Immigration Seminar & Info Session
International Students - Life in Vancouver
Living away from home can be a challenge. Everything is new - the language, the culture, the food, the environment and the people. Here are a few tips to help with your transition to life in Vancouver:
Banks in Canada are safe and reliable. International students can maintain a bank account in Canada at a very low cost. Keep money in a bank account to avoid losing it and don't give your bank card PIN number to anyone. You must close your account before leaving Canada.
To open a bank account in Canada you will need:
- A valid passport
- Proof of Vancouver address at a Homestay, apartment, or house. Banks to not accept hotel, motel, or hostel addresses
- Letter of acceptance from VCC confirming your enrolment in college
Student banking/international accounts
Royal Bank of Canada
1025 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2N1
Tel: 604.665.8792
Fax: 604.606.6212
When you arrive in Vancouver, you can apply for a B.C. identification card (BCID), if you are not a driver and do not plan to apply for a B.C. driver's license. BCID cards cannot be used to operate a motor vehicle in B.C. Anyone who is 12 or older can apply for a BCID, but you will need parental consent if you are under 19. It's a good idea to apply for BCID in case you lose your passport.
How to get your BCID:
As a VCC student, you must have medical insurance for your entire period of study. Low cost private insurance may be purchased at VCC for $45-60 per month.
If your study permit (Visa/Authorization) is valid for six months or longer, you will need to buy private insurance to cover your first 90 days in Canada. You are required to buy the B.C. government's Medical Services Plan to cover the remainder of your period of study.
You can save money on transportation costs by using Metro Vancouver's public transportation network. VCC students save even more through the Universal Transit Pass, or U-Pass. Rather than pay $80 for a monthly transit pass, VCC students pay only $30. TransLink provides public access to buses, SkyTrains, and the North Vancouver seabus. The cost of your bus or train ride depends how far you are travelling. TransLink divides the Metro Vancouver region into three zones.
When you get on a TransLink bus, remember, you must pay the exact fare. TransLink does not provide change.
For bus, SkyTrain, and Seabus routes, schedules, and to plan your route visit www.translink.ca or call 604.953.0400.
Vancouver is a very safe city in which to study, work and life. However, under certain conditions trouble can happen. Read these important tips on how to stay safe.