Part A—Before you receive your posting instructions
ABCs of military postings outside of Canada (OUTCAN)
Is this your first visit ?
This is not official policy or instructions. If this is your first visit, review the considerations before proceeding through this section.
Have you been posted within Canada? Review our ABCs of military postings in Canada.
-
Application and selection process
If you are being considered for an OUTCAN opportunity, the process begins with a screening message. This message outlines the initial steps described in Part A of this guide. Should you be selected, you will then receive a formal posting message, as explained in Part B.
Typically, CAF members apply for OUTCAN positions through a call-up process or by responding to an OUTCAN solicitation message.
You can also express interest in participating to your career manager, chain of command, or branch/military occupation advisors.
As with postings within Canada, no standard selection criteria for OUTCAN positions exists. Some occupations use selection boards to assess applicant skillsets, while others only require an application. Selection may be influenced by factors such as:
- military requirements,
- military occupation,
- rank,
- professional background,
- career progression,
- career manager proposals, and
- host-country cultural considerations.
Most OUTCAN postings allow family to accompany you. These postings can offer enriching experiences, though members and their families may face challenges like culture shock and differences in language, education, and psychosocial norms.
Review the Military Career Managers page for more information on discussing your posting preferences with your career manager.
-
Screening—General
You must complete the screening within the prescribed 60 days. Your career manager does not track or manage this process. For help, contact your OUTCAN Support URS (details are in your welcome email).
If you’re considered for an OUTCAN position, your career manager will send a nomination message to the appropriate OUTCAN United Records Support (URS) for action. You’ll receive this message via your DWAN email, usually between November and February.
Next, the URS will enter your personal screening details into the screening system. You’ll then receive a welcome email through your DND Electronic Communication Network (ECN) account—this marks the official start of your administrative screening.
-
Screening—Medical
As part of the OUTCAN posting screening process, you and any dependents listed on your Member's Personnel Record Resume (MPRR) must complete a medical screening—whether they accompany you or not. Non-accompanying family members can impact your ability to remain on posting.
CAF medical and dental officers conduct your medical and dental screenings, while civilian family doctors and dentists normally conduct your dependents' screenings. In exceptional circumstances, CAF officers may screen dependents as well.
You and your dependents must also meet with a CAF social worker.
Not all OUTCAN locations have access to specialized or long-term medical care, including mental health services. If any family member requires specialist or long-term care, this must be disclosed during screening. Omitting this information can lead to health risks for your family; and significant additional costs to the government such as early repatriation. More details on available health services abroad can be found under the Health tab.
-
Screening—Children’s education
The screening process also includes your children’s education to verify that compatible education is available at your posting. A compatible education system is one that provides an educational curriculum and services compatible with those normally provided without charge at schools in Ontario from junior kindergarten to secondary school graduation (or by their equivalents in other provinces and territories).
You must complete the Children's Educational Screening form for all your children under the age of 23.
For questions about the screening process, contact the education administrator at your gaining URS, identified in your screeningmessage. You can also e-mail Children's Education Management (CEM).
Do not make any financial commitments until you receive a posting message.
Furthermore, if you have children with specialeducation needs, special education services offered in schools OUTCAN may be limited. Your educational screening will include an evaluation of whether the schools at post can meet your children’s needs.
-
Steps for completing the Children’s Educational Screening
-
Step 1: Booking appointments with your children’s current school principal, teachers, doctors, and specialists
You must complete the Educational Screening Form including Part 5: Student Profile. This part helps to provide an overview of your children’s education profile. If your children are not yet in school, an early childhood educator or medical professional (a doctor or nurse practitioner) can fill Part 5. If your child is in school, an educator (a teacher, principal, vice principal, guidance counsellor or special education teacher) can fill Part 5. If your child is no longer in secondary school, Part 5 does not need to be filled out.
You will be required to provide any relevant assessments that have taken place. You will also be required to provide a copy of any Individual Education Plans and/or Individual Learning Plans that have been created for your child within the past five years.
