Immigration & Relocation

The 2006 Statistics Canada Census calculated approximately 137,500 UK born people currently living in BC. And, according to more government figures almost 10,000* Britons became permanent residents of Canada in 2008 – many choosing BC as their new home. The British community continues to grow annually and it is easy to see why. British Columbia, and specifically the Vancouver area are often quoted as being at the top of polls for “best quality of life”, “best place to raise a family” or “best city on earth” – you know the kind of thing. However, your own experience of living here, be it temporarily or permanently, will depend largely on the planning and research you do before getting on the plane.

For UK nationals staying for anything more than a holiday, the first thing to research and organize is your visa. You must be quite clear about how long you can stay and what you can do while you are here. The tabs on this page provide information and links to sites and resources that will help you make the appropriate arrangements.

With so many factors to weigh up in planning your move reading the relocation stories may give you some extra ideas and food for thought too. Take the opportunity to learn from others mistakes or benefit from their wisdom!

We’ve also included a section on Passports and Citizenship and finally our top tips on settling here while maintaining your links with the UK.

*figures from Citizenship & Immigration Canada 2008