If you have a Canadian mortgage, try getting a CC with the bank your mortgage is with first. Failing that, as AllieKat said, I got a secured card from TD just fine, though with a relative's address, not a friend's. My credit union in Canada (Vancity) said they were also open to giving secured CCs to non-residents on a case-by-case basis, though that requires your friend be in the Vancouver area. I went with TD since they were able to auto-approve me and they have some interesting options once you bump your security deposit up into the 4-digits.