Local Administration in Metro Vancouver

Information about federal, provincial and metro administration in Vancouver. The places to go for residency papers, vehicle registration papers, driving licences and more...

A newcomer to Vancouver will find three layers of government administration managing different programmes. Federal government programmes are run by Service Canada.

Service BC handles provincial programmes and concerns. The Metro Vancouver board is responsible for managing many services for most of the communities in the Lower Mainland. Within Metro Vancouver, many cities also have their own municipal halls, managing local concerns.

Federal Government Services in Metropolitan Vancouver

Service Canada provides a number of information services for newcomers on the following topics of interest:

• Healthcare
• Immigration
• Visas
• Work and study permits
• Permanent resident status
• The citizenship program
• Applying for refugee status
• Sponsoring family members
• For information on these and other related programmes: Click here
• Online services and forms are available on the Service Canada website: Click here

Service Canada has 13 offices located throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Office hours and programmes are not the same at each location, and programmes have separate telephone numbers.

• For information and contact details for the different offices: Click here

Two main offices are found at:

• Sinclair Centre Service Canada Centre
  At: 757 Hastings Street West, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1A1
• Vancouver Service Canada Centre
  At: 125 10th Avenue East, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1Z3
• See also Citizenship and Immigration Canada CIC

Department of Vital Statistics

The Vital Statistics Agency is responsible for recording and issuing birth, marriage and death certificates.

• Vital Statistics Agency
  At: 605 Robson Street, Room 250, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5J3
  Tel: 250 952 2681 (from Victoria)
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30
• Vital Statistics Agency
  Postal address: PO Box 9657 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC, V8W 9P3
• To find a local office: Click here
• For an online enquiry form: Click here

Provincial Government Services

Service BC

Some services run by the provincial government are similar to those offered by the federal government, others are specific to the province. These services include providing birth, death and marriage certificates, driver's licences, hunting licences, property tax information, and residential tenancy information.

• For a full list of services provided, with links to each subject: Click here

• Service BC
  At: 175 - 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 5Z6
  General enquiries Tel: 604 660-2421 / 1 800 663 7867 (toll-free) 
  TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf)
  Tel: 604 775 0303 (from Vancouver)
  Tel: 1 800 661 8773 (from elsewhere in BC)
  Fax: 604 467 6131
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30
  e-mail

Welcome BC

The British Columbia government has an official website with information for newcomers to the region.

• For details of programmes of special interest to newcomers: Click here

Moving to BC and Administration

There are four main documents for those living in BC:

Social Insurance Number (SIN) Card: This is needed for employment purposes and to access government programmes and benefits. This can be applied for online, by mail, or in person at a local Service Canada office.

• For information on how to apply: Click here

Driver's Licence: Driving licences for all vehicles, including commercial vehicles and motorcycles, are issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).

For general inquiries:

• Tel: 1 800 950 1498 (from BC, Canada and the USA)
• Tel: 250 978 8300 (from all other countries)
• To find a local driver's licencing office: Click here
• For full details of their programmes, including office hours and addresses: Click here

BC has a graduated system of licencing, with restrictions on learning and new drivers. Drivers new to the province must obtain a BC licence after 90 days. In many cases, a driver who already has a valid licence from outside of Canada and two years of driving experience may obtain a BC licence without having to pass a written or road test. The driver must present current ID and driver's licence, and pay a licencing fee. In some cases, a driving record may also be needed.

• For further information: Click here

BC Identification Card (BCID Card): This document is not a legal requirement. It is used by people who do not have a driver's licence, and may be obtained by anyone who is over twelve years of age. It is accepted as proof of age, address, and personal identification.

BCID cards are issued by the ICBC driver's licensing offices.

• For further information on the BCID card: Click here

BC Health Card: This card is proof of enrolment in BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP).

For eligible BC residents and dependents, the provincial healthcare plan covers the cost (all or partial) of many medically required services provided by doctors and other health care professionals, laboratory services and diagnostic procedures. All residents must apply for coverage, and a BC Health Card is proof of enrolment.

The application takes about two months to process and new residents arriving from outside of BC should consider buying private health insurance until the application for MSP is processed.

All residents are eligible for the BC Health Card. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

• Is a citizen of Canada or permanent resident
• Makes their home in BC
• Is physically present in BC at least six months in a calendar year

BC residents with a study and/or work permit issued under the Federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act qualify for BC Healthcare, tourists or visitors to BC do not qualify.

• For information on how to enrol and the documents required: Click here
• For more information, including online and PDF forms, see the Ministry of Health Services website

Forms are also available at Service BC Centres.

• Service BC
  At: 175-22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 5Z6
  Tel: 604 466 7470
  Fax: 604 467 6131
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30
• Medical Services Plan
  Postal Address: PO Box 9035, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E3
  Fax: 250 405 3595
• Health Insurance BC
  Tel: 604 683 7151 (from Vancouver)
  Tel: 1 800 663 7100 (toll-free)
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:30

Metro Vancouver Region

Metro Vancouver plans for, provides, and manages drinking water, sewerage and drainage, waste management, and regional parks, as well as emergency services.

• For a map showing the communities of Metro Vancouver: Click here
• For a full list of services and contact information: Click here
• Metro Vancouver Information Centre
  At: 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4G8
  Tel: 604 432 6200
  Fax: 604 436 6901
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:00 -16:30
  e-mail

Vancouver City Hall

Vancouver City Hall manages local services such as bylaw enforcement and regulation, garbage collection, recycling, property taxes, transportation, roadwork, school board, water utility, parking, community services (cultural, development, licensing, inspections) and emergency management (include social service and emergency-preparedness training).

• For a full list of services and specific contact information: Click here
• Vancouver City Hall
  At: 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4
  Tel: 311
  Tel: 604 873 7000 (from outside Vancouver)
  TTY (text telephone): 604 873 7193
  Open: Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:00