visiting & living in vancouver

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visiting Vancouver

Swedish visitors are not required to obtain a Visa when travelling to Canada. Instead, Sweden is part of a program that allows Swedish citizens to enjoy fast entry into Canada by submitting a seamless online application to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to board their flight to Canada. Swedish visitors do not need an eTA if entering by land or sea – for example, if driving from the U.S. or coming by bus, train, boat or cruise ship.

  • Swedish citizens are advised to complete this eTA application within 72 hours prior to departure date as it will be needed to enter Canada valid on a short term basis (under 90 days) for business, general tourism, transit or medical purposes.

  • It is a requirement to be a full Swedish citizen before applying for an eTA. Travelers holding a passport or travel document with a different status, such as refugee, are required to apply for a full Canada visitor visa, and not an eTA.

  • Click here learn more about the eligibility and requirements of the eTA or here to apply.

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Any Swedish citizen wishing to enter Canada in excess of 90 days, or for other purposes than those allowed under the eTA program, will need to apply for a different visa. Further details can be found by visiting the Government of Canada Immigration and Citizenship page by clicking through the “Find out if you need a visa” tool.


Newcomer’s Guide to Vancouver

This guide will give you an overview on how to get set up to live in Vancouver and how to make the most of what the city has to offer. There is something for everyone to enjoy whether you like doing outdoor activities, trying many types of food, going to cultural events or simply enjoying alone time in peaceful areas like parks.

The City of Vancouver was designated as a City of Reconciliation and located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples - xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Click here to learn more about the history of Vancouver.

You can click on the links below to jump to any of these sections:

Money

  • Credit Cards

  • Taxes on Goods and Services

  • Transferring Money

  • Social Insurance Number

  • Opening a Bank Account

  • Income Taxes

Housing

  • Finding a Place to Rent in Vancouver

  • Buying Real Estate

Working

  • Co-Working Spaces

Health and Dental Care

  • Health Care in British Columbia

  • Private Health Insurance

Transportation

  • Public Transportation

  • Getting a Driver’s License

  • Buying a New Vehicle

  • Car Sharing: Alternative to Owning a Car

Activities and Food

  • Weather in Vancouver

  • Outdoor Activities

  • Indoor Classes and Activities

  • Nightlife in Vancouver

  • Restaurants


MONEY

Credit Cards

Credit Cards are widely accepted in Canada. Although Sweden is ahead in becoming a cashless society, it is very common to use Credit Cards (both plastic card and smart phone tapping), Debit Cards or Cash as payment options in Canada. Unlike the U.S., cheques are not commonly accepted at stores as a form of payment.

When travelling to Canada and using your Swedish bank card for purchases, be sure to select “credit card” when prompted as it will not transact as the debit card option.

There are many types of credit cards at every bank and each of them have their own unique benefits. You can get a credit card for personal purchases or a dedicated credit card just for business purchases.

Some benefits of credit cards include getting discounts on many products, getting travel points for flights and free products once you get enough points.

If you’re not sure which type of credit card to get, you can talk to an advisor at the bank. You can tell them what you mostly spend your money on and they can recommend the best kind of credit card for you.

Taxes on Goods and Services

Goods and services tax (GST) in Canada is 5%. On top of GST in Vancouver, there is a general provincial sales tax (PST) of 7%. On many items, you will pay at least 12% sales tax. Some things like liquor and accommodation have a higher PST tax.

Transferring Money

You can transfer money through banks from Sweden to Canada but the fees can be very high.

TransferWise has one of the best prices to transfer small or larger amounts of money. It is all done online.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Everyone who wants to work in Canada needs a Social Insurance Number (SIN). A SIN is a nine-digit number you will need to pay tax and access government programs. You can apply for a SIN in person or by mail.

Opening a Bank Account

Opening a bank account is a simple process. There are many big and smaller community banks to choose from. You can also have accounts with different banks. You don’t need to just choose one bank in Vancouver.

First, ask yourself what services you will most likely need and compare the benefits different credit cards offer.

Here are a few things to think about when choosing a bank:

  • Find out which kind of bank accounts have monthly fees and which ones are free  

  • See which banks are close to where you live and where you commute regularly in case you want to withdraw from an ATM without paying fees or see an advisor

  • See what the costs are for different types of credit cards and what benefits each one offers

You can also visit each bank and talk to an advisor to recommend plans.

Income Taxes

Every year, people have to file and pay their income taxes by April 30 to Canada Revenue Agency. It is important to still file your taxes even if you don’t own any or don’t earn income in a given year. This way you have a good record while you are living in Vancouver.

