Does Costco Canada take Visa?
Not in the warehouse or at the gas station. Costco Canada warehouses take Mastercard, debit cards, cash, Costco Shop Cards, personal cheques and Apple Pay. Visa works only on Costco.ca. Here's the full list.
From Costco Canada's customer service pages, checked October 18, 2026.
Payment methods at a glance
| Payment | Warehouse | Gas | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visa | No | No | Yes |
| Debit card | Yes | Yes | Most |
| Cash | Yes | No | No |
| Costco Shop Card | Yes | Physical only | Yes |
| Personal cheque | Yes* | No | No |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
Online means Costco.ca. *Personal cheques: some conditions apply. Gas stations take Mastercard credit and debit. "No" means Costco's list says it isn't accepted, or it isn't on the list for that place. American Express isn't on any of Costco Canada's lists.
Costco Shop Cards in Canada
A Costco Shop Card is Costco's gift card. In Canada it never expires, works at any Costco in Canada, the U.S. or Puerto Rico and on Costco.ca and Costco.com, and can pay toward a membership. Only members can buy or reload one. Non-members can spend one, but Costco Canada says they need to register for a day pass, up to 2 times a year. Check a balance on Costco.ca with the card number and PIN.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does it expire? | No |
| Who can buy or reload one? | Members only, at any warehouse (or buy on Costco.ca) |
| Can non-members use it? | Yes, with a day pass, at most 2 times a year |
| Where does it work? | Costco in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico; Costco.ca and Costco.com |
| Reload online? | No, only at a warehouse register |
| Cash back? | No, except where the law requires it |
| Lost or stolen? | Replaceable with proof of purchase, through Member Service (1-800-463-3783) |
| Amounts | $50 to $2,000 |
Can I use a Shop Card for gas in Canada?
A physical Shop Card, yes: Costco's gas Q&A says Shop Cards are accepted at the pump and also count as membership authorization, so Shop Card holders can buy gas without being members. Digital Shop Cards can't be used at gas stations; you can swap a digital card for a physical one at a warehouse. See Costco gas in Canada.
Digital Shop Cards
- Sent by email and used from your phone or a printout, in warehouses and online.
- Not accepted at self-checkout, food court kiosks or gas stations.
- Can be passed on by forwarding the email, or turned into a physical card at a warehouse.
- Promotional Digital Shop Cards (for example, from new-member or Costco Travel offers) arrive by email; Costco Travel says vacation and cruise cards come about 10 days after the trip starts.
Common questions
Does Costco Canada take Visa?
Only on Costco.ca. Warehouses and gas stations take Mastercard and debit, not Visa. If you only carry Visa, pay with debit or cash in the warehouse.
Does Costco Canada take Amex?
No. American Express isn't on Costco Canada's list for warehouses, gas stations or Costco.ca.
Can I pay cash for gas at Costco Canada?
No. Costco says cash isn't accepted at its gas stations. Use Mastercard, debit or a physical Costco Shop Card; digital Shop Cards don't work at the pump.
Does Costco Canada take Apple Pay?
Yes, in warehouses. Apple Pay isn't on Costco's list for gas stations.
Which credit card should I use at Costco Canada?
Any Mastercard works. The CIBC Costco Mastercard pays 3% at Costco gas, 2% on Costco.ca and 1% in the warehouse; see what it pays you.
How much can I put on a Costco Shop Card?
Costco Canada sells Shop Cards from $50 to $2,000, in warehouses and on Costco.ca.
What can I pay with at the food court?
Costco Canada's help pages say Costco Wallet (the app's payment feature) isn't accepted at food courts, and Digital Shop Cards can't be used at food court kiosks. The CIBC Costco Mastercard certificate doesn't work there either. See the Canadian food court.
Where does Costco Wallet work?
At checkout in the warehouse and online. Costco Canada says it isn't accepted at food courts, the pharmacy or gas stations.
Where can I use my CIBC Costco Mastercard certificate?
Only at the warehouse's front-end registers. CIBC's terms exclude gas stations, the tire centre, food court, pharmacy and Costco.ca, and it can't be used for alcohol, tobacco or travel. It's issued to the Primary Cardholder in January.
Can I pay for Same-Day delivery with a Shop Card?
No. Costco Canada says Shop Cards can't pay for Same-Day Delivery powered by Instacart; it suggests 2-Day Delivery instead.
Can I use a Digital Shop Card at self-checkout?
No. Costco Canada says Digital Shop Cards can't be redeemed at self-checkout, food court kiosks or gas stations. You can swap one for a physical Shop Card at the warehouse. More on Shop Cards in Canada.
Can I use a Costco Shop Card without a membership in Canada?
Yes, but Costco Canada says a non-member must register for a day pass to shop with it, which can be done up to 2 times a year. At the gas pump, a physical Shop Card works without a membership.
Can I use a Canadian Shop Card in the U.S.?
Yes, at any U.S. Costco and on Costco.com. Going the other way, Costco notes that a U.S. Shop Card used in Canada has its balance moved onto a Canadian card, kept in U.S. funds.
Can I pay for my membership with a Shop Card?
Yes. Costco Canada says Shop Cards can be used toward a membership as well as merchandise.
Is it the same in the U.S.?
Not quite. In the U.S., lost Shop Cards can't be replaced, and Costco doesn't mention a day pass for non-members. See U.S. Costco Shop Cards.
How much does the gas pump hold on my card?
Costco pre-authorizes the lower of your card's limit or $200 before you fuel, then your bank replaces it with the actual amount. See Costco gas in Canada.
Sources: Costco Canada customer service, What methods of payment does Costco Canada accept? and gas station payment options, checked October 18, 2026; Shop Card FAQs and Gasoline Q&A, checked October 18, 2026. Costco can change what it accepts, so check at the register if you're unsure. In the U.S.? See U.S. payment methods, where it's the other way around: Visa, not Mastercard.