| COVID-19 | Partial reopening of the Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique immigration program offices. More information. To reach us 604-630-0316 or email info@vivreencb.ca
The Francophone Immigration Program of British Columbia (PIFCB) offers free and confidential settlement and employement assistance to Francophone immigrants who are settling in British Columbia.
Our services are available to permanent residents, temporary residents (temporary workers and foreign students), refugees and Canadian citizens born abroad (naturalized).
In addition to providing individual support in the form of private consultations, the PIFCB organizes monthly activities and events [link to calendar]. These activities, mostly held in French, may take the form of:
Information sessions (ex: Understanding Canadian taxes, How to find accommodation, How to obtain Canadian citizenship, etc.)
Employment workshops (Resume writing tips, How to build a professional network, Discover career options, etc.)
Social activities as an opportunity to meet other members of the Francophone and Immigrant community (Support group for women, Friendly soccer match, etc.)
Settlement agents are competent and qualified professionals, especially trained to help newcomers settle in and integrate Canada, whether they have immigrated or are still in their country of origin.
Settlement agents of the Francophone Immigration Program of British Columbia (PIFCB) regularly assist the new and future immigrants in French and in other languages depending on the client's need.
Whether it's helping you enrol your children in school, register to English classes, find accomodation when you first arrived, settlement agents are an essential support resourcefor a successful integration in Canada.
Settlement agents can:
Assist you with your job search
Provideyou with the appropriate and necessary resources
Support you in the various administrative procedures (obtaining health insurance, social security number, driver's licence, etc.)
Connect youwith employers looking for Francophone or bilingual candidates
The BC Francophone Immigration Program offers free and confidential services to holders of a Canadian immigration status and to naturalized citizens. We are here to support your successful integration in British Columbia
Settlement services
Housing search
Obtaining a driver's licence and car insurance
Obtaining a social security number
Various administrative procedures
Tax clinics
Information on everyday life (banking, transportation, civic life, etc.)
Workshops and information sessions
Social activities
Matching program with a long-time Canadian resident
Social group activities to meet people and make friends
Employment assistance
Adapting to the Canadian job market
Résumé proofreading
Interview preparation
Networking
Bilingual employment information workshops and employment fairs
Note: Our agency is not authorized to provide recommendations on immigration procedures or obtaining visas/travel documents based on your particular situation.
Canadian citizens born in Canada are unfortunately not eligible for our services. The mandate of the Francophone Immigration Program of British Columbia is to serve the immigrant clientele born outside the country. We thank you for your understanding.
Naturalized Canadian citizens (born outside Canada) are eligible for our services.
If you were born in Canada, here are some resources that you may find useful:
To obtain a driver's licence or car insurance, visit ICBC's website
The organization La Boussole can provide you with information related to employment and settlement.
RésoSanté is a directory with more than 1,000 Francophone health professionals in British Columbia
If you come from Quebec, the provincial health authority has published a document explaining the steps to follow in order to join MSP, the public insurance system in BC.
The Federation of Francophones of British Columbia publishes an annual directory of Francophone and Francophile professionals and services in the province
If you wish to settle in Canada, but you have not started your immigration process or you have not obtained your Canadian immigration status, you are not eligible for our services. Unfortunately, only Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (as well as licensed immigration consultants) are allowed to provide recommendations on immigration/visa options which are available to you. Click here for some ideas about immigrating to Canada [link to question on immigrating to Canada].
If you are still in your country of origin, but you have been selected for the Canadien Permanent Residency (and have been informed by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada), you are eligible for our pre-departure Passerelle Ouest services. Our Passerelle Ouest services are designed to help you prepare for settling in Canada. To access these services remotely, visit the Passerelle Ouest platform.
I'm a French speaker, but I'm not eligible for your services. Can you assist me?
If you were born in Canada, here are some resources that you may find useful in order to facilitate your settlement in Canada:
To obtain a driver's licence or car insurance, visit ICBC's website
The organization La Boussole can provide you with information related to employment and settlement.
RésoSanté is a directory with more than 1,000 Francophone health professionals in British Columbia
If you come from Quebec, the provincial health authority has published a document explaining the steps to follow in order to join MSP, the public insurance system in BC.
The Federation of Francophones of British Columbia publishes an annual directory of Francophone and Francophile professionals and services in the province
If you reside or have resided in Quebec and you were born in Canada, you are unfortunately not eligible for our services. The mandate of the British Columbia Francophone immigration program of is to serve the immigrant clientele born outside the country. We thank you for your understanding.
