Travel & Visa Information
Visa Information
Please refer to the IRCC website to learn about a temporary resident visa (visitor visa) and the application process. All participants applying for a visa to attend the event should apply for their visa via the IRCC Secure Network. Tag your visa application (Form IMM 5257) with the special event code provided by the Organizer.
Note that applications are assessed individually, and the assigned special event code provided on the invitation letter does not guarantee a favourable outcome. Applicants must meet all the eligibility criteria and visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the information presented by the applicant.
Processing times vary by visa office and season. We advise starting your visa application process as early as possible and checking processing times on the IRCC website. Failure to apply early might lead to your visa application not being processed in time for the conference and no refunds will be issued for the registration fee.
If you are required to complete biometrics, you will be issued a Biometrics Instructions Letter (BIL) after submitting your application. You may then schedule an appointment at any Visa Application Centre (VAC) to complete your biometrics. To find your closest VAC, click here. IMPORTANT: To prevent possible delays, please schedule your appointment as soon as you receive your BIL. You must complete your biometrics before IRCC can start to process your application.
Some delegates will not need to complete biometrics. If you qualify for an exemption, you will not receive a BIL and IRCC can start processing your application. To find out if you need to give biometrics, visit this link.
All delegates who require a visa to enter Canada may request an official Letter of Invitation from the conference organizers upon registration to help facilitate the immigration process. Please note that Letters of Invitation are only issued to delegates who have paid their registration fees in full. The letter aims to assist participants for their travel to Canada and does not imply any commitment for the Conference Organizer to provide financial support. Please note that cancellations after the pre-registration cut-off may result in a partial or full cancellation fee.
A visa invitation letter is no guarantee to receive a visa and it is the sole responsibility of the attendee to contact the embassy or consulate to obtain the necessary paperwork for entry into the country.
Travel to Vancouer
If you’re arriving by air, you’ll most likely be flying into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Located just 25 minutes from downtown, YVR is consistently rated one of the best airports in North America. There are more than a dozen international flights in and out of YVR every day, with more than 20 bound for the United States.
If you’re flying into Vancouver from a short-haul, domestic destination such as Victoria or other parts of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands or Whistler, you can also travel via scheduled floatplane or helicopter services. Both offer departures from downtown Vancouver, or from Richmond – close to YVR.
Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, accesses Vancouver from points east. If planning a driving tour, allow 4 hours from Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley, 12 hours from Calgary, and five days from Montreal. If you’re arriving in Vancouver from Victoria or Vancouver Island, you’ll need to take your car on a BC Ferries vessel across the Strait of Georgia to the mainland. Vancouver is only three hours north of Seattle. Take the Interstate 5, which becomes Highway 99 at the United States-Canada border.
BC Ferries provides regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service between Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and other parts of coastal British Columbia. Reservations can be made on some routes. Find out more by visiting their website or calling 1.888.223.3779 or 1 250.386.3431 (outside North America).
Hullo is the sole provider of direct ferry access into Downtown Vancouver from Vancouver Island. Their foot-passenger ferries are a fast and convenient way to travel, connecting Nanaimo with Vancouver Harbour in just 70 minutes. Four sailings are available each way on a daily basis, with additional late-night sailings offered during major sports and music events in the city.
Travel across Canada on VIA Rail’s transcontinental service running from Vancouver to Toronto, via Jasper, three times per week, year-round. Or take in the best of BC and Alberta with a Rocky Mountaineer two-day rail tour, offered from April through October. If you’re heading to Vancouver from the U.S., consider the Amtrak Cascades route between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, via Portland and Seattle.
Pacific Central Station is the terminus for both VIA Rail and Amtrak trains, and is located just east downtown Vancouver at Main and Terminal streets. Rocky Mountaineer trains operate out of their own facilities, with stations in East Vancouver (close to Pacific Central Station) and North Vancouver.
Take a scheduled bus service into Vancouver. Our coach line partners offer regular service to Vancouver from destinations including Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Okanagan Valley.
Getting Around in Vancouver
TransLink plans and manages the region’s transportation system. Plan your trip. Metro Vancouver is divided into three fare zones for SkyTrain and SeaBus, while bus journeys are charged at a one-zone rate regardless of the distance. Zones are in effect during peak periods, from the start of service until 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Tickets as well as credit and debit taps are valid for travel for up to 90 minutes and allow you to transfer across different modes of transit, as long as travel is within the zone(s) that you originally paid for. Cash fares paid on the bus allow you to transfer to other buses with a paper transfer, but not to SkyTrain or SeaBus services. TransLink’s transit fleet is fully-accessible, enabling everyone to travel by bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus.
All licensed taxis are allowed to drop-off passengers at YVR, and they will use the meter to determine the fare. If you’re taking a taxi from the airport to your destination after arriving at YVR, use one of the taxi stands located on Level 2. Taxis operating from the airport are licensed, and will use a zoned fare rate that will depend on your destination.
Lyft and Uber are both authorized providers of ride hailing services at YVR.
Book online at hertz.ca and quote CDP* ID# 2163312.The CDP savings applies to Base Rental Rate only. Taxes, tax reimbursement, fees, surcharges and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. Discounts vary by rental date, location and vehicle type. Discounts in local currency upon redemption. Advance reservation is required. Age, driver, credit and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Blackout periods may apply.
Travel Tips & Tools
Approximately 550 locations in Vancouver’s downtown core and surrounding areas now have free access to the network as part of the City of Vancouver’s Digital Strategy. It’s been a great benefit to residents, businesses, and visitors. Check out the map for free WiFi locations.
Most major credit cards are accepted, but visitors are always advised to check with the vendor before a purchase is made. The most commonly accepted cards are Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Cash machines with 24-hour access are available in many convenient locations throughout Vancouver.
Outlets and voltage (110 volts) are the same as in the United States. Small appliances such as hair dryers, irons, razors, etc. can be used in Canada. For those from other countries, adapters are required for electrical appliances. The frequency of electrical current in Canada is 60 Hz.
When dining out at restaurants, visitors should be advised that the standard tip for good service is between 15 and 20 %. If you are dining in a group of eight or more people, it’s standard for a restaurant to automatically add a gratuity of 18 % to your bill. Tipping for counter service is not expected. Other services that regularly attract tips are spa treatments, hair and nail services, and taxis – 15 per cent is standard in each case.
In case of an emergency call 9-1-1.