards

Welcome offer: up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points (about $600); an elevated 90,000 shows at times

Welcome offer now

"Up to 60,000 points." Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points by earning 5,000 MR for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 on your Card in your first year. "This could add up to 60,000 points in a year." "That's up to $600 towards your next vacation."

Checked on Amex's own page October 21, 2026. See Amex's page

What it earns in a year

45,600 points a year

Worth about $206 after the $250 fee at the simplest redemption, up to $662 at the best.

Based on $30,000 a year of spending ($9,600 groceries, $3,000 gas, $3,000 dining…). Welcome offer not included.

Try it with your own spending →

Groceries: 2× points.
Gas / EV: 2× points.
Drugstore / pharmacy: 2× points.
Travel: 2× points.
Everything else: 1× points.

Highlighted = use this card here.

Using your points

On the spending above, 45,600 points a year: worth $456 the easy way, $912 the best way.

Easy way (1¢): Statement credit: 1,000 points = $10
Best way (2¢): Move them 1:1 to Aeroplan or British Airways Avios, then book economy flights

Every rewards program compared →

How to apply for the Amex Gold Rewards

Check first

Bonus once per lifetime: you can't get it if you've ever had this card

Check you qualify No minimum income listed. You need to live in Canada and be the age of majority in your province.
Have this ready Your address and how long you've lived there, your employer and yearly income, and your monthly rent or mortgage. Your SIN is optional for a credit card; you can leave it blank.
Expect a credit check Applying adds a hard inquiry to your credit report, which lowers your score a little for a few months. Space applications about 90 days apart.
Apply on Amex's own site Apply online from the bank's product page, where the offer above is shown. This isn't an affiliate link: we earn nothing if you apply.Apply on Amex's site →
After you're approved Put the spending needed for the welcome offer on the card before the deadline, and pay the full balance every month.

How to use it

The bonus: spend $1,000 every month for 12 months (5,000 points a month, up to 60,000). When the elevated offer shows, it adds 30,000 for $4,000 in the first 3 months
Gas, groceries, drugstores, travel: 2 points per $1. Superstores, wholesale clubs and liquor stores earn 1
Travel credit: one $100 booking through Amex Travel Online each card year gets $100 back
Everything else: use another card. This one pays 1 point per $1
Before year two: keep it only if you use the lounges, the $100 credit and the insurance; otherwise cancel after the bonus, once your points are moved
Example: $800/month groceries + $250 gas + $550 of other spending = 31,800 points = $318 a year as a statement credit, $68 after the fee

Key facts

Annual fee: $250
Purchase interest: 21.99%
Foreign currency fee: 2.5%
Min. personal income: None published
Min. household income: None published
Rewards: Amex Membership RewardsSee every Amex Membership Rewards card

Annual fee waiver

None

From americanexpress.com Gold Rewards product page, checked October 17, 2026. Not an affiliate link.

More Amex cards

Best paired with

Neo World Elite Mastercard

This card: dining & restaurants, travel, transit, drugstore / pharmacy, entertainment, everything else
Neo World Elite Mastercard: groceries, gas / ev, bills & subscriptions
Together: $483 a year after both fees, vs $206 with this card alone

Computed on our standard household ($30,000 a year): each kind of spending goes to whichever card pays more, both fees taken off. Partners are everyday, category and churning cards on Visa or Mastercard. Points at their simplest redemption. Welcome offers not included.

