Open an account online in Canada

Q: What will the fees be once the welcome offer for newcomers expires after 2years?

Plan: The Unlimited plan costs $15.95 per month once the offer expires (2 years after you open your account). You can keep the plan or choose another. We waive the monthly fees if you maintain the required minimum monthly balance ($4,000 for the Unlimited plan). Learn more about our plans Credit card: No impact on credit cards. Legal assistance: You no longer have access to free legal assistance once the welcome offer expires.

Our welcome offer for newcomers 1 is designed for you to help you settle into your new life in Canada.

Open an account from abroad

Fill out the form

Open an account from within Canada

Open an account

Our welcome offer for newcomers

This offer is for you if you meet the following 3 criteria:

You're 18 or older.
You're not yet a Desjardins member or have been a member for less than a year.
You're a permanent resident who has been living in Canada for 3 years or less.

OR

You're a temporary worker with a work permit that extends beyond 8 months.

Everyday account

Everyday account with a free transaction plan and unlimited transactions for 2 years after your account is opened 2 .

Credit card

A credit card 3 , potentially with no annual fee 4 , even if you have no credit history.

Legal assistance

Free legal assistance 5 for 2 years after your account is opened. This confidential phone service provides unlimited access to lawyers and notaries for reliable information about your rights and obligations.

More products and services

Visitors to Canada Insurance 6 – Healthcare and emergency services in case of accident or illness
Potential recognition of your previous driving experience in your country of origin when getting an auto insurance quote 7
International money transfers online of up to $5,000 per day 8

More advantages

Insurance products for your protection, including home and auto insurance, life, health and disability insurance, as well as credit and travel insurance.
Effective support to help you prepare for your move and settle in once you arrive, such as useful tips and products and services designed for you

Do you have any questions?

Moving to a new country comes with a load of questions. Our multilingual team is here to help you.

Write us

Apply to open an account from abroad

Before filling out the form, you must:

Have a valid passport
Know your future address or the postal code of your employer in Canada
Plan to arrive within 12 months of applying

Open your account in 3 steps

Step 1.

Fill out the online form.

Fill out the form

Step 2.

Read through the welcome email that you'll receive within 24 to 48 hours following confirmation. It outlines what to do next and includes your account information. You’ll need this information if you want to make 1 money transfer for a fee before you leave 9 ^, 10 .

Step 3.

Make an appointment 2 weeks before you leave to finish setting up your account once you arrive in Canada. Bring the required documents to your appointment to confirm your identity and pick up your debit card if you applied for one.

Learn more about our services and benefits

The Desjardins difference

Our cooperative nature sets us apart from other financial institutions. We're defined by our values: money should be at the service of human development, personal commitment, democratic action, integrity and rigour, and intercooperation.

See why you should choose Desjardins

To help you with your departure

We have agreements with financial institutions abroad to make your transition to Desjardins even smoother.

See our agreements with international partners

Tackle your project head on

Preparing to live in Canada

Browse through a multitude of resources containing useful information to plan your move and help you settle in.

Coming to study in Canada

Take a look at our student offer with everything you'll need while you study here.

Frequently asked questions

What will the fees be once the welcome offer for newcomers expires after 2years?

Plan: The Unlimited plan costs $15.95 per month once the offer expires (2 years after you open your account). You can keep the plan or choose another. We waive the monthly fees if you maintain the required minimum monthly balance ($4,000 for the Unlimited plan).
Learn more about our plans
Credit card: No impact on credit cards.
Legal assistance: You no longer have access to free legal assistance once the welcome offer expires.

Can I make an international money transfer to my Desjardins account before I arrive in Canada?

Yes. Once you've completed your application to open an account, you can make only 1 international money transfer to your Desjardins account from abroad 9 . You can do this through your financial institution in your home country as soon as you receive your new account information by email.

How much does an international transfer cost?

Fees for transferring money to your Desjardins account

Contact your financial institution in your home country with fee-related questions and to find out what the exchange rates are for transfers or international money transfers.

Fees for receiving money in your Desjardins account

Transfers under CAN$50: free
Transfers over CAN$50: CAN$15 10

Voir plus de questions sur AccèsD

This offer is available upon request and is subject to change without notice at any time. Other terms and conditions may apply. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer.

The fee waiver only applies to the Unlimited plan for a single member folio (individual or joint account).

Credit cards are issued and credit limits are set based on the applicant's credit risk. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer. Some restrictions apply.

Depending on the card chosen, you have 21 or 25 days from the date the monthly statement is issued to pay the full balance on your account without interest (except on cash advances). The minimum payment due is 5% of the total statement balance. This includes the balance shown on your account statement for the previous period, any interest or monthly instalments that were not paid on the due date for that period, purchases made during that period, and any cash advances from the current statement period, plus the interest charged on those cash advances. This amount will also include any other amounts due under your credit card contract. Here are some examples of applicable interest charges for a standard 30-day billing cycle: If the regular annual interest rate is 19.9% and your average daily outstanding balance is $100, you'll be charged $1.64 in interest. If it's $500, you'll be charged $8.18 in interest, and if it's $1,000, you'll be charged $16.36 in interest. If the regular annual interest rate is 10.9%, and your average daily outstanding balance is $100, you'll be charged $0.90 in interest. If it's $500, you'll be charged $4.48 in interest, and if it's $1,000, you'll be charged $8.96 in interest.

Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information, call 514-875-4137 or 1-877-435-6098 and mention that you have the Welcome Offer for Newcomers to Canada.

To be eligible for Visitors to Canada Insurance, you must be between 15 days and 84 years old and fall into 1 of the following categories: Canadians not covered by a provincial health plan, newcomers waiting to be covered by a provincial health insurance plan, foreign workers with a work visa, international students with a student visa, or visitors to Canada. Excludes Working Holiday permit holders. For more information see the Visitors to Canada Insurance page.

Applicable to principal drivers. In Quebec only. Contact one of our damage insurance agents or advisors to verify your eligibility. Certain restrictions, exclusions and limitations may apply. Damage insurance products are underwritten and distributed by Desjardins General Insurance Inc., provider of auto, home and business insurance.

Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply.

Account openings and money transfers from certain countries may be subject to strict regulations under Canadian and international economic sanctions.

Applicable fees are calculated on the transferred amount received, or, as the case may be, on the amount in Canadian dollars resulting from the conversion of foreign currency. The conversion rate corresponds to market rates in effect at the time funds are received. Some correspondent banks may impose fees or additional charges, which will be deducted from the amount transferred.