Permanent residents, naturalized Canadian citizens (born outside Canada) and temporary workers are eligible for our services, regardless of their province of origin.
If you were born in Canada, here are some resources that you may find useful:
To obtain a driver's licence or car insurance, visit ICBC's website
The organization La Boussole can provide you with information related to employment and settlement.
RésoSanté is a directory with more than 1,000 Francophone health professionals in British Columbia
If you come from Quebec, the provincial health authority has published a document explaining the steps to follow in order to join MSP, the public insurance system in BC.
The Federation of Francophones of British Columbia publishes an annual directory of Francophone and Francophile professionals and services in the province
You can view our online calendar at any time to find out the dates of our upcoming activities. You can also register for our newsletter for information on upcoming BC Francophone Immigration Program activities.
When an activity interests you, please register by completing the registration form on the web page of the event in question or by calling us at 604-630-0316.
No. the Francophone Immigration Program of British Columbia is unfortunately not empowered to provide advice relating to the options and procedures to immigrate to Canada.
Use the tool Come to Canada to determine what immigration programs you are eligible for.
You may also use the services of a private immigration consultant who will represent you in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Such professionals are allowed to advise you and support you in your immigration application.
You may also wish to consider various options available to you for settling in British Columbia:
-An application for permanent residency is made:
at the federal level by creating a profile in the Express Entry pool (which requires some preliminary steps, such as passing one or more language examinations and evaluating your credentials;
For example, you could take part in our summer community BBQ. Additionally, every year in the fall we organize a Welcome Day event that brings together the entire Francophone community in British Columbia to celebrate its diversity; it is an excellent opportunity to have fun and make new friends!
Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to gain Canadian work experience, obtain references, get involved in your community and create a network for yourself.
We are always looking for volunteers to support us in various administrative projects or events; write us if you are interested in this opportunity.
You can also visit Volunteer.ca to search for volunteering opportunities in your community.
Social networks. There are a few very welcoming Facebook communities. This can be a good starting point to get answers to questions about everyday life (where to find the best baguette in town, for example) and maybe participate in group activities.
Visit your community: places of worship, parks, playgrounds and community/municipal associations are good places to get to know your community and people who are a part of it.
While French is one of the two official languages in Canada, British Columbia is an Anglophone province. Most services, businesses and infrastructure (public transport, urban displays, etc.) use only English as the language of communication.
English is primarily spoken in British Columbia and as such, you must be prepared to speak and understand the language in order to go shopping, take public transportation and to pass interview processes. If you are a permanent resident, you may benefit from free English classes (write us to find out more on this topic).
However, it is estimated that British Columbia has about 300,000 Francophones and Francophiles. Therefore, it is possible to make French-speaking friends! In addition, many organizations and associations provide support to French-speaking residents in their daily lives. They also promote Francophonie throughout British Columbia.
Public services
Provincial public services, i.e., those under the authority of the province of British Columbia (driver's license, health insurance, hospitals, etc.), are generally offered only in English. You may, however, request to be served in French, which will be accommodated if possible.
Federal public services, i.e., those under the authority of the Government of Canada (Revenue Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Jobs Canada, etc.) provide assistance in French.
Francophone organizations
A wide range of organizations and community associations are working to promote Francophonie throughout the province. Visit the Federation of Francophones of British Columbia in order to find out about these organizations.
Education
There are Francophone schools and French immersion institutions in many cities and regions in British Columbia. Visit the Francophone School Board of British Columbia to learn more.
RésoSanté maintains a directory listing over 1,000 French-speaking professionals throughout the province.
Francophone professionals
The Federation of Francophones of British Columbia publishes an annual directory of Francophone and Francophile professionals and services in the province.
You must join British Colombia’s public health insurance plan, called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). MSP insurance covers the costs of various medical expenses. For more information on this topic, visit our Health page.
Your perception of the cost of living in Canada and in British Columbia can vary according to the standards of your country of origin. You will discover, with time that some products are more expensive while other services will prove less expensive, depending on what you were formerly used to paying.
Welcome BC offers an online tool to estimate the cost of living based on various factors such as your marital status, your income and the area where you live. Click here to access the cost of living calculator
However, it is generally accepted that the cost of living in Vancouver is high, especially when it comes to housing. Click here to read our page on housing to learn more [link to page]. In addition, British Columbia is one of the most expensive Canadian provinces for automobile insurance. Click here to learn more about Transportation.