Chase Aeroplan Card Gets Major Refresh
The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Card has received a major refresh, bringing a new card design, automatic Aeroplan 25K status, a higher welcome bonus, new earning categories and several new travel benefits.
But for Canadians interested in U.S. credit cards, there is another change that may be even more interesting: the Chase application now explicitly offers an option to have international credit history considered during the application process.
That could potentially make the Chase Aeroplan Card more accessible to Canadians who have established Canadian credit but little or no U.S. credit history.
Importantly, this does not mean Chase has eliminated its U.S. identification requirements or that Canadian applicants are guaranteed approval. Rather, Chase has added a mechanism for applicants to voluntarily share eligible international credit history, and recent Canadian applicants have begun reporting successful applications and applications going into pending review.
The Chase Aeroplan Card now offers up to 115,000 points
The refreshed card currently carries a $195 annual fee and offers:
- 75,000 Aeroplan points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- An additional 40,000 Aeroplan points after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months
- Automatic Aeroplan 25K Status
- Up to $100 in annual Air Canada statement credits
- 15% off eligible Air Canada Aeroplan flight redemptions
- Free first checked bags for the cardmember and eligible travel companions
- 3X points on travel
- 3X points on Air Canada purchases from Chase, plus an additional 2X from Air Canada for eligible flights while holding Aeroplan 25K status
- 2X on gas
- 2X on grocery stores and dining, with grocery and dining temporarily earning 3X through December 31, 2026
- 1X on other purchases
The two-part welcome bonus means the full 115,000 points requires $24,000 of spending during the first year, with $4,000 of that spending required during the first three months. Chase’s terms confirm the two bonus components and the applicable eligibility restrictions. (Chase Credit Cards)
The refresh took effect September 10, 2026, for both new and existing cardmembers. (Chase Media Center)
Automatic Aeroplan 25K Status
One of the biggest changes is that the card now comes with automatic Aeroplan 25K Status, with no spending requirement.
The status is provided to the primary cardmember when the account is opened and remains in place while the account remains open and linked to the cardmember’s Aeroplan number.
Among the benefits associated with 25K status are priority airport check-in, Zone 2 priority boarding, additional baggage allowance and eUpgrade Credits. (Chase Credit Cards)
There is also a path to higher status: spending $75,000 during a calendar year on the card earns Aeroplan 35K Status for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year, subject to the program’s terms.
The particularly interesting change for Canadians: international credit history
This is the part that caught the attention of the Canadian points community.
The Chase Aeroplan application now states:
“This product now offers the option for consideration of international credit history within the application evaluation process.”
The option appears directly in the application flow.
Chase has also publicly confirmed that it has partnered with Nova Credit to allow credit history from Canada and the United Kingdom to be used when applying for select Chase cards. Chase describes the process as allowing applicants to share international credit history during the application, with additional instructions potentially provided after the initial application.
The Aeroplan Card is now one of the cards where this international-credit-history option appears. Independent reporting on the September 10 refresh also specifically notes the addition of the international-credit-history option to the Aeroplan application.
What does this mean for a Canadian?
Traditionally, Canadians looking to get U.S. credit cards have faced a significant hurdle: U.S. credit history isn’t simply interchangeable with Canadian credit history.
The new Chase option changes the application process by allowing eligible applicants to tell Chase that they have credit history in another country.
The application language is also important: international credit history is something Chase can consider; it is not a guarantee of approval.
Chase’s own description of the Nova Credit program says international credit information “can be considered” but is not required to apply or be approved. Canada and the U.K. are currently listed as supported countries.
Canadians are already testing it
There are now reports from Canadian applicants experimenting with the new process.
However, the available reports are still individual data points rather than evidence that Chase has opened the card broadly to Canadians without U.S. identification. That distinction is important.
Does this mean you no longer need an ITIN?
Not necessarily.
The international-credit-history feature and the question of whether an applicant needs a U.S. SSN or ITIN are separate issues.
