How to read these tables
Each rate is a percentage of the sale, paid to the bank that issued the card. You never pay it directly: it sits inside the fee your processor charges you, together with network fees and the processor's markup. For the full picture of what you pay, see our card processing fees guide.
Three things set the rate on any one sale:
- The card. A basic card costs less than a premium rewards card. You do not choose which one a customer hands you.
- How it was accepted. Chip or tap in person costs less than a card typed in or used online.
- Your business. Your industry, and whether you are under the small-business threshold.
Visa consumer credit rates
Visa Canada's current published schedule for consumer credit cards.
| Visa category | Classic, Gold, Platinum | Infinite | Infinite+ | Infinite Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic (card present) | 1.25% | 1.57% | 1.60% | 2.08% |
| Card not present | 1.40% | 1.65% | 2.30% | 2.40% |
| Card not present, tokenized | 1.35% | 1.60% | 2.25% | 2.35% |
| Everyday Needs | 1.10% | 1.20% | 1.35% | 1.95% |
| Grocery and Food Retail | 0.95% | 1.15% | 1.30% | 1.95% |
| Gas | 1.07% | 1.34% | 1.50% | 1.95% |
| Emerging Segments | 0.98% | 1.17% | 1.45% | 1.95% |
| Performance Program, card present | 1.20% | 1.49% | 1.55% | 1.95% |
| Recurring Payments | 1.25% | 1.53% | 1.95% | 1.95% |
| Small Merchant, card present | 0.77% | 0.99% | 1.05% | 1.80% |
| Small Merchant, card not present | 1.30% | 1.55% | 2.20% | 2.30% |
| Standard | 1.45% | 1.70% | 2.35% | 2.45% |
Other Visa rates: business credit 2.00% (Visa Infinite Business 2.35%); Visa Debit, electronic, $0.03 per transaction; utilities $0.75 per transaction.
Source: Visa Canada interchange reimbursement fees, checked 24 September 2026. Visa's page says it manages consumer credit interchange to an average of 1.40%.
What the Visa categories cover
- Everyday Needs: restaurants and fast food (merchant category codes 5812 and 5814), caterers, drug stores, variety stores, laundry and dry cleaning, hair salons, taxis, car washes and similar everyday businesses.
- Grocery and Food Retail: grocery stores and supermarkets (5411), bakeries (5462), dairy, candy and meat shops.
- Small Merchant: businesses with up to $300,000 in annual Visa sales. That threshold rises to $750,000 on 24 October 2026.
- Standard: a sale that did not qualify for any other category, usually because data was missing.
Visa's changes on 24 October 2026
Visa published new rates effective 24 October 2026. The main changes for small businesses:
| Visa change, 24 October 2026 | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Small Merchant threshold, annual Visa sales | $300,000 | $750,000 |
| Classic Small Merchant, card present | 0.77% | 0.70% |
| Classic Small Merchant, card not present | 1.30% | 1.20% |
| Classic Small Merchant, card not present, tokenized | 1.25% | 1.15% |
| Infinite Small Merchant, card present | 0.99% | 0.89% |
| Infinite, Everyday Needs (restaurants and more) | 1.20% | 1.10% |
| Infinite, Grocery and Food Retail | 1.15% | 1.05% |
Visa is also adding a new program for online payments that send extra transaction data, at 1.30% for Classic cards and 1.10% for small merchants.
Source: Visa Canada, upcoming changes to interchange rates, dated 4 September 2026.
Mastercard consumer credit rates
Mastercard Canada's schedule, effective 1 August 2026.
| Mastercard program | Core | World | World Elite | World Legend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Present EMV | 0.92% | 1.22% | 1.56% | 1.95% |
| Card Present EMV, Small Business | 0.70% | 0.93% | 1.19% | 1.25% |
| Contactless | 0.92% | 1.22% | 1.56% | 1.95% |
| Contactless, Small Business | 0.70% | 0.93% | 1.19% | 1.25% |
| Unsecure Card Present | 1.22% | 1.52% | 1.86% | 2.25% |
| Unsecure Card Present, Small Business | 0.93% | 1.17% | 1.42% | 1.48% |
| Digital Commerce | 1.67% | 1.90% | 2.13% | 2.23% |
| Digital Commerce, Small Business | 1.57% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.13% |
| SecureCode / 3DS | 1.50% | 1.70% | 1.90% | 2.03% |
| SecureCode / 3DS, Small Business | 1.40% | 1.60% | 1.80% | 1.93% |
| Charity | 0.92% | 1.22% | 1.56% | 1.65% |
| Standard | 1.96% | 2.19% | 2.42% | 2.53% |
Utilities pay $0.10 per transaction. Small Business means annual Mastercard credit volume below $175,000.
Source: Mastercard Canada merchant interchange rates, effective 1 August 2026.
What is different about Mastercard
- No industry rates for restaurants or grocery. Those businesses pay the card-present, contactless or small-business rates above.
- A lower small-business threshold: $175,000 in Mastercard credit volume, against Visa's $300,000 (rising to $750,000).
- A discount for some new acceptors. Until 31 July 2027, businesses newly accepting Mastercard in charity, education, healthcare, home improvement and professional services get 0.50 points off. Restaurants, grocery and retail are not included.
Interac debit
Interac debit has no interchange: Interac sets it at zero. Processors pay Interac a small network fee on each transaction, and you pay your processor a flat fee per transaction set in your contract. Interac does not publish a merchant rate, so the only place to see yours is your statement.
Source: Interac, understanding fees.
The 2024 small-business reduction
On 19 October 2024, federal changes cut interchange for small businesses by up to 27%, with a target weighted average of 0.95% in store and 10 basis points off online rates. The small-business rows in both tables are the result. Whether the lower rates reach you depends on your processor, and the Code of Conduct requires notice when they are not passed on in full.
Source: Department of Finance Canada, October 2024.
Common questions
What is the average interchange rate in Canada?
Visa says it manages Canadian consumer credit interchange to an average of 1.40%. For small businesses, the 2024 changes target a weighted average of 0.95% in store. Your own average depends on your card mix.
Why is my rate higher than these tables?
The tables are interchange only. Your processor adds network fees and its markup, and some accounts carry monthly and compliance fees on top. Divide your total fees by your total card sales to see your real rate.
What is the lowest interchange rate in Canada?
For a card present sale, Mastercard Core Small Business at 0.70%, and from 24 October 2026 Visa Classic Small Merchant at 0.70%. Some sectors, like utilities, pay a flat amount per transaction instead.
How often do interchange rates change?
The networks update their schedules a few times a year. Visa's next change is 24 October 2026. Check the published schedules, linked above, before relying on any number.
Sources
- Visa Canada, interchange reimbursement fees, checked 24 September 2026, and upcoming changes, dated 4 September 2026.
- Visa Canada, interchange for small businesses.
- Mastercard Canada, merchant interchange rates, effective 1 August 2026.
- Interac, understanding fees.
- Department of Finance Canada, credit card fee reductions for small businesses, October 2024.
