Foreign Service Development Program

The Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) is a 3-year, paid training program for people interested in becoming migration foreign service officers. We hire FSDP officers at the FS-01 level. The program shapes participants into effective migration foreign service officers through

• formal and on-the-job training
• rotational work assignments
• mentorship opportunities

Participants first spend around 6 to 12 months working in Canada’s National Capital Region (NCR), taking part in a variety of formal training activities. They then spend the remaining time working abroad at a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate.

During their assignment abroad, participants are expected to gain experience in IRCC’s migration program delivery. The assignments abroad are expected to be two years in length, during which an officer’s progress is monitored and evaluated.

Upon successful completion of the program, migration foreign service officers are then expected to rotate to other offices and remain abroad for 6 to 8 continuous years before returning to Canada to complete an assignment in the NCR.

Migration foreign service officers are responsible for delivering our migration programs abroad including:

• making decisions on temporary and permanent residence applications
• reporting on international migration trends and developments
• maintaining the integrity of our migration programs
• global engagement
• migration diplomacy

Get updates about the FSDP

• Check out a recent appearance with the Federal Youth Network
• Contact us if you have questions about the program or careers in IRCC’s foreign service
• Like or follow us on our official social media channels.