If you are self-employed, Canada Revenue Agency extends the filing deadline to June 15. But it begins assessing interest on your tax due on April 30.

The amount of tax you pay depends on your total global income. You will have to pay tax even if you earn income from outside Canada. People pay both the provincial and federal government depending on where their income falls in British Columbia’s provincial income tax bracket and the federal income tax bracket.


HOUSING

Finding a Place to Rent in Vancouver

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities to rent in Canada. Homes in convenient locations by public transit are very competitive among rents. You can rent a basement suite, apartment or an entire house.

It may take more time to find a place because there is limited housing available to rent. Patience and persistence is key.

These are common sites people use to find rental properties:


If you are looking for a roommate to share the cost of rent, you can join these Facebook groups:

Be aware of rental scams on Facebook. Never ever send a deposit in advance to anyone without seeing the property, the rental contract and meeting the landlord.

Water is generally included in rent but electricity (sometimes referred to as Hydro locally), gas, cable and internet are not unless otherwise stated. Be sure to check before selecting a place to rent what is included as this can change the overall cost of rent.

Buying Real Estate

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in Canada to buy a home. It is best to use a real estate agent or a real estate company to buy a home if you’re not familiar with all of the details of the buying process. You don’t want to be surprised with costs you weren’t aware of including various taxes, lawyer fees, closing costs after the purchase and commissions to the real estate agent.

Before buying a home, you will need to get an assessment from your bank or a mortgage broker to see what you can afford and if you can get pre-approved for a mortgage. You have to have good job security and a high enough income to get approved for a mortgage.

When you want to buy a home, you have to put a down payment after a seller accepts your offer. The minimum down payment in Canada depends on the price of the home:

  • Minimum downpayment if the purchase price is less than $500,000: 5%

  • Minimum downpayment if the purchase price is between $500,000 to $999,999: 10%

  • Minimum downpayment if the purchase price is over $1,000,000: 20%

You can learn more about buying a home.



WORKING

Co-Working Spaces

If you have your own business and don’t want to go to coffee shops to work all of the time, there are many convenient and well-designed co-working spaces in Vancouver. This is a great way to meet other people and entrepreneurs.

Many co-working spaces offer dedicated desks, private meeting spaces, unlimited coffee and other amenities. There are flexible plan options depending how often you want to use the space. Some people use co-working spaces one day a week, every business day or a few times a month.

Popular co-working spaces include:



HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE


Health Care in British Columbia

Health care in Canada is publicly funded. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for public health insurance for Canada in British Columbia so they don’t have to pay for most health services because the costs are covered by taxes.

In British Columbia, health insurance is provided by Medical Services Plan (MSP). If you are a permanent resident, you will have to wait up to three months after you arrive in British Columbia for the coverage to begin. Residents pay a monthly fee to contribute towards the cost of providing the MSP. The amount they pay every month depends on their income.

Private Health Insurance

If you are a permanent resident, it can take a few months to receive your permanent resident card and get access to health care services in Canada. While you wait for your permanent resident card, you can buy health care coverage from private insurance companies. World Nomads offers flexible coverage and you can simply by health insurance online.

Finding a Dentist

You can find a dentist at 123Dentist. If you work for a company that offers dental benefits, you only have to pay for the remaining costs that aren’t covered by your employer after you see the dentist. Most offices can bill your employer’s insurance company directly so you don’t have to pay for the dental services up front.

If you don’t have benefits, you can see the average costs of dental services in British Columbia.



TRANSPORTATION


Public Transportation

To get around the city, you can take the SkyTrain, bus, SeaBus and West Coast Express.

If you are going to use the SkyTrain, busses and SeaBus regularly, it would be most convenient to get a Compass Card and you can simply top up credit at a machine or online. If you will use transit a lot, it would be most cost-effective to get an unlimited monthly pass. The SkyTrain has three main lines: The Expo Line, Millenium Line and Canada Line.

The West Coast Express only runs early morning and early evenings from Mission City to Waterfront. It’s mainly for people who are working regular business hours. It is a quiet and smooth ride. You can’t use the Compass Card with West Coast Express. You have to buy a separate ticket and monthly pass for West Coast Express.

Currently there are no on-demand transportation options like Uber or Lyft to get around.


Getting a Driver’s License

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is the licensing authority that issues driving licenses in the province.

You have to valid driver’s licence to drive in B.C. If you are a new B.C. resident and have a valid driver’s licence from another country or province, you can use your licence for 90 days. But you have to apply for a B.C. licence within 90 days.

You can exchange your foreign licence for a B.C. driving licence right away if your licence is Swedish as the province of British Columbia has an agreement with Sweden along with the countries listed here.

