Victoria and BC Canada travel information

Travel information for visitors to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - includes Canada customs, US immigration, passports and Canada holidays information. Weather information is lower on the page.

Customs and Immigration Information

Please note that this is only our understanding of these requirements. Do check the relevant authorities for current information.

All foreign visitors entering Canada must show a valid passport or an alternative legal travel document. Some may require visas to enter the country. You are required to know what documentation you need to cross the border (a driver's license is not sufficient to prove citizenship) and what items can not be taken across the border (such as certain plants and fruits). It is suggested that you bring your birth certificate too. Citizens from other countries may need additional documentation and should check with Immigration Canada in Ottawa or their local consulate.

Passports are necessary for anyone entering the USA including returning US citizens. In addition to the passport, a Passport Card, Enhanced Drivers License or Enhanced ID Card may be used for land or sea crossings but not by air: see http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

For Customs or Immigration questions prior to arriving at the border:
US Immigration and Naturalization
Canada Customs
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Allow plenty of time to travel through border points. See this for border line-ups.

Duty-free allowances.
When entering Canada travellers may bring duty-free gifts up to Cdn$60.
When re-entering USA visitors may take back duty-freegoods up to US$200, excluding alcohol and tobacco, if your stay has been less than 48 hours. For longer stays the personal exemption is US$800 including one lite of alcohol and 200 cigarettes.

Money and taxes.
Most banks are open Monday to Saturday, except downtown where ATM machines are best. Convert your currency. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Canadian cash or travellers cheques.
Sales taxes. 6% federal Goods and Services Tax and 7% Provincial Sales Tax apply to most purchases.
10% non-reclaimable Hotel Taxes are added to hotel and bed breakfast bills but note that we are exempt from this since we have just three rooms, saving you money!

Time Zones.
BC is on Pacific Daylight Time from the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in October, the same as Seattle and Los Angeles. The clocks are advanced 1 hour from Pacific Standard Tim

Canada travel information

The use of seat belts, child restraints and motorcycle and bicycle helmets are mandatory in B.C.
Canada uses the Metric System of Weights and Measures.
Weather is given in degrees Celsius.
Gasoline (petrol) is sold by the litre
Grocery items are in grams and kilograms
Road speeds and distances are posted in kilometres. In BC you can turn right at a red light unless signed otherwise.
120v/60c voltage electricity is used.
Click to view Victoria maps - also for Vancouver, Island and British Columbia

Canadian Public Holidays

Allow extra time for ferry travel and border crossings.
New Years Day - January 1
Good Friday - Friday before Easter
Easter Sunday - Sunday following the first full moon after Vernal Equinox
Easter Monday - Not an official holiday, but many places are closed
Victoria Day - third Monday in May
Canada Day - July 1
BC Day - first Monday in August
Labour Day - first Monday in September
Thanksgiving - second Monday in October
Remembrance Day - November 11
Christmas - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26

Victoria weather

Victoria weather forecast links - see: The Weather Network or Weather Office (Environment Canada)

Average daily maximum temperatures in Victoria:

C (Centigrade) or F (Fahrenheit)
January 6.5 or 44
February 8.4 or 47
March 10.2 or 50
April 12.9 or 55
May 16.3 or 61
June 19.3 or 67
July 21.8 or 71
August 21.8 or 71
September 19.1 or 67
October 14.1 or 57
November 9.4 or 49
December 6.8 or 45

Here's a handy formula to convert Celcius (used in Canada) to Fahrenheit: multiply the Celcius by two, deduct 10%, add 32; eg 30C x 2 = 60 - 10% = 56 + 32 = 86F.

Victoria receives half the rainfall of Vancouver BC or Seattle! During the winter Victoria receives one or two minor snowfalls. Most of the rainfall is from November to April. Summers can be rain-free for weeks at a time and the temperature is pleasant yet not too hot enough to require air-conditioning. Mosquitoes are not troublesome here.

Victoria's Country Retreat ... serenity near the Butchart Gardens

(Victoria BC travel information page)