
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is your key to a more comfortable, convenient, and rewarding journey. With a generous welcome offer that often includes up to 90,000 bonus points and a first-year annual fee waiver, the value begins from day one.
This card seamlessly blends a powerful points-earning structure with the practical benefits that matter most to travellers, making every trip, from planning to execution, a truly first-class experience. It’s time to let your spending fuel your wanderlust!
Benefits: Your Ticket to Premium Perks
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is packed with high-value features designed to provide an exceptional return on your spending and enhance your travel lifestyle.
- Massive Welcome Bonus: Start your BMO Rewards journey with a phenomenal boost! New cardholders are often greeted with a welcome offer of up to 90,000 bonus BMO Rewards points, plus the first year’s annual fee waived ($150 value). This bonus, worth up to $600 in travel, provides incredible upfront value to fund your next adventure.
- Highest Points on Travel Purchases (5X): Your travel spending has never been more rewarding! You’ll earn a massive 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises booked through any provider. This is a top-tier earn rate for travel enthusiasts.
- Accelerated Points on Lifestyle Spending (3X): Your everyday life also earns you more. Earn an excellent 3 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, entertainment purchases, and recurring bill payments, helping you accumulate points rapidly.
- Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: This is a signature premium perk! You receive a complimentary membership in the Mastercard® Travel Pass program provided by DragonPass, which includes four free airport lounge visits per year. This allows you to relax in comfort at over 1,300 lounges worldwide before your flight.
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Travel with exceptional peace of mind. The card includes a full suite of insurance.
- Flexible “Pay with Points” for Travel: Enjoy ultimate freedom in booking travel. You can book a flight or hotel on any website you choose, pay with your BMO card, and then log into your BMO Rewards account to apply your points as a statement credit against that travel purchase.
- Annual Fee Rebate with BMO Premium Chequing Account: If you are a BMO banking client with a Premium Plan chequing account, you can receive a full annual fee rebate on this card every single year, making this premium card essentially free to hold.
- World Elite Mastercard Concierge Service: Enjoy the convenience of a 24/7 personal assistant. The complimentary concierge service can help with travel planning, securing dinner reservations, finding event tickets, and much more.
- Partner Perks and Discounts: As a BMO cardholder, you can access exclusive offers, such as discounts of up to 25% at National® Car Rental and Alamo® Rent A Car, and up to 15% off Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility for World Elite Status
To be eligible for the premium BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, applicants must meet higher qualification criteria:
- Age of Majority: You must have reached the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- Canadian Resident: You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Minimum Annual Income: You must meet one of the following minimum annual income requirements:
- A personal gross annual income of $80,000, OR
- A household gross annual income of $150,000.
- Good to Excellent Credit Score: A strong credit history and a good to excellent credit score (typically suggested to be 725 or higher) are essential for approval.
How to Apply: Your Steps to an Ascended Travel Experience
Applying for the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is a straightforward online process.
- Visit the BMO Website: Go to the official BMO Bank of Montreal website.
- Select the Card: Find the “BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard” under the travel rewards card section.
- Review Card Details: Thoroughly read through the card’s benefits, the current welcome offer, rewards structure, insurance, the $150 annual fee, and other terms.
- Click “Apply Now”: Begin the secure online application form.
- Provide Your Information: Fill out the application with your personal details and financial information.
- Consent to a Credit Check: As part of the application, you must agree to allow BMO to perform a credit check.
- Review and Submit: Carefully double-check all your information for accuracy before submitting the application.
- Await a Decision: You may receive an instant decision online. If not, BMO will notify you of their decision within several business days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the annual fee for this card?
The annual fee is $150 for the primary cardholder and $50 for each supplementary card. The welcome offer often includes a rebate on these fees for the first year. - How much are BMO Rewards points worth?
The best value is approximately 0.67 cents per point (150 points = $1) when redeemed for travel using “Pay with Points” or for contributions to a BMO investment account. - What travel insurance is included?
It includes Emergency Travel Medical (up to $5M for 21 days), Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Flight Delay, Baggage Delay/Loss, and Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver insurance. - What happens after I use my four free lounge passes?
After your four complimentary visits are used, you can still access participating lounges for a fee of $32 USD per person, per visit.