Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is located in a very safe and central neighbourhood near downtown Vancouver.

While PICAchef does not provide student housing, there are multiple options students can consider when planning their education.

Student can choose from shared accommodations, short-term residences, and homestay services. Accommodation can be furnished, or unfurnished.

We suggest looking for accommodations in the following Vancouver neighbourhoods, as they are within walking distance or an easy commute by bicycle or public transit:

· Kitsilano
· Downtown West End· South Granville
· Main Street/Mount Pleasant/Fraserhood

· Downtown
· Fairview
· Olympic Village
· Commercial Drive

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Tips for finding student housing:

· Plan ahead. Begin your search at least one month prior to move-in and allow two weeks of search time.
· Google Maps is a great resource to use when determining the location of the accommodation in relation to the school
· Set up appointments with landlords in-person. Never secure accommodations without meeting the landlord in-person and looking at the accommodation first.
· Do not send money in the mail to secure accommodations.
· Know what you want before you go. You may not find everything you want but it is best to set some priorities.

For more information about tenancy rights, please check the BC Tenancy Act

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SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATIONS:

‍Global Education City

Furnished apartments for students. Multiple locations. The closest location to our campus is their Granville Street location. GEC Granville Suites is a premium boutique hotel in Downtown Vancouver, specializing in extended stays and student housing. For more information, visit here.

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Vanmates

Vanmates helps international students find the right home at the best rates to suit their needs - from homes stays, shared accommodations to fully furnished apartments. For more information, visit here.

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Websites to Search for Rental Accommodation:

Craiglist Vancouver

Padmapper

Airbnb

Rentals.ca

Liv

Facebook
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*This list is provided for informational purposes only and is not in any way to be interpreted as a recommendation, warranty or representation of any kind. Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts neither inspects nor endorses any unit or home, landlord, property location, website and roommate listing. It is the student’s responsibility to exercise due care and judgement when choosing a rental.

Living Costs*

Vancouver has a lot to offer in the form of cultural activities, entertainment and the outdoors.

Students relocating to Vancouver should be prepared for the cost of living.

At a minimum students should be prepared for the monthly expenditures:

Shared Accommodation    $900 - $2000

Food                                    $400 - $700

Phone                                  $35 -$80

Medical Insurance               $75 - $85

Entertainment                     $100 - $350

Public Transportation          $107 - $195

*For information purposes only

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Centrally located at the entrance to Granville Island, our campus is easily accessible by public transit. We are also on a dedicated bicycle route. If you are planning on owning a vehicle in Vancouver, it might be best to leave your vehicle at home and ride your bicycle, walk or take transit, as free parking is limited in or around Granville Island. Vancouver transit information can be found at Translink BC.

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Transportation from Vancouver International Airport

Transit

TransLink's online Trip Planner will help you find the fastest and easiest transit route to your destination. The Trip Planner will also let you know the fare you will need to pay and the approximate travel time. For example - to reach downtown Vancouver, you can take the Canada Line from Airport Station to several stations near the city center including:

• Broadway-City Hall

• Olympic Village

• Yaletown-Roundhouse

• Vancouver City Center

• Waterfront

Note: Many students arriving with luggage may consider other convenient transportation methods such as:

Taxis
Licensed taxis are available from the taxi stand outside the Arrivals area. A flat zone fare is charged for transportation to different parts of the city. For more information, please visit here. A 15% gratuity/tip is normally expected on top of the meter charge.

Ride Apps
Popular ride app services are available from the airport. Uber, Lyft and KABU are the authorized providers at the airport. Pick up areas are located at:

• International Arrivals, Level 2

• Domestic Arrivals, Level 2

For more information, visit here.

Reduce wait times for your study permit at YVR

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is piloting the new Voluntary Compliance Portal (VC Portal) to provide information in advance to Canadian Border Service Agency officials prior to students’ arrival at YVR. Using the VC Portal is completely optional and allows students to voluntarily submit information found in their letter of introduction (study permit approval) from Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This can result in significant time savings for both the student and CBSA.

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Information submitted to the VC Portal will be sent directly to the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and will only be used to expedite the process for study permits. CBSA officers will be able to review applications prior to the student’s arrival, potentially identify administrative errors, and prepare documents in anticipation of arrival which should reduce the student’s time spent at the airport. Please note that no other organization will have access this information.

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To be eligible, international students must meet the following criteria:

Initial entry into Canada must be at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). This process will not apply to students connecting to YVR from another Canadian city

• They must have a letter of introduction (study permit approval) from IRCC

• They must submit all the mandatory information at least 72 hours in advance through the VC Portal.
  

• Students will be asked to submit the following information online through the Portal ‍

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Mandatory information:

• Unique Client Identifier (UCI) – this can be found on the letter of introduction issued by IRCC

• Last name (Family name)
• Planned date of arrival to Vancouver
• Arriving flight number‍

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Optional information:

• Control document number
• First name
• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Passport country of issue
  

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Who will have access to the information the I submit?

Information submitted through the VC Portal will be sent directly to the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) only.

How soon can I submit my information?
You can submit information as far in advance of your confirmed travel plans as you wish. Please note that the information must be received by the CBSA at least 72 hours prior to your arrival to Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

What happens if I don’t submit my information to VC Portal within 72 hours prior to arrival?
The CBSA cannot guarantee that your information will be received and processed in time.

What if the information I submitted is incorrect?
You can resubmit the correct information to the VC Portal up to 72 hours before your arrival.

What happens if I choose not to submit my information?

Submitting your information is voluntary. The VC Portal serves to speed up the wait times at YVR for study permit issuance for students with approvals.

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Our Alumni Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/picaalumni/‍

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Jooble

https://ca.jooble.org/jobs/Vancouver%2C-BC