Settlement Services
Last updated: April 11, 2024
Moving to a new country can bring many opportunities, but also many challenges. Once in Canada, you may need help to find a job, make new friends, or learn English.
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What are settlement services?
Settlement services are programs and services that can help newcomers to Canada. Settlement services may be able to help you:
- look for a job
- make new friends
- register for language classes
- assist you in accessing government/community services
- understand the local culture and customs
- understand your rights in Canada
Settlement services are usually free for newcomers to access. The services you receive are confidential.
Settlement services are most often provided by local community organizations, such as multicultural societies, neighbourhood houses or libraries. Settlement workers at these organizations can often support you in your first language (i.e. your “mother tongue”), in addition to providing services in English and/or French.
Most organizations that offer settlement services have requirements that you must meet in order to access their services. These eligibility requirements may be different depending on the kind of support you need and your current circumstances. The best way to know if you are eligible to receive services is to visit the organization’s website or contact them to learn more about how they can help you or your family members.
Settlement services for permanent residents
The Government of Canada supports many organizations across the country. These organizations deliver settlement services for permanent residents. They also deliver settlement services for for displaced Ukrainians and their immediate family members arriving through the
Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program.
Before you arrive in Canada
If you have been approved for permanent residence in Canada but have not yet moved here, you may be eligible for free online and in-person services and supports while you are still overseas.
Pre-arrival services can help you to:
- prepare for your move to Canada
- get your education, work experience and credentials recognized in Canada
- connect with employers to find a job
- connect with free services after you arrive in Canada
Learn more about
pre-arrival services from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
After you have arrived in Canada
If you arrived in Canada as a permanent resident, you can access free settlement and language services through a settlement agency.
Find a settlement service agency near you.
Get help when you arrive at the airport in B.C. from the
Community Airport Newcomers Network (CAAN).
Get support from
Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants if you are a skilled professional and would like to practice in your field in Canada.
Find your local WorkBC Centre and learn about the
employment services they offer.
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Settlement services for temporary residents and naturalized citizens
The Province of British Columbia supports many organizations across the province to deliver settlement services for temporary residents and naturalized Canadian citizens. A naturalized Canadian citizen is someone who came to Canada as an immigrant and is now a Canadian citizen.
The BC Newcomer Services Program (BCNSP) allows for a broad range of people to access settlement supports. A service provider can help you understand your rights and help you adjust to life in B.C.
Eligible clients include:
- Temporary workers with a valid work permit
- International post-secondary students (if services are not offered at their educational institution)
- Provincial Nominees awaiting a decision on their application for permanent residence
- Naturalized Canadian citizens
- Displaced Ukrainians and their immediate family members arriving through the CUAET program
- Some refugee claimants (More support is available through the BC SAF HAVN program)
The types of services vary by organization, but often include:
- One-on-one information and referral
- Workshops and support groups
- Peer support and mentoring
Find a settlement service agency near you that supports temporary residents and naturalized Canadian citizens.
| Region/Community |
Service provider |
Address |
Phone |
| Vancouver Island |
| Victoria |
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria |
808 Douglas Street, Suite 102, Victoria, BC V8W 2B6 |
250-388-4728 |
| Victoria |
Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society |
1004 North Park Street, Victoria, BC V8T 1C6 |
250-361-9433 |
| Duncan |
Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society |
321 St. Julien Street, Duncan, BC V9L 3S5 |
250-748-3112 |
| Nanaimo |
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society |
101 – 319 Selby St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2R4 |
250-753-6911 |
| Campbell River |
Multicultural and Immigrant Services Association of North Vancouver Island |
200 – 1170 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC V9W 2C8 |
250-830-0171 |
| Metro Vancouver |
| Vancouver |
Immigrant Services Society of BC |
2610 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 4L2 |
604-684-2561 |
| Vancouver |
M.O.S.A.I.C. Multi-Lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities |
5575 Boundary Road, Vancouver, BC V5R 2P9 |
604-254-9626 |
| Vancouver |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
28 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R6 |
604-684-1628 |
| Vancouver |
The Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Society |
3981 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P3 |
604-879-7104 |
| Coquitlam |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
#2058 – 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A9 |
604-468-6000 |
| Maple Ridge |
Immigrant Services Society of BC |
110 – 22638 119 Ave, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 4L1 |
778-372-6567 |
| Surrey |
DIVERSEcity |
13455 76 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3W 2W3 |
604-597-0205 |
| Surrey |
Options Community Services Society |
9815 – 140th Street, Surrey, BC V3T 4M4 |
604-584-5811 |
| Surrey |
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society |
#205-12725 80 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 3A6 |
604-596-7722 |
| Surrey |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
#200-10090 152nd Street, Surrey, BC V3R 8X8 |
236-333-3102
or
236-808-2323 |
| Langley |
Langley Community Services Society |
5339-207 Street, Langley, BC V3A 2E6 |
604-534-7921 |
| Richmond |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
