Questions we hear
every single time.

No. The SACB provides academic oversight — managing your scholarship, liaising with your sponsoring agency, and helping with program enrollment. They do not arrange housing, school enrollment, vehicle sourcing, family healthcare, or any of the day-to-day logistics of actually living in Vancouver.

Baytik picks up exactly where the SACB ends. We handle the gap between "your paperwork is in order" and "your family feels at home."

No. Government-funded settlement services in BC (such as MOSAIC and DIVERSEcity) are available only to permanent residents and refugees. As a fellowship physician on a work permit, you are not eligible for these programs.

This is precisely the gap Baytik exists to fill. You are arriving in a new country without the safety net that other newcomers have access to.

Our communications and written materials are available in both English and Arabic. We understand Gulf cultural expectations around hospitality, family priorities, and professional communication — and our service reflects that standard.

WhatsApp is always available for quick communication, which most of our clients prefer.

It is genuinely difficult — and this is the number one stressor reported by Gulf physicians arriving in Vancouver. Canadian landlords rely heavily on credit history, rental references, and Canadian employment verification. Arriving without any of these creates real friction.

Baytik has established relationships with property managers and landlords who understand the Gulf physician profile: government-sponsored professionals with strong income documentation, stable one to three year timelines, and excellent tenancy track records. We present your file in a way that works within the Canadian system.

The most practical neighborhoods for fellows at VGH and UBC-affiliated hospitals:

• Fairview / South Cambie — Closest to VGH. Family-friendly, quiet, good transit. Most popular with fellows.
• Kitsilano — 10–15 min to VGH. Larger units, park access, strong community feel.
• Mount Pleasant / Riley Park — 15 min to VGH. More affordable, increasingly family-oriented.
• West End / Yaletown — Close to St. Paul's. More urban, less suitable for families with young children.
• Burnaby (Brentwood / Metrotown) — Further but larger units for the same price. Good if budget is a priority and commute is acceptable.

We match your housing to your hospital location, family size, and lifestyle priorities.

For a 2-bedroom in Fairview or South Cambie, expect $2,800 – $3,600/month for a well-located, family-suitable unit. Furnished units command a 10–20% premium.

Larger 3-bedroom units (needed for families with two or more children) range from $3,800 – $5,200/month depending on building age and location.

A security deposit of one half month's rent is required under BC law. First month's rent is typically required upfront as well.

For a one-year fellowship, furnished is almost always the right choice. The cost premium is recovered immediately by not having to purchase, ship, and then sell furniture on departure.

If furnished stock is limited (as it often is during the July intake period), Baytik can coordinate furniture rental through CORT or a targeted IKEA package delivered and assembled before your arrival. We also offer a Gap Kit for units that are partially furnished but missing essentials.

Yes, it is real. Vancouver is a FIFA host city for June and July 2026 — exactly when the new fellowship cohort arrives. Short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) have absorbed significant long-term inventory in anticipation of World Cup demand, and landlords are holding units for premium short-term bookings.

The 2026 cohort needs to secure housing by April or May at the latest. Fellows who contact us in June will face a materially harder market than those who engage us in February or March.

Public school enrollment in Vancouver goes through the Vancouver School Board (VSB) and is based on your home address. Once your housing is confirmed, we initiate enrollment on your behalf. You will need proof of address, immunization records, and previous school transcripts (translated to English if necessary).

Vancouver public schools are well-regarded and multicultural. ESL support is available for children still developing English. Most Gulf families find the transition smoother than expected within the first semester.

For families seeking Islamic education, there are several Islamic school options in the Metro Vancouver area. We research availability and waitlist status as part of your Settlement or Concierge package.

Spousal adjustment is often harder than the physician's own transition. Your spouse arrives in a city where they may know no one, have limited independence without a vehicle or local knowledge, and are managing a household in a completely unfamiliar system.

Our Concierge package includes dedicated spousal orientation: neighborhood familiarization, introduction to community resources, help establishing routines, and connection to the Gulf family community already in Vancouver.

The physician's fellowship succeeds or struggles largely based on how well the family settles. We take this seriously.

BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP) covers physician and hospital services. As a temporary foreign worker, you and your dependents are eligible. There is a 3-month waiting period after arrival before MSP activates — we advise securing private travel insurance to bridge this gap.

