--- title: "New to Prince George? Your first weeks, step by step" description: "Newcomers to Prince George and Canada, and UNBC and CNC students: MSP, SIN, banking, phone, settlement help, a driver’s licence and the bus to each campus." url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/ markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers.md site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia generated: 2026-10-16T15:19:20.023Z --- # Newcomers and students Your first weeks in Prince George, in order: the paperwork with waiting periods first, then everything else, with the local office for each step. - [First weeks](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/#steps) - [Students](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/#students) - [Area names](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/#areas) - [Costs, jobs and the 30-day checklist](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/) ## Your first weeks Steps marked “New to Canada” are for people arriving from another country; everything else applies to anyone moving here. ### Week 1 1. #### Apply for MSP, then get your BC Services Card Everyone MSP is BC’s public health insurance. Coverage starts after a waiting period, so apply as soon as you arrive and buy private coverage for the gap. Once enrolled, you get a BC Services Card (your health card and government photo ID) at a Service BC centre or ICBC office. [Service BC Centre Prince George](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/citizens-services/servicebc) 1044 5th Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 5G4 Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. [250-565-4488](tel:2505654488) - [Enrol in MSP](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol) - [BC Services Card](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/bc-services-card) 2. #### Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) New to Canada You need a SIN to work in Canada and to file taxes. Apply online or at the Service Canada centre with your immigration or study documents. [Prince George Service Canada Centre](https://offices.service.canada.ca/en/Office?posui=5994) 1363 4th Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3J6 Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. [1-800-622-6232](tel:18006226232) - [Social Insurance Number](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html) 3. #### Open a bank account New to Canada Banks must open an account for you with acceptable ID, even without a job or a credit history. Ask about newcomer and student packages and fees before you choose. - [Opening a bank account (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada)](https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/banking/opening-bank-account.html) - [Banks and credit unions](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/directory/c/banks/) 4. #### Get a phone plan and home internet Everyone Compare what is actually available at your address before you sign: providers, technology (fibre, cable, fixed wireless) and advertised speeds differ from street to street. Check contract length, data caps and installation fees. - [ISED: broadband availability map](https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/sitt/bbmap/hm.html?lang=eng) - [Internet providers by area](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/internet/) 5. #### Set up power, gas and City utilities; find your garbage day Everyone Electricity is BC Hydro and natural gas is FortisBC; water, sewer and garbage are billed by the City to the property owner. Find your garbage day and sign up for emergency alerts. - [City of Prince George: paying your bill](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/utilities-taxes/paying-your-bill) - [Public alert sign-up](https://rdffg.connectrocket.com/) - [Garbage day lookup](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/garbage-day/) - [Household cost calculator](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/household-costs/) 6. #### Learn the buses Everyone Pay with exact cash, the Umo app or a contactless card. Post-secondary students: ask your school whether a transit pass comes with your fees. - [Umo fare payment](https://www.bctransit.com/umo/) - [BC Transit: Prince George](https://www.bctransit.com/prince-george/) - [Next bus](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/) - [Transit guide](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/) ### Week 2 1. #### Register for a family doctor Everyone Join the Health Connect Registry online or by calling 8-1-1. Until you are matched, use the Urgent and Primary Care Centre or a walk-in clinic, and 8-1-1 for nurse advice. [Prince George Urgent and Primary Care Centre](https://www.northernhealth.ca/find-a-facility/medical-clinics/prince-george-urgent-and-primary-care-centre) 143-1600 15th Ave (Parkwood Place), Prince George, BC V2L 3X3 Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat, Sun and holidays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Christmas Day [250-645-6900](tel:2506456900) - [Health Connect Registry](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry) - [Where to get care now](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/emergency/) 2. #### Connect with settlement services New to Canada Free settlement help (language classes, employment support, help with forms, connecting with cultural communities) is funded for permanent residents and some other newcomers. The Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) is the local agency. [Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS)](https://imss.ca/contact-us/) 1270 2nd Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3B3 Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. [250-562-2900](tel:2505622900) - [IRCC: find free newcomer services](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp) - [WelcomeBC](https://www.welcomebc.ca/) 