For Part 5: Student Profile, book appointments with your children’s current school principal/vice principal, teacher, special education teacher, guidance counsellor, doctor, nurse or early childhood educator, as applicable, as soon as you receive your screening message.
-
Step 2: Select a school or an educational process
-
Elementary and secondary education
-
Non-fee-paying and fee-paying schools
- Review and select a compatible non-fee-paying school for your children from the List of Compatible Schools nearest to your place of residence. You must contact the schools yourself to determine if space is available.
- If a non-fee-paying school is not available, you can select from the list of compatible fee-paying schools.
- If a fee-paying school is not on the list of compatible schools, the gaining URS education administrator must prepare a National Joint Council Working Group B submission. If your submission is approved, this will ensure that you can enroll your child in that school and be reimbursed for the school fees. More information on Working Group B is available in Foreign Service Directives.
The education administrator at your gaining URS identified on your screening/posting message can also help you.
You may receive your screening message after the registration deadline for compatible non-fee-paying schools. Apply even if the deadline has passed, as spaces may still available.
If no spaces are available at a non-fee-paying school, apply for a compatible fee-paying school or alternative schooling options. Ask your receiving URS clerk to complete a Working Group B submission for a fee-paying school.
-
CAF overseas schools in Europe
The Department of National Defence and the CAF operate two schools overseas: AFNORTH International School in Brunssum, Netherlands and SHAPE International School – Canadian Section in Casteau, Belgium. They provide children with the same level of schooling they would receive in the province of Ontario. To lessen the potential impact on a child’s educational success, AFNORTH and SHAPE are staffed by Canadian teachers on loan from school boards in Canada.
AFNORTH and SHAPE provide limited special education services and cannot accommodate students with significant learning or behavioural needs.
-
Children Education Management - Colorado - CANELEMNORAD
If you are posted to Colorado, the administrative process governing your children’s education may be a little different.
-
Home school
You may home school your children while posted OUTCAN. Your home school plan must be based on a system compatible with the province of Ontario education requirements.
Complete Part 6: Home schooling of the Children's Educational Screening form and contact CEM for information about additional required documentation (letter of intent to homeschool, educational plan, yearly report).
If you plan to follow an educational system outside of Ontario, you must provide the guidelines specific to that province or territory, along with your Education Plan.
Related link
-
Boarding in Canada or outside Canada
If lack of compatible schools or personal circumstances warrant, CEM may approve education away from a post in Canada or abroad for children in secondary school (that is, Grades 9 to 12 or the appropriate provincial or territorial equivalent). When approved by CEM, actual and reasonable expenses for board and lodging during the school term will be reimbursed according to the Annual Rates.
-
eLearning
eLearning can help high school level children meet graduation requirements. Enrollment depends on the grade and age of the children, anticipated graduation date, provincial high school graduation requirements, and length of posting. Please contact CEM for additional information.
-
-
Post-secondary education
Shelter assistance may be available if your children are attending a full-time post-secondary institution in Canada at your last place of duty in Canada prior to your assignment abroad. This assistance:
- is available up to and including the school year of your children’s 23rd birthday.
- may cover up to eight months of university or nine months of college per school year.
For post-secondary students, you must complete parts 1-4 of the Children's Educational Screening Form. Shelter assistance will not be provided for periods of paid co-op placements or internships.
-
-
Step 3: Submitting the required screening documents to CEM
You must email the following documents to CEM:
- completed Children's Educational Screening form and any other required forms and documents;
- your chil(dren)’s last two report cards;
- Individual Education Plan (IEP), if created within the past five years;
- any applicable education reports or assessments; and
- a screening message.
Junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten fee-paying school
- Form 8
- School application
- Letter from school or country stating public kindergarten is not available
- Proof the school is inadequate or a letter from the non-fee-paying school stating they will not accept the child
- School invoice
- Curriculum, program description
- Proof of payment
- Working Group B submission (if the school is not on the list of compatible schools)
Grade 1 to 12 fee-paying school
- Form 9F
- Proof the school is inadequate or a letter from the non-fee-paying school stating they will not accept the child
- Letter from the fee-paying school stating they will accept the student
- School invoice
- Proof of payment
- Working Group B submission (if the school is not on the list of compatible schools)
Roman Catholic education (kindergarten to grade 12)
- Form 9RC
- School invoice
- Proof the child previously attended a Roman Catholic school in Canada (if available) with one of the following: proof of parish, baptismal certificate for parent or child, Roman Catholic school report card for parent, child or child’s sibling.
