Practical info
The most frequently used coins are: 5¢ (“nickel”), 10¢ (“dime”), 25¢ (“quarter”), $1 (“loonie”) and $2 (“toonie”). The most frequently used banknotes are: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
To see current exchange rates between your home country’s currency and the Canadian dollar, please visit www.xe.com.
If you are staying for less than six months, you need:
1. Private insurance to cover you for the length of your stay in Canada.
If you are staying for longer than six months, you need:
1. Private basic insurance to cover you for the first three months of your stay.
2. At the end of this three-month period, you need to enrol in the the basic Medical Services Plan (MSP) and pay the monthly premiums.
Depending on your institution, you may or may not be required to purchase extended health care/dental insurance. Extended insurance plans help to cover the cost of prescription medicine, dental care, vision care, and travel insurance.
Since healthcare provision and plans can differ depending on your institution and length of stay (for example, in some cases, the student is required to enroll in the institution’s private health insurance plan), it is best to contact the International Student Office at your institution.
Plane: Probably the most efficient way to get around the province. Air Canada is the largest and most recognized airline in the country. Another option is Westjet, Canada’s second largest airline. Most flights within the province are from or via Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Coach: For schedule and fares, please check www.greyhound.ca.
If you’re staying in Vancouver and considering a cross-border hop to the US, there are shuttle bus options.
Ferry: Enjoy amazing views from the top deck of a BC ferry. Visit www.bcferries.com for further details.
Train: Although a bit pricier than other options, travelling by train is a great way to comfortably travel to some lovely cities in BC, other Canadian provinces and even the United States.
- VIA Rail: the largest railway network in the country
- Rocky Mountaineer: offers train services between Vancouver, Whistler, Jasper, Banff National Parks
- Amtrak: train routes available between BC and the US
Calculate the distance between BC cities and towns
Planning on driving to a particular BC city or town? Use the distance calculator to provide you with a rough idea of how long it will take.
Plan your trip on B.C. Ferries
Check the ferry schedules for coastal British Columbia.
Canada Border Traffic
Find out the waiting time at the borders; this is especially important if you are thinking about heading over to the US for an excursion!
Explore BC Parks
Explore BC’s outdoor beauty: an adventure awaits you at BC Parks.
Weather
Check out the forecast for communities and regions around British Columbia.
Road Reports
Check real-time conditions of BC highways.
If your licence is not in English, you should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) or at least a language translation of your driver’s licence from an ICBC Approved Translator. The IDP or translated driver’s licence will assist police should you get stopped while driving.