A private room, two home-cooked meals a day, and a real family waiting to welcome you. The warmest way to land in Canada as an international student.
My host mom taught me how to make maple-glazed salmon. I'll cook it for my own family someday.
Lucía, 19 · Mexico City
A Vanmates homestay places you in the private bedroom of a vetted Canadian host family's home. You share meals with them, celebrate holidays, and experience daily Canadian life — not from a hostel bunk or an empty apartment, but from inside a home.
It's the fastest way to learn conversational English, build confidence, and feel safe as you start school or work in a new country. Especially for students under 25 or first-time travelers, the emotional cushion of a family makes the leap manageable.
Every family has been interviewed, background-checked, and home-visited by our local team. You're not matched with a stranger — you're matched with a household we know personally.
Ewa and Tomek have hosted over 40 students from Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. Weekly Polish-Canadian dinners, Sunday hikes, and a very friendly golden retriever named Biscuit.
Sarah and Mike, two university professors with two teenagers. Fluent French speakers, avid home cooks, and big on Sunday board games. Close to Langara and Canada Line.
Claire and David, a French-Canadian couple with one young child. Quebecois and European cooking, steps from U of T, and a warm musical home with a piano in the living room.
Your own furnished bedroom with bed, desk, wardrobe, linens, and storage. Your space, your rules.
Breakfast and dinner with the family. Weekday lunches are typically self-serve. Dietary needs accommodated.
High-speed internet, heat, electricity, water — all baked into the monthly rate. No add-ons.
In-home washer and dryer, typically once a week. Some families do it for you — most let you use the machines freely.
Every family is home-visited, interviewed, and background-checked. We meet them in person before hosting.
WhatsApp your local house coordinator anytime. English, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin — we'll figure it out.
Pickup often included, otherwise $65 CAD. Your host family meets you with a welcome pack on arrival.
From 4 weeks to full academic years. Most families prefer a minimum of 4 weeks for proper settling in.
Lucía arrived in Burnaby with almost no English and left six months later confident enough to start a Business program at SFU. She still texts Ewa every week.
Haruto came over for an English-language program and extended his stay twice. He's now in his first year at UBC and visits the Thompsons for holidays.
Parents of younger students often have the most questions. We've answered the most common ones below — but we're on WhatsApp if you'd rather have a conversation.
Talk to our teamBrowse host families in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal. Match with a home that fits your language, diet, and interests. Your first family in Canada is already waiting.