Foreign Service Development Program: A career as a migration foreign service officer

A migration foreign service officer spends about two thirds of their career overseas. Officers work for specific periods of time

• in Canada
• at Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad

Job rotation

Migration foreign service officers rotate through different work assignments in Canada and abroad every few years. Rotation through work assignments is based on operational needs. This is a condition of employment.

Officers usually move abroad for work assignments in the Canadian summer months, but it’s not uncommon to move at other times of the year.

Living abroad

Most overseas work assignments are in countries where life can be very different, and often more challenging than life in Canada. Officers need to be adaptable and flexible. They get to travel all over the world and are exposed to different cultures and experiences. They also experience stressful events like moving to different countries and starting in a new work environment every few years!

Salary and benefits

We hire Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) officers at the FS-01 level, with a salary of $72,292 per year. As officers progress through the program, the salary increases to $91,472 per year.

After graduating from the program, officers are promoted to the FS-02 level, with a salary of $81,709 per year. As an FS-02, officers can earn up to $113,996 per year.

Pay rates may change as new collective agreements are signed.

FSDP officers are also eligible for the following benefits:

• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Public Service Dental Plan
• Disability Insurance Plan
• Supplementary Death Benefit Plan
• Public Service Pension Plan

Stories from foreign service officers