Before moving to B.C.

The immigration, employment, and education systems in the country you are from may be different from Canada’s. When you arrive, you will be asked for travel and identification documents to enter Canada. See the documents you will need.

You will also be asked for the documents you will need to live, work, or study here. Since English is the most widely spoken language in B.C., you may be asked to provide official translations of any documents that are not already in English. Try to have copies of these documents ready. To help you prepare, here is a list of common documents you might need:

Common “live” documents

• Adoption papers
• Birth certificate
• Child custody papers
• Dental records
• Divorce certificate
• Driver’s licence
• Drug prescriptions
• Government-issued IDs
• Immunization records
• Insurance policies
• Marriage certificate
• Medical records
• Resident visa
• Passport

Common “work” documents

• Curriculum vitae
• Degree
• Diploma
• Professional certificates
• Professional licences
• Resume
• Work visa

Common “study” documents

• Academic certificates
• Degree
• Diploma
• School transcripts
• Student visa

Canada has 2 official languages: English and French.

English is the most widely used language in B.C. Knowing English will help you live, work, or study here. If you are not a native English speaker, you can improve your language skills by:

• using English learning resources from your local library
• taking English as a Second Language classes (where available) in your community
• taking English courses online or through mobile apps
• practicing English with family and friends 

In B.C., professional regulatory authorities and academic institutions oversee international credentials. To work in a specific occupation, or be admitted to a specific school program, you may be asked to prove that your credentials match the requirements of B.C.’s regulatory bodies.

Whether you are moving to B.C. to work or study, prepare by learning about the process of getting your international credentials recognized:

• Getting your employment credentials recognized
• Getting your education credentials recognized

British Columbia has one of Canada’s largest and most expensive housing markets. It is a popular destination for international migrants and there are generally more people than homes. Depending on your circumstances (such as the size of your family or your personal finances), finding a place to live can be challenging - but a bit of preparation goes a long way.

To prepare, you may want to learn about housing options before moving to B.C.

Every person is born with the right to a life of freedom, equality, and dignity. A set of laws protects these rights.

The rights you have in the country you are from may be different from the rights you will have in Canada. It is important to know your rights before moving to B.C. so that you and your family are treated equally and fairly. Please see the topics below to learn more about your rights.

Human rights

Human rights laws protect people from discrimination. Discrimination is when someone treats you differently because of your identity. B.C.'s Human Rights Code protects you from discrimination based on:

• your race, the colour of your skin, where you were born, or your ancestry
• your sex (whether you were assigned male, female, or intersex—having both male and female parts—at birth)
• your sexual orientation (whether you are attracted to people who have the same gender as you, who have a different gender than you, who do not identify as either male or female, or who identify as having more than 1 gender)
• your gender identity (whether you are a woman, a man, non-binary, or Two-Spirit)
• your gender expression, or how you show your gender (including your name, the clothes you wear, or the activities you like)
• your religion (including how you dress in public, at home, and in places of worship)
• your physical or mental disability
• your marital status (whether you are married, divorced, or single)
• your political beliefs, including who you vote for and any changes you want
• your family status (whether you have children or are pregnant, for example)
• your age
• your lawful source of income, including income assistance

These are called “protected characteristics”. If someone treats you differently because of a protected characteristic (for example, a landlord will not let you rent a home, or someone will not hire you for a job), it might be discrimination.

There are some exceptions. For example, some rental homes or condominium buildings are just for seniors (people over 55). They can refuse to rent to people younger than 55. Public buildings can have separate bathrooms for men and women.

For more resources, see “legal help  and support” in the resources directory.

Gender equality

In Canada, it is illegal to discriminate against people because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Gender identity is your internal and personal sense of self as a woman, a man, both, in between, or neither.

A person’s gender identity may be the same as their assigned sex at birth, or it may be different. Only you can decide your gender identity.

There are many ways to describe and talk about gender:

• Two-Spirit (2S or 2-Spirit) is an important term among some Indigenous cultures and people. It means having both a feminine spirit and a masculine spirit living in the same body.
• Agender is a person who doesn’t identify with any gender or identifies as being genderless. Cisgender people have a gender identity that matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Gender dysphoria is the psychological distress (strong negative feelings) that may happen when someone’s sex assigned at birth and their gender identity do not match.
• Gender expression is how you show your gender to other people, such as what name you use, your clothing, your behaviour, the activities you like, and the sound of your voice. It is also the pronouns (he, she, they) you use to describe yourself. In Canada, some people prefer to be described as “they” instead of “he” or “she”.
• Gender fluid is a person whose gender identity and gender expression can change with time and/or circumstance.
• Genderqueer is a person who identifies as neither male or female, both male and female, or something else. Individuals who identify as genderqueer may or may not also identify as trans.
• Non-binary refers to people who don’t see themselves or their gender as either male or female. People who are non- binary may identify as having no gender, feel in between genders, or have a gender that’s not always the same.
• Transgender refers to having a gender identity that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. Some transgender people have treatment or surgery to change the way they look. A transgender man, for example, is someone who was listed as female at birth but whose gender identity is male. "Trans" is often used as a short way to say transgender.

Sexual orientation, which is separate from gender identity, describes your pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction. Sexual orientation may include attraction to the same gender (homosexuality); a gender different from your own (heterosexuality); attraction to both men and women (bisexuality); attraction to all genders (pansexuality); and no attraction to any gender (asexuality).

People in Canada have the right to identify and express their gender in their own way. Canadian law also recognizes marriages between people of all genders and sexual orientations. The law supports families of all kinds who want to adopt children.

For more information, visit the Government of B.C's Gender equity page.

Privacy rights

In B.C., you have a right to privacy and to see information that government agencies, businesses, and other organizations have about you.

These rights come from two laws:

• The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) is a law that covers public organizations, such as government ministries, school districts, or municipal police forces. Under this law, any public organization that collects personal information must have a legal right to do so, and they must protect the information they collect.
• The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) is a law that covers private organizations, including businesses, non-profit organizations, and charities. Under PIPA, private organizations must get your consent to collect and use your personal information.

Both laws give you the right to see records and personal information about yourself or someone you are responsible for, such as your child. You can also ask public organizations for records about how they operate. This is called a “freedom of information request”.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C. has many resources to help you understand access to information and privacy.

Learn how to ask for your personal information.

Some organizations are not covered by B.C.’s privacy laws. They must follow federal government laws instead. These organizations include airlines, banks, and telecommunications (radio, television, phone, and internet) organizations.

For more information, contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. 

Workplace rights

All people in Canada have the right to a safe workplace, and there are laws to protect those rights. The Employment Standards Act is a law to protect workers in British Columbia. The B.C. Human Rights Code is a law that protects workers from discrimination. To learn more about your workplace rights in B.C., see the Working in B.C. page.

Newcomers are often targets of fraud and scams. Before you move - and even after you arrive - there may be people who will trick you or lie to you to steal your money and personal information.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning about common fraud and scams before moving to B.C. 

For more information, see the Safety and security page.

People from all over the world move to B.C. for its great employment and education opportunities. They also come because of the rich cultural diversity, natural beauty, and safe living environment.

Before you move, learn more about British Columbia and discover your new home.