VIU Parking is managed through Indigo of Vancouver. Learn more about parking services and purchasing permits.
VIU Mobility Task Force
Information about the VIU Mobility Task Force and VIU Mobility Recommendations.
Contact Information & Hours
Please contact Guest Services at viuparking.ca@group-indigo.com or by phone 1.800.469.4169 from 8:30am-5:00pm Monday - Friday.
Guest Parking Coupon Codes
Guest Parking coupon codes replace the one day/guest parking permit booklets that were used for departmental guests to park on campus. Coupon codes can be purchased for any dollar amount needed.
Please note that effective July 1, 2024 parking fees have gone up.
Complete the Guest Parking Coupon Code Request if a guest parking permit code is required. All requests will need to be approved prior to a coupon code being issued. A request form is required regardless of whether it is a new request or a request to add funds. There is a $10 administration fee applied to all new coupon codes.
Coupon code dollar amounts can be tracked and remaining balances confirmed by sending an email to viuparking.ca@group-indigo.com. Departments will need to provide the coupon code to Indigo for confirmation.
Note: Guests must visit a pay station to validate the code and enter their license plate. The Parking Indigo App is not set-up to use coupon codes. Please allow for 5 working days prior to event for the coupon code to be issued.
Coupon Code Instructions for Guests are available for your guests on how to enter the information into the parking meter.
If you have any questions, please email Facility@viu.ca for more information.
Parking violation change FAQs
While issuing violation tickets is never something an organization wants to do, they do play an important role in managing the supply and demand for parking on campus. Unauthorized parking not only contributes to parking shortages, but it also undermines fairness for all VIU students and employees who adhere to the payment system.
Following a review of best practices at other post-secondary institutions across British Columbia – including UBC, UVic, Okanagan College and SFU – VIU will be implementing a policy change to align with these standards. Beginning August 31, 2025, unpaid parking violations will be linked to outstanding student fees. As a result, students with unpaid violations may face restrictions, including withheld parchments and official transcripts. Unpaid fees will not prevent students from registering for classes. Students who are experiencing a financial burden for the purchase of parking passes are encouraged to connect with our Financial Aid & Awards Office at FinancialAidInfo@viu.ca or 250-740-6423.
Unpaid fees will not prevent students from registering for classes. Students with unpaid violations may face restrictions such as withheld parchments and official transcripts.
If a ticket is received in error, please contact Indigo, the third-party parking service provider at noticedisputes.bc.ca@group-indigo.com.
Approximately 75% of parking pass revenue and approximately 90% of parking violation revenue is allocated to VIU for maintaining and improving parking lots. This includes lot resurfacing, repainting lines, fixing lights and maintaining drainage systems. The revenue also helps pay for the operation of the parking system including the pay stations, security, and administration.
This affects all parking requirements. Pay parking is in effect 12 months of the year, 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays, at all parking lots on campus.
VIU will not be allowing a third party any access to student records and information. Indigo will only share information about outstanding violation ticket holders with VIU.
After a thorough Request for Proposal (RFP) process, VIU engaged Indigo to manage parking services at its Nanaimo campus. Indigo oversees various aspects of parking including permit sales and enforcement. However, VIU maintains oversight over Indigo’s management to ensure alignment with the university’s objectives and policies. This oversight includes parking availability and implementing strategic initiatives to improve the parking experience on campus. For example, in response to increased demand, VIU has initiated a transportation demand study and is exploring options like carpooling incentives to alleviate parking challenges.
Last year, VIU researched what other post-secondary institutions do regarding violation fines. VIU’s violation fines fall into the middle of the pack for comparator institutions in BC, with the highest being $65 and the lowest $23.
Indigo keeps records of all outstanding parking tickets and provides monthly updates to VIU.
Ensuring equitable access to parking at Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus is essential for those who have purchased daily, monthly, or annual parking permits. Unauthorized parking not only contributes to shortages but also undermines fairness for those who adhere to the payment system. VIU does not have a parking stall for every single member of our community, which is common across most post-secondary institutions and other large organizations, and makes a robust parking management system necessary.