3. #### Find work, or get help looking Everyone The WorkBC Centre offers free job search help and training funding. Regulated jobs (nursing, trades, teaching, engineering) need your credentials recognized first; WelcomeBC explains how. [WorkBC Centre – Prince George](https://www.workbc.ca/workbc-centres/workbc-centre-prince-george) 103-1600 15th Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3X3 Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed statutory holidays [236-601-9111](tel:2366019111) - [WelcomeBC](https://www.welcomebc.ca/) - [Jobs](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/jobs/) 4. #### Get a library card Everyone Free for city residents, with Wi-Fi, computers and free programs. [Prince George Public Library – Bob Harkins Branch](https://www.pgpl.ca/) 888 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC V2L 5T6 Mon 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Tue–Thu 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 12–4 p.m. [250-563-9251](tel:2505639251) - [Library cards](https://www.pgpl.ca/cards) - [Libraries](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/libraries/) ### Within 90 days 1. #### Switch to a BC driver’s licence and insure your vehicle Drivers New BC residents have 90 days to exchange their licence at an ICBC driver licensing office. Vehicles brought from elsewhere need an inspection, registration and ICBC insurance through an Autoplan broker. - [ICBC: moving to BC](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc) - [ICBC: find a driver licensing office](https://www.icbc.com/locators/driver-licensing-office?type=1) 2. #### Update your address Everyone AddressChangeBC updates several provincial agencies at once; update the Canada Revenue Agency separately. - [AddressChangeBC](https://www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca/) - [CRA: change your address](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/change-your-address.html) Offices, addresses and hours come from our [public services directory](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/services/), where each is checked against the operator’s own page. Steps last checked October 1, 2026. ## Students: getting to campus and where to live Apply for campus housing early. Off campus, living on a route that stops at your campus saves a transfer; these are the routes and the neighbourhoods they pass through, from the current bus schedule. ### UNBC University of Northern British Columbia - [Website](https://www.unbc.ca/) - [Student housing](https://www.unbc.ca/housing) - [International students](https://www.unbc.ca/international) #### Routes stopping at UNBC - [15UNBC/Downtown](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=15) - [16UNBC/College Heights](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=16) - [19UNBC/Westgate](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=19) #### Neighbourhoods with a direct bus - [College Heights 16, 19](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/college-heights/) - [Cranbrook Hill 15, 16, 19](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/cranbrook-hill/) - [Crescents 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/crescents/) - [Downtown 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/downtown/) - [East Central Fort George 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/east-central-fort-george/) - [Seymour 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/seymour/) - [Van Bow 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/van-bow/) - [West Bowl 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/west-bowl/) [Next buses at UNBC Exch Bay A](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?stop=105017) ### CNC College of New Caledonia, Prince George campus - [Website](https://cnc.bc.ca/) - [Student housing](https://cnc.bc.ca/services/housing) - [International students](https://cnc.bc.ca/international) #### Routes stopping at CNC - [15UNBC/Downtown](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=15) - [46Queensway](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=46) - [47Reverse Queensway](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=47) - [88Westgate](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=88) - [89Hart](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?route=89) #### Neighbourhoods with a direct bus - [Austin West 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/austin-west/) - [Carrie Jane Gray Park 46, 47, 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/carrie-jane-gray-park/) - [Central Hart 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/central-hart/) - [College Heights 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/college-heights/) - [Cranbrook Hill 15, 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/cranbrook-hill/) - [Crescents 15](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/crescents/) - [Downtown 15, 46, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/downtown/) - [East Central Fort George 15, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/east-central-fort-george/) - [Fraserview 46, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/fraserview/) - [Hart Highlands 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/hart-highlands/) - [Millar Addition 46, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/millar-addition/) - [Perry 46](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/perry/) - [Seymour 15, 46, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/seymour/) - [South Fort George 46, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/south-fort-george/) - [Southwest 88](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/southwest/) - [Van Bow 15, 46, 47](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/van-bow/) - [VLA 46](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/vla/) - [West Bowl 15, 46, 47, 