By The BC Services Card is one of the quietly important errands of your first weeks in British Columbia: it's your health card and your government-issued photo ID in a single card, it's free, and millions of British Columbians use it as their primary ID. If you've just arrived, getting one — and linking it to your MSP health coverage — belongs near the top of your settling-in list. Here's exactly how, and what to bring so you only make the trip once.
Quick Answer: What Is the BC Services Card and How Do I Get One?
The BC Services Card is BC's combined health card and photo ID. The standalone photo card is free, you apply in person at an ICBC driver licensing office, and your card arrives by mail afterward. You can't apply online or by post for your first card — the in-person visit is where they verify your documents and take your photo.
You have three options:
- A standalone BC Services Card with photo — free
- A combined card that's also your BC driver's licence — you pay the normal driver's licence fee ($75 for five years), not an extra ID fee
- A non-photo card (for children under 19 and some others)
Because the card doubles as your health card, getting it is also how you confirm your MSP enrolment — the two are linked.
What to Bring
ICBC asks for two pieces of identification, one of which must be a primary ID, plus proof you live in BC. In practice, newcomers bring:
- Primary ID — your passport
- Proof of legal status in Canada — PR card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, work permit, or study permit
- Proof of a BC address — such as a tenancy agreement, a bank statement, or a utility bill
Bring originals, not photocopies. ICBC publishes the full accepted-ID list at icbc.com/acceptedID — check it before you go if your documents are unusual.
Summary: Passport + your immigration document + proof of a BC address, all originals. Two pieces minimum, one primary.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Card
Step 1: Book an appointment (or plan for a walk-in)
You apply at an ICBC driver licensing office. Walk-ins are accepted at all locations, but booking an appointment online first saves you a long wait — especially in busy Metro Vancouver offices.
Step 2: Go in person and have your photo taken
At the office, staff verify your documents and take your photo on the spot. If you're getting the combined driver's-licence version, this is the same visit where you handle the licence.
Step 3: Confirm your MSP enrolment
Because the card is your health card, the visit ties into your Medical Services Plan enrolment. If you haven't enrolled in MSP yet, do that too — and remember MSP has a waiting period of up to three months before coverage starts, so don't leave it late.
Step 4: Wait for the card by mail
You leave the office with your application done; the physical card is mailed to you by Health Insurance BC. Make sure your mailing address is current — newcomers move often, and a card sent to an old short-term rental is a hassle to recover.
Summary: Book or walk in at ICBC → bring originals → photo taken → MSP confirmed → card arrives by mail. One trip if your documents are in order.
Where to Go in Vancouver
You apply at any ICBC driver licensing office. Two well-known Vancouver locations:
- Point Grey — 4126 MacDonald Street, Vancouver (604-661-2800)
- Commercial Drive Driver Services Centre — 2750 Commercial Drive, a short walk from the Commercial–Broadway SkyTrain station
There are more offices across Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and the rest of Metro Vancouver. Rather than rely on a street number that may have changed, use ICBC's official location finder at icbc.com/locators to confirm the nearest office and its current hours before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BC Services Card really free?
Yes. The standalone photo BC Services Card has no fee to get or replace. You only pay if you combine it with your driver's licence, in which case the normal driver's-licence fee applies — there's no separate ID charge on top.
Can I apply for my first card online?
No. Your first card must be done in person at an ICBC driver licensing office, because they verify your original documents and take your photo. Renewals and some changes can be handled differently later.
How is this different from my health card?
It is your health card. BC folded the old CareCard into the BC Services Card, so the same card carries your photo ID and your MSP health identification. That's why applying for the card and confirming MSP go together.
Do my kids need one?
Children under 19 are typically issued a non-photo BC Services Card linked to the family's MSP coverage. You handle this as part of enrolling the household in MSP.
How long until the card arrives?
You finish the application in person, and the physical card is mailed to you afterward — so allow a couple of weeks and keep your mailing address up to date with Health Insurance BC.
Should I get the combined driver's licence version?
If you're getting a BC driver's licence anyway, combining is convenient — one card instead of two. If you don't drive, the free standalone photo card gives you the same government ID and health card without the licence fee. See the BC driver's licence guide for the licensing side.
References
- Get a BC Services Card — Province of British Columbia — official application steps
- BC Driver's Licence and Services Card (combined) — Province of British Columbia — combined card details
- Visit a driver licensing office — ICBC — locations, hours, and booking
New here? Pair this with the SIN guide and the MSP health insurance guide — together, the SIN, the BC Services Card, and MSP are the three errands that set up your first month.