Part C—After you have completed your move

When you arrive at your posting location, verify your Foreign Service Premium, Post Living Allowance, and Post Specific Allowance benefits to ensure that they start properly and to correct any errors.

In addition to your post specific allowances, you may be eligible for the Post Travel Assistance (PTA). This was previously named the Vacation Travel Allowance. The PTA is intended to help you and your family to finance a vacation away from your OUTCAN post.

Your PTA eligibility is based on living conditions at post as prescribed in the Foreign Services Directive (FSD) 50. For more information, review the MFSI 10.22.03 - Eligible Members.

On 1 June every year, PTA rates are recalculated according to the method described in FSD section 50.3 on Calculation and Certification of Allowance. These annual recalculations are announced via Foreign Service Messages.

You may ask for a PTA advance upon your arrival at post. When you come back from your vacation, you must prove that you spent your PTA according to the directive MSFI 10 - 10.22.04 - Verification. If you do not provide proof, you could be subject to recovery of funds.

If you repatriate early or if your household size decreases after the PTA has been issued, you may have to reimburse all or a portion of the PTA you received.

For more information about the PTA and other travel provisions, consult MSFI 10.22.01—Vacation Travel Allowance and contact your OUTCAN Coordination and Support (URS). Both websites are accessible only on the Defence Team Intranet.

Due to health, safety, and security reasons, you and your dependents may have to be temporarily evacuated from your OUTCAN post. If you are posted to a Canadian embassy, Global Affairs Canada will explain its interim emergency benefits to you and will be responsible for your relocation. In this case, your support unit will pay your claims.

If you are posted to an OUTCAN Unit, your support unit will be responsible for your evacuation and benefit payments. These benefits are based on the application of Foreign Service Directive 64 - Emergency Evacuation and Loss.

Learn more about local emergency services by accessing the Government of Canada web page entitled Information by country and territory.

There are Military Family Services (MFS) in locations across Europe and the United States to support you and your family wherever you may be serving in the world.

MFS programs and services may include:

• welcome and orientation programs,
• information packages,
• spousal or partner employment seminars and referrals,
• childcare referrals,
• second language or local language training programs,
• spousal or partner events and activities, and
• children’s events and activities.

Once you receive your posting message, MFS will contact you by way of an introductory e-mail message. Once you and your family are established in your new location, MFS should contact you within 45 days to encourage you to contact the closest point of service in person or by telephone.

For locations where there is no physical MFS office, MFS will assign a virtual coordinator from another location to assist you and your family. Virtual services can include:

• information session recordings,
• e-mail information for contacting other families on location,
• social media channels,
• meetings,
• workshops, and
• book clubs.

MFS creates programming based on community needs. As a result, this programming may differ from one location to another. However, standardized MFS services usually include:

• volunteer programs,
• emergency childcare, and
• language instruction.

If a Vulnerable Sector Check is required for volunteer opportunities, you should complete this check before leaving Canada. CFMWS attempts to provide these checks whenever feasible. However, in most cases this check cannot be conducted once your family has relocated outside of Canada.

Once posted OUTCAN, you may rely on mail services for day-to-day administration. In some cases, the CAF will provide mail services, or you can access services that are co-located with other departments. However, in other locations—especially if they are remote or newly established—you must rely on local mail services that may not be as efficient, secure, reliable, or cost-efficient as in Canada.

You and your family may need to use mail services at your own expense for important matters such as:

• family-member voting in Canadian federal elections;
• reimbursement claims, especially for medical insurance, where on-line submissions are not accepted;
• annual Performance and Competency Evaluation (PACE) signatures; and
• new uniform item orders.

For reimbursement claims signatures, remember to make a copy for your own reference.

For more information on mail services, contact your OUTCAN Coordination and Support section.

There is no official policy that outlines the administrative steps for the release of a CAF member while on an OUTCAN posting.

If you wish to release after an OUTCAN posting, you are expected to return to Canada for release administration and then carry on with your final move.

In rare cases where members are serving in locations that have full release and transition capabilities, they may release outside of Canada pursuant to QR&O 15.04. This is normally done when members wish to elect their Intended Place of Residence (IPR) move benefits (i.e., last move upon release) while serving OUTCAN. For more information on IPR, review Chapter 14 of the CAFRD.

Contact your base, wing, or unit Relocation Coordinator for assistance with release matters. A list of coordinators is available on the DND intranet “Generic benefits” page under the “Relocation management” tab. Your orderly room staff can also provide contact information.

Review our ABCs of Military Postings which are designed to help you and your family make informed decisions about your relocation back to Canada.