BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP)

How can BC NSP support you?

Services available

Through BC NSP we offer special services to meet your employment, language and community needs, including:

Employment Orientation Sessions:
- Personal and group sessions for eligibility checks and enrollment.
Information, Orientation, and Networking:
- Workshop Series on the Canadian labor market, networking, and intersectionality (how your experiences influence your personal and professional life).
- Volunteer opportunities.
- Guided mentorships.
- Engagement with employers, such as job fairs and networking events.
Workplace Rights and Responsibilities:
- Workshop Series on Canadian workplace rights and responsibilities.
- Support during employment crises such as experiencing abuse at work.
Employment Counseling:
- Customized employment and job readiness support.
- Resume writing.
- Support for job search and attachment.
- Paid or unpaid placements.
- Virtual interview simulations.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) competency matching.
Short-Term Pre-Employment Training:
- Access to WorkBC programs.
- Workshop Series on job readiness, soft skills (for example, teamwork and communication/leadership skills), and inclusive society skills.
- Short-term certificate training
- Digital skills training (for example, learning basic computer skills and how to use the internet to find work or services in BC).

                                    Settlement Services:
                                    Information, Orientation, and Referrals: 
Comprehensive assessment of needs and development of a Navigation Plan.
A Navigation Plan can help you understand the next steps for your visa application or the services available in your local community.

Personalized and group orientation sessions with appropriate referrals.

Community Connections: 
Social outings in groups. 
Settlement mentoring opportunities. 
Volunteer opportunities.
English conversation circles. 

Outreach: 
Informative group sessions at local pop-up events. 
Participation in local community events or festivals.

Our locations

Where can I access BC NSP?

BC NSP is available with ISSofBC across many of our offices in Metro Vancouver:

Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster – Settlement and Labour Services
Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows – Settlement and Labour Services
Squamish – Formal English Language Training only

Contact BC NSP:

If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, please contact your nearest BC NSP team with the details below:

Vancouver – info@issbc.org / 604-684-2561
Burnaby – burnaby.settlement@issbc.org / bcemployment@issbc.org / 604-395-8000
New Westminster – settlement@issbc.org / bcemployment@issbc.org / 604-522-5902
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows – settlement.mr@issbc.org / bcemployment@issbc.org / 778-372-6567

How can I join?

Eligibility

BC NSP program is very inclusive, welcoming individuals with various immigration statuses, who may not be able to access other, federally-funded, newcomer services.

Please check if you meet the program eligibility requirements:

Service area	Service	Client Groups
		Work Permit Holders	Study Permit Holders	Naturalized Canadian Citizens	Individuals with other immigration statuses
Settlement & Immigration Services	Settlement information, orientation & referrals	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Immigrations application information & assistance completing non-immigration related forms	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Outreach	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Short-term non-clinical counselling	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Labour Market Services	Employment information, orientation, and networking	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Information on workplace rights and responsibilities & support in the event of a workplace safety or employment standards violation	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Employment counselling	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
	Short-term pre-employment training & supported access to provincial and federal employment training program	✔️		✔️
Language Services	Formal English language training	Restrictions apply		Restrictions apply

Work Permit Holders: Individuals who hold any type of valid Canadian work permit.

Study Permit Holders: International Post-secondary students who hold a valid study permit, and who cannot access similar appropriate services at their institution of study.

Naturalized Canadian Citizens: Naturalized Canadian Citizens with language barriers who present with a vulnerability that requires culturally appropriate services.

Individuals with other immigration statuses, including:

Refugee Claimants: individuals who have submitted their claim for refugee protection and have received any of the following documents:
- Confirmation of Referral letter (CoRL), Acknowledgement of Claim (AOC), Refugee Protection Claim Document (RPCD) or Client Application Summary (after submitting a claim via IRCC’s online Portal).
Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa holders
BC Provincial Nominees or BCPNP Entrepreneur Immigration candidates

Restrictions apply for:

Naturalized Canadian Citizens who:
1. live outside of Metro Vancouver;
2. are actively seeking employment;
3. have indicated that English Language Learning offered by public postsecondary institutions is not available or not appropriate for their needs.

Work Permit Holders (excluding Refugee Claimants) who:
- live outside of Metro Vancouver;
- hold a valid work permit of at least one year in length;
- can demonstrate their intention to live in BC on a long-term basis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP)?