If you don’t have a licence in one of the designated licence exchange countries, you must pass these three stages before to get a full license:

  1. Learner stage

You first have to study the ICBC driving manual (free to obtain) and pass a knowledge test as well as a vision test at an ICBC office to get a learner’s licence. This license allows you to practice driving before you take the road test and there are restrictions with this licence. You are only allowed to drive with a fully licensed driver who is at least 25 years old.

You can hire a private driving instructor or go to a driving school to show you good driving habits and do practice driving tests.

2. Novice stage

Once you pass the road test, you will get a novice licence and drive on your own. With this license, you can only have one passenger for the first 24 months unless you have a licenced driver who is at least 25 years old beside you and your other passengers are close family members.

3. Full driving licence

After 24 months with a novice licence, you can take a second road test and get a full-privilege licence. If you want, you can hire a driving instructor to do a practice driving test before you do your real driving test with ICBC.


Buying a New Vehicle

There are many dealerships you can visit to compare car prices. Every vehicle you purchase has to be registered, licensed and insured when you pick up your car from a dealership. Some dealerships have an Autoplan broker on site to help you with all of the paperwork.

You have to buy insurance through Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Here are some costs of owning a car to consider before you buy a car:

  • Annual car insurance is $1680 on average in B.C.

  • Maintenance costs every year

  • Cost of gas




Car Sharing: Alternative to Owning a Car

If you don’t drive often but want to access a vehicle when you need it or when the weather is bad, there are great car sharing companies you can join. You just pay for the time you use one of the company’s cars whether you drive for a few minutes or use it the whole day.

You can save more money by joining car sharing companies when you only drive occasionally. With these car-sharing companies, the insurance is included in the membership price so you don’t have to pay additional costs.

You can compare the plans for car sharing companies. Here are popular car-sharing companies in Vancouver:



ACTIVITIES AND FOOD


Weather in Vancouver

Vancouver has four seasons:

  • Winter: January to March

  • Spring: April to June

  • Summer: July to September

  • Fall: October to December


Vancouver is located in a temperate rain forest making it Canada’s most rainy city. Vancouver gets twice as much rain as London.

Average Rainfall:

  • London, U.K. 584 mm

  • Gothenburg, Sweden: 722 mm

  • Vancouver, Canada: 1,153 mm

As it rains most of the year, it’s good to get a high quality waterproof jacket and pants. Water-resistant jackets can withstand some rain however are not considered waterproof.

It generally does not snow a lot in Vancouver. When it does, it is usually in places that are in higher elevations such as North Vancouver and West Vancouver.




Outdoor Activities

Hiking

You can take a short drive to go hiking at so many stunning mountains around Vancouver. There are easier trails for beginners to more advanced trails. And it’s free hike.

If you are not comfortable hiking alone and you want to meet people, you can find hiking groups on Meetup.com or join Facebook groups Group Hikes Near Vancouver.

Kayaking

Kayaking is popular and one of the best ways to explore the beauty of the city. Many people kayak around Stanley Park, along Vancouver’s beaches and through False Creek.

Biking

Vancouver is a very bike-friendly city. People bike on the roads to get around town or on dedicated bike routes with no other vehicle traffic. One of the most famous places to cycle is on the scenic Vancouver seawall around Stanley Park.

VancoUver parks

You can enjoy Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park for free. You can see beautiful gardens, scenery and lakes in these big parks. You can bring food and have a picnic with friends when the weather is nice.

Beaches

There are many paved trails for walking, biking and running around the beach. There are many restaurants around these areas. People often play volleyball and tennis.   

Camping

Because of the stunning view of the mountains, water and forests around Vancouver, camping is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Vancouver. It’s also not expensive to book a campsite, especially if you’re sharing the costs with other people.

Indoor Classes and Activities

The rain doesn’t stop many people from doing many types of classes at community centres, gyms or other spaces to stay fit. Yoga, CrossFit and zumba classes are very popular around town.

Nightlife in Vancouver

There are a variety of pubs, clubs and places to check out live music around town. Some clubs and pubs open until about 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. The SkyTrains closes at 12:30 a.m. but taxis are available and run 24/7.

There are seasonal events that happen around town throughout the year including comedy shows, music festivals, hockey games, film festivals and much more!

Restaurants

Vancouver is an amazing city for people who like to try food from around the world. You can find flavours from many countries including Greece, Ethiopia, Japan, France, Italy and China. A growing number of restaurants have options for people with different diets like vegetarian or food allergies like gluten.

Tipping at Restaurants

The tip ranges from 10% to 20% of the bill when you eat out. If you don’t have cash, there’s usually an option to add the tip on your debit or credit card on a card machine.