Burnaby, BC
Immigration in Burnaby, BC
Licensed immigration consultant for Burnaby — Brentwood, Metrotown, Lougheed and Capitol Hill. We work daily with SFU and BCIT graduates on PGWP extensions, BC PNP Tech nominations and Express Entry CEC profiles. Free assessment, no upsell.
Best candidates in Burnaby: Tech professionals, SFU/BCIT graduates, Students, Families. Common local pathways include BC PNP Tech, Express Entry CEC (STEM), PGWP transitions.
Burnaby at a glance
Public overview of who tends to settle here, which pathways align, and how the city fits newcomers.
Tech professionals, SFU/BCIT students & graduates, Skilled workers, Growing families
BC PNP Tech · Express Entry CEC (STEM) · PGWP transitions · Spousal Sponsorship
Technology · Film & digital media · Education & research · Healthcare
Expo & Millennium Lines (Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, Production Way–University)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Burnaby campus · British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Very good
Strong — multiple DLIs
Diverse across trades, services and professional sectors
Second-most-populous city in Metro Vancouver — transit-oriented, education-anchored, with large regional parks and dense town centres.
Where you are in BC
- British Columbia
- →
- Metro Vancouver
- →
- Burnaby
Metro Vancouver Regional District — 21 municipalities anchored by the Port of Vancouver, YVR and the TransLink SkyTrain network.
About Burnaby
Public information from Statistics Canada, the City of Burnaby, BC Stats and TransLink.
≈ 249,100 (2021 Census)
98 km²
Mild oceanic; slightly cooler than Vancouver core
English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog
Chinese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian
≈ 2.6 persons
Expo & Millennium Lines (Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, Production Way–University)
Study & schools
Public post-secondary, K–12, language and continuing-education options in and near the city.
Universities & colleges
- Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Burnaby campus
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Public school district
- Burnaby School District 41 (SD41)
- District Welcome Centres for newcomer families
- StrongStart early-learning drop-in programs
Language schools
- LINC / ELSA (federally funded, PR eligible)
- District ESL for K–12 and adults
- University ELI / ELC pathway programs
Adult & continuing education
- School district adult education centres
- Public college continuing-studies programs
- Skills training via WorkBC Centres
Trade schools
- BCIT (Burnaby)
- KPU trades programs (Surrey / Cloverdale)
- Industry Training Authority (SkilledTradesBC) registered apprenticeships
Early childhood resources
- $10-a-day ChildCareBC at participating facilities
- Licensed group and family childcare
- Community centre preschool programs
Working in Burnaby
Public labour market view drawn from Statistics Canada, BC Labour Market Outlook and WorkBC. Explanatory only — verify current openings via WorkBC and Job Bank.
Major industries
- Technology
- Film & digital media
- Education & research
- Healthcare
- Retail
Growing industries
- Technology
- Film & digital media
- Clean energy
- Higher education
Entry-level opportunities
- Retail (Metrotown, Brentwood)
- Food service
- Warehouse near production hubs
Skilled occupations
- Software developers
- Game designers
- Engineers
- Instructors
Trades
- Electricians
- HVAC technicians
- Industrial millwrights
Healthcare
- Burnaby Hospital (Fraser Health)
Transportation
- Rail & port support along Burnaby Lake / North Burnaby
Technology
- EA Sports HQ
- TELUS operations
- SFU / BCIT research
Construction
- High-density transit-oriented development
Hospitality
- Metrotown-area hotels
- Diverse restaurant scene
Public sector
- City of Burnaby
- SD41
- SFU / BCIT
Sources: WorkBC Job Board · BC Labour Market Outlook · Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey · Job Bank (Government of Canada).
Cost of living in Burnaby
A qualitative overview of housing, services and community amenities. For current prices consult CMHC, BC Housing and Statistics Canada — figures change frequently.
