Support for your family
Are you an international student with dependents? The International Centre for Students is here to support you and your family as you begin your journey in Victoria. Below, you will find essential information to help you get established in your new home.
Health insurance
While in Canada, all members of your family should have comprehensive health insurance, which includes both primary health insurance and extended health benefits. Without adequate coverage, accessing healthcare can be very expensive. Keep your family safe by learning about your health insurance options.
British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP)
- Enrolment in the provincial health insurance plan (BC MSP) is mandatory for any person who will reside in British Columbia for more than 6 months
- If your family members are already in BC, they can be included in your initial BC MSP application. For dependents arriving later, students can add dependents to their account by submitting an MSP Account Change Request
- Each member of your family who holds a study permit must pay a monthly $75 health fee for international students. Non-student family members are not required to pay this fee
GuardMe@UVic
- Most new international students are automatically enrolled in the Mandatory Temporary Medical Insurance program (MTMI) via GuardMe@UVic. This coverage valid for your first four months at UVic, and is meant to cover you during the waiting period while you apply for BC MSP
- While waiting for your family's BC MSP coverage to begin, we strongly advise that you purchase temporary medical insurance for them. You can purchase a GuardMe plan for your family members if you have an active GuardMe policy or if you have BC MSP
The University of Victoria Students’ Society and Graduate Students Society extended health benefit plans provide partial coverage for services not covered by BC MSP, such as:
- Prescription medication
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Mental health practitioners (counselors, psychologists, psychotherapists)
- Paramedical practitioners (massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, etc.)
While most students are automatically enrolled, adding dependents to your extended benefit plan is optional. Please contact your student union to learn more about enrolling your dependents in extended health benefits and any deadlines.
Housing
On-campus housing
UVic Family Housing is an option for families with or without children. The family housing complex consists of townhouses and apartments with proximity to several schools and the UVic daycare.
- Units are rented to eligible UVic students
- Units are leased are on a yearly basis, up to a maximum tenancy length
- There is significant waitlist for Family Housing. Information about the waitlist, including current waitlist times, can be found on the Family Housing website.
- Students can apply once they have their UVic student number and Netlink ID
- Spaces are not guaranteed, plan to look for off-campus housing
Off-campus housing
Child care
Child care at UVic
UVic offers child care services for children (up to age 5) of full-time students. You can put your child on the waitlist at the same time that you are applying for your studies. Spaces are not guaranteed, so families should apply to additional child care programs as well. Consult UVic Child Care for enrolment information and fees.
Before and after school care
Public school hours will vary but are typically 8:45am to 2:45pm, Monday to Friday. Consult your school’s schedule for exact hours. Many schools partner with community organizations to offer child care services before or after school. Once you have registered your child/ren, ask your child's school about programs offered in your area.
Child care resources
- ChildCareBC provides helpful information on the different types of child care in BC, accessing child care, and finding a provider in your community
- The Child Care Resource and Referral Centre (CCRR) offers support for finding child care
- The BC Child Care Map shows available child care providers near you
School
If your study permit is valid for at least one year and you are enrolled at UVic, your minor children (18 years of age and younger) may be eligible to attend public elementary or secondary school. In most cases, they will not be required to pay international student fees. You can also choose to enrol your children in private and independent schools that charge tuition fees.
In British Columbia (BC):
- Students can register for school any time during the school year
- To enrol in school, a child must be at least 5 years old by December 31 of the school year
- Grade placements are determined by the child’s birth year
- To learn more about BC's educational system, visit LearnLiveBC
School districts
Before enrolling your child, you will first need to identify your school district, which is determined by the municipality of your residential address in BC:
- Greater Victoria School District SD 61 includes Victoria, Esquimalt, Oak Bay, View Royal, and a portion of Saanich and Highlands. Most students living on campus or near UVic will reside within this school district.
- Sooke School District SD 62 includes Sooke, Port Renfrew, Metchosin, Highlands, Langford, and Colwood.
- Saanich School District SD 63 includes a portion of Saanich, Sidney, and Cordova Bay
School catchments
Each school district operates on a catchment model, meaning your children will be assigned a school based on your residential address at time of registration. To determine where your child might attend school, find your catchment schools by school district:
It is advised that you wait until you have arrived in Victoria and secured long-term housing to apply for school. To enrol your children in school, reach out to your school district's international education office:
- SD 61 - Victoria International Education
- SD 62 - Sooke Schools International Student Program
- SD 63 - Saanich International Student Program
They will provide you with application information, review your documentation, and support you in registering your child for school. Prepare for the process by making copies of:
- Your family's identification documents (passport, birth certificate)
- Proof of residence (tenancy agreement or utility bill)
- Your study permit
- Immunization records
- School report cards, grades, from the past two years
Always consult your child's school district calendar for information on closures, breaks, and important dates. You can contact your school to determine if child care is available while they are closed. Generally:
- The school year runs from early September to late June
- There is a 2-week break in December and a 2-week break in March
- Schools close for BC Statutory Holidays and some other dates (Easter Monday)
- Schools close for occassional non-instructional Professional Development Days (Pro-D days)
Resources
Settlement
At the ICS, our Settlement Advisers (SAs) provide information and support for international students and their families adjusting to life in Victoria and Canada. They can advise on housing, health insurance, banking, connecting to resources, and more. Connect with a Settlement Adviser.
In the community, the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) and Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) provide settlement services for temporary residents in the Victoria area, such as:
- Employment support
- English language training
- Social and recreational programs
- Mental health resources
- Workshops and trainings
- One-one-one settlement consultations
Employment
- The UVic Career Services website has tips and resources for finding work in Victoria (note: career advising services and workshops are only available to UVic students)
- Work BC is a free resource that can support new BC residents in navigating the job search and accessing employment training
- The ICA and VIRCS also offer employment programs and training for temporary residents
- UVic International Student Advisers can provide advice on work eligibility for international students and their dependents
- Please note: anyone planning to work in Canada needs a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in order to be paid
English language learning
There are many resources in Victoria for UVic students and family members to access English language learning. The cost and availability of these programs will vary.
- UVic Continuing Studies
- Camosun College
- Private language schools
- The Inter-Cultural Association
- Community centres
- The Library Link for Newcomers
Recreation
The City of Victoria offers many free or low-cost recreational resources for families. Below are some ways to discover art classes, swimming lessons, camps, and other activities and services.
- Recreation Centres: sports, art classes, summer camps, and other activities for all ages
- Community Centres: food resources, social events, child care, and more
- Parks: the city of Victoria and surrounding areas are full of beautiful natural spaces and family-friendly amenities
- Greater Victoria Public Library: local libraries host events, programs, and provide learning resources for all ages
Immigration documents
You can apply for your family members, such as your spouse, common-law partner, and/or dependent children, to accompany you to Canada during your studies. Depending on your family’s circumstances, they may be eligible for a study or work permit, or they may be able to come to Canada as visitors.
If your family members are eligible to come with you to Canada, in most cases they can apply for the necessary documents together with your initial study permit application. Each family member must maintain valid immigration status for the duration of their stay in Canada.
For more information on immigration documents for your family members, contact an International Student Adviser.
Information session
In this session, UVic ICS Settlement Advisers provided an overview of resources for international students with accompanying family members. This included information on family housing, school registration, child care, health insurance, resources for spouses, recreation, and more.