Your first two weeks in Vancouver: student life checklist
The essentials to sort out as soon as you arrive — including how BC's public health plan (MSP) works, which is different from the rest of Canada.
1. SIN Number — free to apply for, do it as early as possible (see the paperwork guide).
2. Bank account — open it as soon as you arrive.
3. Health insurance — IMPORTANT and different from other provinces: in BC, if your study permit is for 6 months or longer and you study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), you CAN access MSP (Medical Services Plan), BC's public health insurance. But there's a waiting period of up to 3 months from your arrival (the rest of the month you arrive, plus 2 full calendar months) — you can't apply before arriving in the province, you must apply as soon as you set foot in BC. During that waiting period you need temporary private insurance: many institutions automatically enroll you in plans like iMED or GuardMe in the meantime. Confirm the exact steps with your institution.
4. Local phone plan or eSIM.
5. Register with your institution and confirm your schedule.
6. Compass Card — see the transit guide to find out if your institution includes U-Pass BC automatically, or if you need to buy a zone pass.
7. Join at least one international student group or community — it helps a lot in the first few months.
Keep handy: 911 for emergencies, and your institution's campus safety number.