Housing
- Overall market: High
- CMHC & BC Housing publish current rental and ownership data
- Supply concentrated near transit corridors and town centres
Transportation
- Expo & Millennium Lines (Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, Production Way–University)
- Compass Card for TransLink; BC Transit fare products in Fraser Valley
Healthcare
- MSP provincial coverage for BC residents
- Fraser Health or Vancouver Coastal Health authority
- Walk-in clinics and Urgent & Primary Care Centres
Childcare
- $10-a-day ChildCareBC at participating facilities
- Licensed group and family childcare
- Waitlists common — register early
Utilities
- BC Hydro — electricity
- FortisBC — natural gas (most homes)
- Municipal water, sewer and solid waste
Recreation
- Municipal community centres with pools and gyms
- Regional parks and trail networks
- Public library programs and multilingual collections
Climate
- Mild oceanic; slightly cooler than Vancouver core
Safety
- RCMP or municipal police
- 211 BC — community services directory
- Emergency: 911 · Non-emergency lines published by each detachment
Community services
- Public libraries
- Community & recreation centres
- Multilingual settlement agencies (ISS of BC, MOSAIC, DIVERSEcity, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.)
Prices intentionally omitted — refer to CMHC, BC Housing and Statistics Canada for current figures.
Local public resources in Burnaby
Libraries, community centres, settlement agencies, healthcare, transit and government services — all publicly funded.
Libraries
- Burnaby Public Library — Bob Prittie Metrotown, McGill, Cameron, Tommy Douglas
Community centres
- Bonsor, Cameron, Edmonds and Confederation community centres
Settlement agencies
- ISS of BC, MOSAIC, DIVERSEcity, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. — federally funded newcomer services; MOSAIC Burnaby office
Healthcare
- Burnaby Hospital
Parks
- Central Park, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Deer Lake Park
Government services
- Burnaby City Hall (Deer Lake); Service BC via Vancouver / Surrey
Public transit
- Expo Line & Millennium Line (Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, Production Way–University)
Airports
- YVR (35 min via Canada Line + SkyTrain)
Major hospitals
- Burnaby Hospital
Pathways relevant to Burnaby
Federal and BC provincial pathways that most often align with this city's labour market.
Express Entry
Federal system for CEC, FSW and FST candidates ranked by CRS.
BC PNP
Provincial nomination — Skilled Worker, Tech, Entry Level & Semi-Skilled, Entrepreneur.
Study Permit
Pathway for international students at DLIs across BC.
Work Permit
Employer-supported (LMIA) and LMIA-exempt (IMP) work authorizations.
LMIA
Labour Market Impact Assessment supporting employer-driven work permits.
Family Sponsorship
Spousal, parent/grandparent and dependent child sponsorship.
Work Permit Expiry
Restoration, BOWP and last-minute strategy before status ends.
PR Card / Citizenship
Maintaining PR status and applying for Canadian citizenship.
Pathways most active in Burnaby
Contextual — reflects the city's public labour and community patterns. Informational only; not a promise of eligibility or outcome.
BC PNP Tech
Weekly tech invitations align with Burnaby's software and gaming employers.
PGWP
SFU and BCIT graduates transitioning to work permits.
Express Entry (Category-based)
STEM and Healthcare category draws favour Burnaby's talent pool.
First steps after arriving in Burnaby
Interactive checklist of essential setup tasks. Progress saves in your browser — no account required.
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Required to work in Canada — Service Canada.
- Register for BC MSP health coverage
Provincial medical coverage — 3-month wait for most newcomers.
- Open a Canadian bank account
Most major banks offer newcomer packages.
- Register children for school (K–12)
Contact your local school district Welcome Centre.
- Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner
Use Health Connect Registry (BC).
- Connect with a settlement agency
ISS of BC, MOSAIC, DIVERSEcity or S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
- Enroll in language classes (LINC / ELSA)
Federally funded for eligible permanent residents.
- Plan your immigration next steps
Free CAN-MIGRATE assessment.
Who Burnaby is best for
Every immigration program, one click away
Explore nearby cities
Other Lower Mainland communities worth comparing to Burnaby.
Vancouver
Tech workers, francophone Express Entry candidates, international students, healthcare professionals
Coquitlam
Douglas College graduates, Korean-speaking entrepreneurs, sponsored parents
Surrey
International students, trucking/warehouse workers, sponsored families
Richmond
Mandarin-speaking families, investors and entrepreneurs, UBC/Kwantlen graduates
Questions about immigrating to Burnaby
Not sure what to do next? Let's review your options.
Free 15-minute consultation with our licensed RCIC team. No obligation. We'll tell you what's actually possible — not just what's marketable.