Most of the population (2,463,431) live in the Greater Vancouver area, while 631,486 people live in the city. Vancouver is the city with the highest population density in Canada, which is not a surprise, considering so many people prefer to live here.
Overview
Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city, is a place for career-seekers and adventurists alike. It’s one of the most linguistically and ethnically diverse cities of Canada, offering you a unique mix of culture and heritage. The city presents a charming combination of mountains, coastlines, beaches, and modern urban spaces with a growing economy.
Vancouver has a large number of immigrants, with over 46% of European Canadians. Most immigrants come from Asian and South Asian countries like China, Japan, and the Philippines. Moving to Vancouver could be the right decision for so many people with different interests and preferences. It’s a place for everyone, as over half of the population has a non-English first language. You will probably find someone who speaks your language, whether it be Chinatown, a hub of Chinese, or Fraser Street, where many Indian-origin people live.
Below we’ll tell how to move to Vancouver and why this city is a good choice for immigration. You can start the application process by hiring an RCIC.
Where to Live in Vancouver: Fun-Filled and Scenic Neighbourhoods
No matter where you go, you can find culturally-diverse neighbourhoods with scenic beauty and lots of things to do. Here are some of those wonderful places:
Mount Pleasant:
Mount Pleasant is the ideal place to live for new immigrants. Filled with activities and happening nightlife, you never run out of things to do. Shops, stores, and numerous art venues also add to the fun!
Gastown:
Gastown is the birthplace of modern Vancouver and a favourite location for artists and creative folks. Victorian buildings, art galleries, music festivals- the neighbourhood has much to offer. The only drawback, house prices are a bit high.
West End:
If you want a neighbourhood where you can chill, look no further than West End. Ideal for the LGBTQ community, it’s an easygoing neighbourhood surrounded by Vancouver Harbour and the English Bay.
Vancouver’s Economy
Because of its international vibes and demand, living in Vancouver is not cheap. When moving to Vancouver, you should expect that housing will be your biggest expense and rent is high in the main city. Many people choose to live away from Vancouver to save costs, but that adds to travel time.
Finding work in Vancouver is not extremely difficult. The average household income is a bit lower than in places like Toronto. In 2015, most households in Vancouver earned a median total income of $72,662. To live comfortably in Vancouver, you need only around $36,828 a year. That means you can save money too!
Key Industries in Vancouver
The Port of Vancouver has made it one of the busiest industrial centres in Canada. Key industries include tourism, insurance, real estate, and tech. Retail activities and the billion-dollar film industry also generate a lot of jobs. In 2016, Vancouver generated 1.28 million jobs.
If you are living around downtown Vancouver, in places like Yaletown, or even as far as Surrey, you will probably be witness to a movie shooting. Interesting trivia – Jurassic World 3 is going to be filmed in the city in 2020.
Vancouver has no shortage of good schools and universities. Even immigrants on a working visa can take advantage of free public schooling. Prestigious universities like the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University also provide quality education.
What you will find interesting is that downtown Vancouver isn’t the only place to get jobs. Instead, you have these hubs growing up in many parts of Greater Vancouver, like the Surrey City Centre, New Westminster, and even near Metrotown in Burnaby. The tall condos and cool offices and beautiful parks make for a great experience.
The Most “Liveable” City in the World
Vancouver is of the best places to live in the world and is used as an example of most “livable” cities. Mercer’s Top 10 Cities list ranked Vancouver 5th in 2016 based on the quality of living. The city ended up being number 3 on the Economist’s Global Liveability Ranking in 2015. No wonder so many people dream of moving to Vancouver, BC.
Various favorable factors like a thriving economy, housing, recreation, public transport, education, and healthcare make Vancouver an ideal destination for immigration to Canada.
Vancouver is also the birthplace of trends that take over the world. Many trends such as athleisure, the locavore movement, Occupy Wall Street, Greenpeace, and others originated from this interesting city. Something or the other is always happening in Vancouver!
Vancouver Weather
If you don’t like the cold, Vancouver can be one of the best places to settle. It’s got the coolest summer average with warm winters with pleasant breezes coming from the coast. You will have plenty of days when the sun is shining bright to go on adventures, explore the natural beauty, or just chill on the expanse of Stanley Park!
Do remember that the inland areas experience comparatively higher temperatures. The city recorded the highest temperature of 35.0 °C so far. You should also keep an umbrella with yourself, as it rains in Vancouver around 160 days a year.
Vancouver has a year-round moderate climate, so you may not experience all four seasons distinctly. That being said, some years it is colder and much rainier than the others. 2019, for instance, saw far less rain compared to the last year, and the temperatures, even in December, is hovering around 5 degrees Celsius.
Entertainment in Vancouver
Vancouver has a lot to offer. The deep blue sea and snow-capped mountains provide enough opportunities for the adventure-seeker to go on hikes, boat rides, bike rides, and more. You can check out Stanley Park, the most famous landmark, for walking, biking, running, and the Popular Totem Poles.
You can also count in various sports activities and outdoor fun like skiing, kayaking, camping, and mountain ziplining.
The city is full of cafes, art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars, pubs, and more to provide you with a lovely time. You can also enjoy the performance of famous theatre and performing arts groups from Metro Vancouver. Watching live comedy and movies are also favorite pastimes of the local people.
Vancouver’s library system was also rated as number one in the world by Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf. You can rent books, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers from the Vancouver Public Library, covering an area of 348,000 square feet. So, there is no shortage of things to do in Vancouver for anyone.
Why Moving to Vancouver, BC?
Vancouver is one of the most liveable cities with a great quality of life.
You can immigrate to Vancouver through the BC Provincial Nominee Program, even without a job offer.
There’s plenty of things to do whether you are a nature lover, adventurist, or outdoor sports enthusiast. The mountains, parks, sea, coastline, and expanses of green make you feel you are living amidst nature.
You can find employment in your industry and enjoy a thriving arts and culture scene. It’s no wonder that most immigrants eye this city as their preferred place to live and work.
How to Move to Vancouver, British Columbia
You can take advantage of various programs to immigrate to Vancouver and get PR. The programs have different criteria that you must fulfil to qualify for immigration. The available programs that could be used for immigration to Vancouver are:
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
PNP is a group of programs that allows foreign workers to get permanent residency (PR) in different provinces including British Columbia (where Vancouver belongs). BC PNP has two main streams:
- Foreign skilled workers
- Entrepreneurs
You can apply for immigration if you have the required skills or business experience. Skilled workers will also need a job offer from a BC employer.
BC Express Entry Program
Various professionals and students are eligible for moving to BC under the express entry program. It’s a fast track process that can grant you PR in only six months. You have to create an online Express Entry profile to get included in the express entry pool.
Canada’s Express Entry Program
The Canadian government introduced this fast track program for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. And moving to Vancouver with this program is one of the most common ways. Most immigrants opt for Canada express entry as you don’t need any education or work experience in Canada. There are three categories in express entry-
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
You can also immigrate to Vancouver under the Family Sponsorship Class and Business Immigration Program.
Bottom Line
Vancouver has a lot to offer for immigrants with diverse interests from all around the world.
If you want more information, you can get in touch with our Canada2036 team – we’ll be happy to help. You may also seek the consultation of an RCIC agent to immigrate to Vancouver.