Some Canadian applicants have reported being able to proceed further through the application using the international-credit-history option, while other applicants have reported still being asked for an SSN or otherwise encountering a different application flow.
So, at this point, I would describe the development as:
Chase is now explicitly allowing Canadian credit history to be considered for the Aeroplan Card application. Whether an individual Canadian can complete the application and receive approval without an ITIN or SSN appears to depend on the application flow and Chase’s evaluation.
That is a much more defensible claim than saying that Canadians can now simply apply for the card without an ITIN.
Other major changes to the card
The international-credit-history feature isn’t the only significant update.
3X on travel
The card now earns 3 Aeroplan points per dollar on travel purchases, a new category for the card.
2X on gas
Gas stations now earn 2X Aeroplan points per dollar.
Grocery and dining temporarily remain at 3X
The advertised rate is 2X on grocery stores and dining, but purchases that post through December 31, 2026 earn 3X instead. Starting January 1, 2027, those categories drop to 2X.
Up to $100 in Air Canada credits
Cardmembers can receive up to $50 in Air Canada statement credits during January–June and another $50 during July–December, for a maximum of $100 per calendar year.
15% discount on eligible Air Canada redemptions
The new FLY15OFF benefit provides eligible primary cardmembers with a reduction of at least 15% in the Aeroplan points required for the base fare of eligible Air Canada flight rewards, subject to the detailed terms.
Free first checked bag
The card also provides a free first checked bag for the cardmember and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation when travel originates on an Air Canada flight, subject to the terms.
The Canadian angle makes this refresh particularly interesting
For someone who already has a U.S. credit-card setup, the refreshed benefits are substantial on their own.
But for Canadians, the international credit history option may ultimately be the most important part of the announcement.
Chase is explicitly building a process through which Canadian credit history can be considered in the underwriting of eligible cards. The Aeroplan Card is now included, and the timing is particularly notable given that this card is specifically designed around Air Canada and Aeroplan.
There is still a lot that isn’t known.
For example:
- How widely will Chase approve Canadians using Canadian credit history?
- Will an SSN or ITIN ultimately be required for all applicants?
- Does Nova Credit perform a hard inquiry on Canadian credit files?
- How much weight does Canadian credit history carry in Chase’s underwriting?
- Does the process work differently for applicants who already have a Chase relationship?
- Are applicants with established Canadian credit but no U.S. credit actually being approved?
- Will Chase expand the feature to additional cards?
Those questions will likely become clearer as more Canadian applicants report their experiences.
For now, the important development is that the Aeroplan Card’s application itself now explicitly provides a path for international credit history to be considered. That’s a meaningful change from the traditional U.S. credit-card application process and one Canadian Aeroplan enthusiasts will be watching closely.
Current offer at a glance
| Benefit | Chase Aeroplan Card |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 USD |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 115,000 Aeroplan points |
| First bonus | 75,000 after $4,000 / 3 months |
| Second bonus | 40,000 after $20,000 / 12 months |
| Elite status | Automatic Aeroplan 25K |
| Air Canada earning | Up to 5X total |
| Travel | 3X |
| Grocery | 3X through Dec. 31, 2026; 2X afterward |
| Dining | 3X through Dec. 31, 2026; 2X afterward |
| Gas | 2X |
| Air Canada credits | Up to $100/year |
| Air Canada redemptions | 15% off eligible rewards |
| International credit history | Canada and U.K. supported; consideration subject to Chase’s evaluation |
The offer and benefits are subject to Chase’s terms and can change. The current offer also has restrictions for existing cardmembers and people who received a new-cardmember bonus on the Chase Aeroplan Card within the previous 24 months.
Bottom line for Canadian applicants: this isn’t confirmation that the traditional U.S. credit-card requirements have disappeared, but it is a significant new development. The application now explicitly allows Canadian credit history to be submitted for consideration, and early applicant reports suggest that Canadians are actively testing whether this can translate into approvals.