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Settlement Support

With this program, you can learn about life in British Columbia, Canadian society, and local community services, such as medical care and schools, to build your life in Canada.

Services are available in English and your first language (see below).

How can this program support you?

Moving to a new country can be difficult. Our Settlement support services enable you to learn about life in British Columbia.

A Settlement caseworker will help you access healthcare, education, and other public services.

Services are available in English and your first language (see below). If you need support in additional languages, please get in touch with our team to request a translator – settlement@issbc.org

Learn more about your eligibility for Settlement Support

What our settlement services do:

  • Provide services in your local community.
  • Provide information on government public services (like medical care and schooling) and government rights and responsibilities.
  • Confidential support to help you and your family adjust to living in British Columbia.
  • Connect you to services and support in your local community.
  • Develop a settlement plan to meet your short- and long-term needs.
  • Help you gain confidence for your daily life in Canada.

Why join our Settlement support program?

Discover some of the benefits below:

Learn about your rights

In Canada, every resident has rights and responsibilities. Learn what you are entitled to through this program.

Confidential support

We value your and your family’s privacy, so your settlement worker will keep your information private.

Support to register for local services

Our staff will share resources about health and education services and support.

Make friends and connections

Learn practical information about housing, banking, transport, Canadian laws, healthcare, and cultural norms.



Create a plan on how to settle

Our settlement team will work with you to create a personal Settlement Plan to meet your short- and long-term needs.

Get support in your language

Many ISSofBC staff are former newcomers, so they can speak your language, allowing you to explain and express yourself in a language you can understand.

Build your confidence

Settling in a new country is difficult, but we are here to empower you so you can succeed in BC!

Who can join Settlement support?

You can join our Settlement Support program if you have lived in Canada for five years or less and are a(n):

To join the program you must hold one of these statuses in Canada:

  • Permanent Resident (PR)
  • Individual selected to become a Permanent Resident, and who have been informed by a letter from the IRCC
  • Protected Person, as defined in S.95 of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protect Act (IRPA)

Find answers to common questions about this program

Get quick answers to frequently asked questions about Settlement Support program services.

Settlement services are support offered to newcomers, including immigrants and refugees, to support them to adjust to life in British Columbia.

These services aim to help you learn about your local community, Canadian society, and services. 

Settlement services aim to empower you and other newcomers so you can live, thrive, and engage with the services, people, and activities in British Columbia and the rest of Canada.

Optional Subheading

ISSofBC only offers Settlement support to newcomers who have already arrived in British Columbia and meet the program eligibility requirements.

If you are outside Canada, please contact Immigrant, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

For Canada to realize the economic, social, and cultural benefits of immigration, newcomers must successfully integrate into Canadian society. 

The Settlement program, funded by the Government of Canada, plays a significant role by assisting immigrants and refugees in overcoming barriers specific to the newcomer experience so that they can undertake their longer-term integration on a similar footing to other Canadians.

Canadian-born people have other services and support available to them.

Settlement support locations

You can receive Settlement Support services at the following ISSofBC locations:

Languages available

We provide Settlement services in the following languages below. However, we can provide support in other languages if required. Please contact settlement@issbc.org to arrange a translator.

Spanish

Dari

French

Swahili

Farsi

Arabic

English

Korean

Want to join our Settlement support program? Contact the team today!

If you want to receive Settlement Support services, please contact the Settlement team to check your eligibility and learn more about our services. You can also call the program on 604-684-2561.

Funding Partners

The Government of Canada funds our Settlement Support services via the IRCC.

IRCC – Government of Canada

Related Events

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Related Programs & Services

Are you a newcomer, immigrant, refugee, temporary foreign worker or international student in British Columbia? We’re here to support you.