Pros

Up to 60,000 points in year one (90,000 when the elevated offer shows)
2 points per $1 on gas, groceries, drugstores and travel, no caps
Points move 1:1 to Aeroplan, British Airways Avios and Flying Blue
$100 travel credit every card year, and $50 toward NEXUS about every 4 years
Priority Pass membership plus 4 free Plaza Premium lounge visits a year in Canada
Trip cancellation and $5 million travel medical included
One additional card free

Cons

$250 a year, including year one
The bonus needs $1,000 of spending every month for a year
Amex: not accepted at Costco (Mastercard only) and turned away at some grocers; carry a Visa or Mastercard
Walmart, Costco and other superstores earn only 1 point per $1, even on groceries
Priority Pass visits are not free: each one costs the lounge's usual price
Statement credit pays only $10 per 1,000 points
2.5% on foreign-currency purchases
No welcome offer if you have held this card before

Insurance included

Travel medical: $5 million, first 15 days, under 65
Trip cancellation: $1,500 per person ($3,000 total)
Trip interruption: $1,500 per person ($6,000 total)
Flight delay and delayed bags: $500 combined, after 4 hours (flight) or 6 hours (bags)
Lost bags: $500
Hotel burglary: $500
Travel accident: $500,000
Rental car damage: up to 48 days, cars under $85,000
Purchases: 90 days of theft/damage cover (up to $1,000), +1 year warranty

Maximums as Amex lists them. Conditions apply; the insurance certificate decides claims.

Perks

$100 travel credit: one booking of $100+ through Amex Travel Online, each card year
Lounges: 4 free Plaza Premium visits a year in Canada; Priority Pass membership (paid visits)
NEXUS: $50 credit about every 4 years
Front Of The Line: concert and event presales

Other cards for groceries

Back a year on $9,600 of groceries, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.

Card	Earns on groceries	Back a year	Annual fee	Terms checked
Amex Cobalt	5× points≈ 10.0% in value	$960	$192	October 21, 2026
Scotiabank Gold Amex	6× points	$576	$120	November 2, 2026
Neo World Elite Mastercard	5% back	$480	$149	October 21, 2026
National Bank World Elite Mastercard	5× points	$480	$150	October 21, 2026
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard	4% back	$384	$100	October 23, 2026
SimplyCash Preferred	4% back	$384	$120	October 21, 2026
Amex Gold Rewards	2× points≈ 4.0% in value	$384	$250	October 21, 2026

Other cards for gas / ev

Back a year on $3,000 of gas / ev, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.

Card	Earns on gas / ev	Back a year	Annual fee	Terms checked
SimplyCash Preferred	4% back	$120	$120	October 21, 2026
Amex Cobalt	2× points≈ 4.0% in value	$120	$192	October 21, 2026
Amex Gold Rewards	2× points≈ 4.0% in value	$120	$250	October 21, 2026
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege	2× points≈ 4.0% in value	$120	$499	October 21, 2026
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite	4% back≈ 3.9% in value	$118	$120	October 21, 2026
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite	5× points≈ 3.4% in value	$101	$120	October 21, 2026

How the offer has changed

One row per check of Amex's page, newest first. Old rows are never edited.

Checked	Welcome offer	Fee, year one	Ends
October 21, 2026	Standard: 60,000 MR: 5,000 MR per billing period with $1,000 spend in the first year ("up to $600")Elevated 90,000 offer of October 17, 2026 (+30,000 MR after $4,000 in 3 months, "up to $900") not shown on any of 7 loads. New page claim: "up to $800 in annual value" (excludes fee and bonus)	$250, not waived	none stated
October 17, 2026	Elevated: up to 90,000 MR: 5,000 MR per billing period with $1,000 spend in the first year (up to 60,000) + 30,000 MR after $4,000 in 3 months ("up to $900"); 60,000 shown crossed outElevated offer now on the public page (1 of 4 loads showed 60,000 only). Page lists Card Type as Credit Card, not charge card	$250, not waived	none stated
September 6, 2026	60,000 MR standard shown on the public page; "Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible"No elevated offer visible	$250, not waived	none stated
July 31, 2026	Unchanged (full audit)	$250, not waived	—
June 15, 2026	60,000 MR standard (5,000 MR per month with $1,000 spend, 12 months); elevated 90,000 in some channels (+30k after $4,000 / 3 mo)	$250, not waived	none stated

General information, not financial advice. Offers change; confirm on Amex's page before you apply.