BC NSP supports you and other newcomers to settle in your new community in British Columbia and find work.

The program provides you with various in-person or online services including, community orientation, job search support, and career/employment counseling so you can start building your life in BC.

Who is eligible to access services from BC NSP?

The program is very inclusive, welcoming different immigration statuses, including:

Work permit holders: Individuals who hold any type of valid Canadian work permit.
Study Permit Holders: International post-secondary students who hold a valid study permit, and who cannot access similar appropriate services at their institution of study.
Naturalized Canadian Citizens: Naturalized Canadian citizens with language barriers who present with a vulnerability that requires culturally appropriate services.
Certain individuals with other immigration statuses, including:
- Refugee Claimants: individuals who have submitted their claim for refugee protection and have received any of the following documents:
  1. Confirmation of Referral letter (CoRL)
  2. Acknowledgment of Claim (AOC)
  3. Refugee Protection Claim Document (RPCD)
  4. Client Application Summary (after submitting a claim via IRCC’s online Portal).
- Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa holders, and;
  - BC Provincial Nominees or BCPNP Entrepreneur Immigration candidates.

Access to English language classes may be restricted to:

Work Permit Holders (excluding Refugee Claimants) who:
- live outside of Metro Vancouver;
- hold a valid work permit of at least one year in length;
- can demonstrate their intention to reside in British Columbia on a long-term basis.

Naturalized Canadian Citizens who:
- live outside of Metro Vancouver;
- are actively seeking employment;
- have indicated that English Language Learning offered by public postsecondary institutions is not available or not appropriate for their needs.

How can I get more information about the program?

To learn more, contact the BC NSP team nearest to you:

Vancouver – info@issbc.org / 604-684-2561
Burnaby – burnaby.settlement@issbc.org / jobquest@issbc.org / 604-395-8000
New Westminster – settlement@issbc.org / jobquest@issbc.org / 604-522-5902
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows – settlement.mr@issbc.org/ jobquest@issbc.org/ 778-372-6567

Where are BC NSP services with ISSofBC available?

Settlement and labour market/job services are available at ISSofBC offices in:

Vancouver
Burnaby
New Westminster
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows locations.

English language classes in Squamish only.

There are other providers of BC NSP services in other areas of British Columbia, so for a full list of service providers, visit: WelcomeBC – Start Your New life in BC – WelcomeBC.

For inquiries or additional information, please see below:

Settlement and Labour services

Vancouver: 604-684-2561
Burnaby: 604-395-8000 / jobquest@issbc.org
New Westminster: jobquest@issbc.org / 604-522-5902
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows: 778-372-6567 / settlement@issbc.org
Or by email at info@org

English classes in Squamish only: 604-567-4490

Please see WelcomeBC – Start Your New life in BC – WelcomeBC for a list of service providers in other cities

How much does it cost to access BC NSP program?

All services provided through BC NSP are FREE for eligible participants.

How long can I receive support from the BC NSP?

You can receive support from BC NSP as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and need the services.

There is no specific time limit.

Can the BC NSP support me to find a job?

Yes, through the program, we can support you in finding a job and teach you about the Canadian job market.

We offer various services to help with employment, including:

Employment orientation sessions
Information, orientation, and networking workshops
Advice on workplace rights and responsibilities
Customized employment counseling
Help with resume writing and job search
Short-term pre-employment training
Virtual interview simulations
AI competency matching

Is BC NSP available in languages other than English?

Yes, we provide services in multiple languages to ensure accessibility.

Please tell our staff what your preferred language is so we can arrange suitable first-language support and translators.

Who else offers BC NSP?

Please refer to the WelcomeBC website for the complete list of BC NSP providers in British Columbia.

Funding Partners

BCNSP is funded by the Government of British Columbia.

Interested in other ISSofBC services? Explore Skills Hub!

Our Skills Hub program can help you overcome difficult or unique challenges that you and other newcomers face when trying to find work in British Columbia.

Permanent Residents, people with CUAET Open Work Permits, International Student Graduates with Open Work Visas, Refugees with Open Work Permits, Open Work Permits holders and Canadian Citizens are all eligible.

Contact the Skills Hub team for more information:

Contact Skills Hub Register for Skills Hub today!

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