88, 89](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/west-bowl/) [Next buses at College Rd at CNC](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/tools/next-bus/?stop=105022) Routes from BC Transit’s published schedule (GTFS, loaded October 12, 2026); neighbourhoods are those with at least one stop on the route, from the City’s boundaries. Compare rents on the [housing dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/housing/). ## Area names you will hear Locals and listings use subdivision names (Southridge, Highland Park, Birchwood Heights) more than the City’s neighbourhood names. Our [table of 85 area names](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/neighbourhoods/#also-known-as) says which neighbourhood each one is in, and which ones are outside city limits. ## More answers - [How do I find a rental?](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/answers/finding-a-rental/) - [UNBC or CNC, and where do students live?](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/answers/students-unbc-cnc/) - [How do I find a family doctor?](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/answers/family-doctor/) - [How bad is winter?](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/answers/surviving-winter/) [All answers](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/answers/) ## Data Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/). ### Newcomers and students Source: [Each step’s official source (linked); offices, hours and addresses come live from the public services directory](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), our own compilation; each step links its official source. Updated 2026-10-12T18:45:50.760Z. JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/move/newcomers #### steps | id | when | title | who | text | place | links | category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | msp | Week 1 | Apply for MSP, then get your BC Services Card | Everyone | MSP is BC’s public health insurance. Coverage starts after a waiting period, so apply as soon as you arrive and buy private coverage for the gap. Once enrolled… | servicebc-pg | | | | sin | Week 1 | Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) | New to Canada | You need a SIN to work in Canada and to file taxes. Apply online or at the Service Canada centre with your immigration or study documents. | servicecanada-pg | | | | bank | Week 1 | Open a bank account | New to Canada | Banks must open an account for you with acceptable ID, even without a job or a credit history. Ask about newcomer and student packages and fees before you choo… | | {"label":"Banks and credit unions","href":"/directory/c/banks/"} | banks | | phone | Week 1 | Get a phone plan and home internet | Everyone | Compare what is actually available at your address before you sign: providers, technology (fibre, cable, fixed wireless) and advertised speeds differ from stre… | | {"label":"Internet providers by area","href":"/tools/internet/"} | | | home | Week 1 | Set up power, gas and City utilities; find your garbage day | Everyone | Electricity is BC Hydro and natural gas is FortisBC; water, sewer and garbage are billed by the City to the property owner. Find your garbage day and sign up f… | | {"label":"Garbage day lookup","href":"/tools/garbage-day/"}, {"label":"Household cost calculator","href":"/tools/household-costs/"} | | | transit | Week 1 | Learn the buses | Everyone | Pay with exact cash, the Umo app or a contactless card. Post-secondary students: ask your school whether a transit pass comes with your fees. | | {"label":"Next bus","href":"/tools/next-bus/"}, {"label":"Transit guide","href":"/city/transit/"} | | | doctor | Week 2 | Register for a family doctor | Everyone | Join the Health Connect Registry online or by calling 8-1-1. Until you are matched, use the Urgent and Primary Care Centre or a walk-in clinic, and 8-1-1 for n… | pg-upcc | {"label":"Where to get care now","href":"/emergency/"} | | | settlement | Week 2 | Connect with settlement services | New to Canada | Free settlement help (language classes, employment support, help with forms, connecting with cultural communities) is funded for permanent residents and some o… | imss-prince-george | | | | work | Week 2 | Find work, or get help looking | Everyone | The WorkBC Centre offers free job search help and training funding. Regulated jobs (nursing, trades, teaching, engineering) need your credentials recognized fi… | workbc-centre-prince-george | {"label":"Jobs","href":"/jobs/"} | | | library | Week 2 | Get a library card | Everyone | Free for city residents, with Wi-Fi, computers and free programs. | pgpl-bob-harkins | {"label":"Libraries","href":"/city/libraries/"} | | | licence | Within 90 days | Switch to a BC driver’s licence and insure your vehicle | Drivers | New BC residents have 90 days to exchange their licence at an ICBC driver licensing office. Vehicles brought from elsewhere need an inspection, registration an… | | | | | address | Within 90 days | Update your address | Everyone | AddressChangeBC updates several provincial agencies at once; update the Canada Revenue Agency separately. | | | | _Nested fields (official, office, links) are in the JSON version._ #### campuses | id | name | longName | place | url | housing | international | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | unbc | UNBC | University of Northern British Columbia | unbc-prince-george-campus | https://www.unbc.ca | https://www.unbc.ca/housing | https://www.unbc.ca/international | | cnc | CNC | College of New Caledonia, Prince George campus | cnc-prince-george-campus | https://cnc.bc.ca | https://cnc.bc.ca/services/housing | https://cnc.bc.ca/international | _Nested fields (stops, routes, neighbourhoods, feed) are in the JSON version._ --- Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/move/newcomers/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/