We handle the MSP application as part of your settlement package, and we help identify a family doctor near your home. Finding a family doctor in Vancouver is one of the harder logistics — the majority of practices are not accepting new patients. We work through community health centres and referral networks to find appropriate options.

Vancouver has a well-established halal food infrastructure. Key options:

• Jasmine Halal Meats — Popular with the Gulf community, quality butcher
• Mostafa Supermarket — Commercial Drive, full Middle Eastern grocery selection
• East West Market — Multiple locations, good range of Middle Eastern products
• Taqwa Halal Foods — Dedicated halal grocery
• Al Salam Halal Meat — Burnaby, excellent for families in East Vancouver or Burnaby
• Persia Foods — North Shore, serves the Gulf and Iranian communities

Your welcome orientation includes a neighborhood-specific grocery map so your family knows exactly where to go from day one.

Yes. Vancouver has an active Muslim community with several mosques across the city and lower mainland. We include mosque locations in your neighborhood orientation guide, matched to your home address. The community is welcoming and well-connected.

You can drive on your home country license for up to 90 days after arriving in BC. After that, you must obtain a BC driver's license. The process involves a knowledge test and driving exam — we provide the study materials and connect you with a recommended driving school if needed.

For the vehicle itself, we handle sourcing through our dealer network: new or certified pre-owned, lease or purchase, matched to your family size and budget. Having a vehicle ready in your first week is not optional — Vancouver's transit system is not designed for families with children and groceries.

Canadian banking requires in-person identity verification at a branch. We provide a step-by-step banking guide and recommend which banks offer the smoothest onboarding experience for newcomers (TD and RBC are generally best for this). We also advise on which account types to open and what documentation to bring.

For phones, we guide you through the carrier options (Telus, Rogers, Fido, Koodo, Freedom) with honest advice on which plans offer the best value. SIM cards and plan activation can be done on arrival day.

Contact us as soon as you have a reasonable expectation of your start date — even if the offer letter hasn't arrived yet. Fellowship placements typically operate on an 8–12 month lead cycle, and the best housing goes well before the July 1 start date.

We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation. There is no commitment required, and no fee until you decide to proceed.

This varies by family and circumstance. Some physicians arrive a week or two ahead to finalize housing, while their families follow once school and logistics are confirmed. Others prefer to arrive together.

We plan around whatever sequence works for your family. If you arrive first, we have your home ready and your family's first week mapped out before they land.

Depending on your package, pre-arrival work includes: an intake consultation to understand your family's needs, housing sourcing and lease signing (we can execute the lease on your behalf with Power of Attorney), school application submission, MSP enrollment initiation, vehicle reservation, and preparation of your welcome package.

When you land, your home is ready. You don't spend your first week in a hotel figuring out a city — you arrive into a functional life.

• Essentials — $2,499 CAD: Pre-arrival consultation, curated housing shortlist, neighbourhood guide, airport coordination, SIM + banking setup guide, welcome package.
• Settlement — $3,999 CAD: Everything in Essentials, plus in-person housing tours, lease support, school research and applications, vehicle sourcing, MSP registration, family doctor search, 30-day post-arrival support.
• Concierge — $3,000 onboarding + $1,000/month (3-month minimum, $6,000 floor): Everything in Settlement, plus dedicated ongoing concierge, same-day weekday response, monthly check-in call, up to 5 active tasks per month, spousal integration support, priority vendor access.

Add-ons: Large family surcharge ($300), furniture coordination (Gap Kit $250, IKEA full setup $450, CORT rental coordination $400).

All pricing is in Canadian dollars. We accept payment by credit card or bank transfer via secure payment link. A deposit is required to begin pre-arrival work; the balance is due before your arrival date.

For Concierge retainer clients, monthly fees are billed at the start of each month.

Yes, completely separate. Baytik's fee covers our service — the time, expertise, and relationships we deploy on your behalf. Your rent, deposits, and any purchases (furniture, vehicle, etc.) are paid directly by you to the relevant parties. We never handle your money or collect commissions from landlords on your behalf.

We handle this on a case-by-case basis with fairness as the principle. If your fellowship is cancelled before we have commenced pre-arrival work, you receive a full refund. If work has begun, we bill for time and expenses actually incurred. Delays are accommodated without penalty where possible.

We know that fellowship placements involve factors outside your control. We are not in the business of making a difficult situation worse.