#220 – 7000 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond, BC V6Y 3Z5 |
604-279-7180 |
| North Vancouver |
North Shore Multicultural Society (D.B.A. Impact North Shore) |
207 – 123 East 15th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2P7 |
604-988-2931 |
| Sunshine Coast & Sea-to-Sky |
| Squamish |
Capilano University |
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3H5 |
604-986-1911 |
| Fraser Valley |
| Abbotsford |
Archway Community Services |
2420 Montrose Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9 |
604-859-7681 |
| Chilliwack |
Chilliwack Community Services |
45938 Wellington Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2P 2C7 |
604-792-4267 |
| Thompson Okanagan |
| Kelowna |
Kelowna Community Resources Society |
620 Leon Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T2 |
250-763-8008 |
| Kamloops |
Kamloops-Cariboo Regional Immigrants Society |
448 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC V2B 3H2 |
778-470-6101 |
| Penticton |
Penticton and District Multicultural Society (D.B.A. SOICS) |
340 Ellis St, Penticton, BC V2A 4L7 |
250-492-6299 |
| Vernon |
Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society |
100-3003 30 Street, Vernon, BC V1T 9J5 |
250-542-4177 |
| Salmon Arm |
Shuswap Immigrant Services Society |
101 – 371 Hudson Avenue NE, PO Box 304, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N3 |
250-804-2726 |
| Kootenay |
| Castlegar |
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy |
Box 2619, 712B 10th Street, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 |
250-342-2475 |
| Fraser-Fort George |
| Prince George |
Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George |
1270 2nd Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3B3 |
250-562-2900 |
| Cariboo-Chilcotin |
| Williams Lake |
Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society |
302 – 172 2nd Ave North, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Z6 |
250-392-7833 |
| North Coast |
| Prince Rupert |
Hecate Strait Employment Development Society |
208 First Avenue East, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4M8 |
250-624-9498 |
| Kitimat |
Kitimat Community Services Society |
102 – 370 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 1T6 |
250-632-9107 |
| Smithers |
Smithers Community Services Association |
3815B Railway Avenue, Box 3759, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 |
250-847-9515 |
| Terrace |
Skeena Diversity Society |
4621 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace, BC V8G 1S3 |
250-635-6530 |
| Peace River & Northern Rockies |
| Fort St John |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
#209 – 10142 101 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 2B3 |
250-785-5323 |
| Metro Vancouver (French) |
| Vancouver and Surrey (French) |
La Cooperative du Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (D.B.A. Le Relais) |
1555, W 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1S1 |
604-630-0316 |
Visit the B.C. government’s Welcoming Ukraine page to learn more about the
supports for displaced Ukrainians.
The
Migrant Worker Hub includes many links and important information that may be helpful for temporary workers in B.C, and includes a
map of services available across the province.
Visit the Working in B.C. page for more
information on the rights of workers in B.C.
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Services for refugees and refugee claimants
Government-assisted refugees
Under the
Government assisted refugees program, refugees are referred to Canada for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency or another referral organization. Government-assisted refugees receive support for up to 1 year from the date they arrive in Canada or until they can support themselves – whichever happens first. This may include accommodation, clothing, food, and help finding employment.
IRCC has a video about
what to expect as a refugee resettling in Canada.
Privately sponsored refugees
Groups of volunteers in Canada can
privately sponsor refugees. They will help newcomers adjust to life here. Sponsorship groups must support a refugee for 1 year after they arrive or until they can support themselves – whichever comes first. You do not need to pay your sponsor for these services. Sponsors are not allowed to ask you for money to help you resettle.
Refugee claimants
If you are a refugee claimant, or if you do not have refugee status but want to seek asylum in Canada, it is important to understand the steps you will have to take to file a refugee claim and obtain a hearing.
You can contact an organization that delivers the BC Services and Assistance for Humanitarian and Vulnerable Newcomers (BC SAF HAVN) program. BC SAF HAVN has specialized supports to navigate the refugee claim process and get help with your immediate needs.
Find a service provider near you that delivers the BC SAF HAVN program.
| Region/Community |
Service provider |
Address |
Phone |
| Vancouver plus |
| Vancouver |
Immigrant Services Society of BC |
2610 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 4L2 |
604-684-2561 |
| Vancouver |
M.O.S.A.I.C. Multi-Lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities |
5575 Boundary Road, Vancouver, BC V5R 2P9 |
604-254-9626 |
| Tri-Cities plus |
| Coquitlam |
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. |
#2058 - 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A9 |
604-468-6000 |
| Surrey / Delta |
| Surrey |
DIVERSEcity |
13455 76 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3W 2W3 |
604-597-0205 |
| Surrey |
Options Community Services Society |
9815 - 140th Street, Surrey, BC V3T 4M4 |
604-584-5811 |
| Fraser Valley |
| Abbotsford |
Archway Community Services |
2420 Montrose Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9 |
604-859-7681 |
| Vancouver Island |
| Victoria |
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria |
808 Douglas St., Suite 102, Victoria, BC V8W 2B6 |
250-388-4728 |
| Interior and North |
| Kelowna |
Kelowna Community Resources Society |
620 Leon Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T2 |
250-763-8008 |
More information on
claiming refugee status from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Refugee Readiness Fund
In response to the global humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and Ukraine, the Government of B.C. created the Refugee Readiness Fund (RRF) from March 2022 to March 2024. The RRF was a one-time, two-year investment of $4 million to enhance federal and provincial refugee programs and programs for people arriving through the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program.
Information for refugees
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