- Proof of payment
- Working Group B submission
Home schooling
- Children's Educational Screening form—Part 6: Home Schooling
- Letter of Intent to home school
- Detailed Educational Plan for the upcoming school year (annual requirement)
Board and lodging, public school in Canada (Secondary Education)
- Form 15P
- Form 15RES
- Letter of agreement for board and lodging (required for Form 15P) or a school residence contract
- School invoice
- Posting message
- Proof of attendance
- Proof of payment
- Enrollment letter
Boarding school outside Canada (Secondary Education)
- Form 15FEE
- School invoice
- Posting message
- Proof of attendance
- Proof of payment
- Accreditation of school
- Enrollment letter
Post-secondary education – shelter assistance
- Form 17
- Proof of full-time enrollment (letter from school, student’s profile that specifies "Full Time")
- Lease if the student lives in an apartment
- Letter of agreement if the student lives with friends or other family members
- Residence contract if the student lives in a school residence
- Rent receipts
- Proof of school attendance
Special Education Requirements - Special Education Allowance
- Form 11
- Letter from the school and professional authority
- Copy of the student's Individual Education Plan, Individualized Program Plan, or modified education program followed in Canada
- Proof of payment/quote for services
-
Step 4: Phone or virtual interview with a CEM guidance counsellor
After you submit the Children's Educational Screening form and other necessary documents, a CEM guidance counsellor will contact you for a telephone or virtual interview.
During the interview, the guidance counsellor will assist with your children’s transition to the posting location. The counsellor will also provide information and advice about educational options, curriculum interpretations, explanation of credit requirements, and potential eLearning options. Following this interview, you will receive an e-mail summary of the conversation and recommendations.
The guidance counsellor will tailor the information they provide to the selections you made on the Children's Educational Screening form. You must select all potential options of interest—such as distance learning or homeschooling—to receive the information you need to make an informed choice.
-
Step 5: Documentation review by the CEM Educational Screening Committee
The Educational Screening process takes approximately seven to 10 business days to complete once CEM has received all required documents. Missing information or additional concerns may extend this timeline. CEM will send regular updates to you throughout the processing of your file. CEM will email you its final decision, either “Green” or “Red”.
For more information, contact your education administrator at the gaining URS (only available on the Defence Network) or by emailing CEM.
-
-
Passports, visas and travelling documents
Passports
Once you receive your screening e-mail, you will need to request special passports for you and your family (special passports are Canadian passports issued to individuals who are traveling abroad on official government business, but who are not diplomats). You may also need the appropriate visas for your host country before movers can load your Household Goods and Effects (HG and E).
You must apply for these passports as soon as possible. Your departure from Canada depends on these documents for customs declarations. Depending on work status and posting location, you and your family members may receive different visa types. Visa applications cannot be submitted prior to receiving a posting message.
If you have children studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution, note the differences between the university schedule and the host country visa allowances. While universities and colleges in Canada traditionally take a 120-day summer break, some countries will limit your child’s summer visit to 90 days without a visa. Visa application processes can be long and complex, so plan for this in advance.
The CAF Passport National Customer Support Office manages the special passport process and will email you instructions once you receive your screening message. For any questions about the special passport application process, email the national customer service office.
Social Insurance Number
Ensure that you and your family members have a Canadian Social Insurance Number and review any country-specific requirements in your destination country for activities such as opening bank accounts, setting up utilities and signing leases.
Related link
Travelling with pets
Your household pets may also require travel documents as well as specific immunizations etc. Please research this carefully as it can be an expensive and lengthy endeavour.
Related link
-
Financial considerations
Do not make any financial commitments for things such as housing or your children’s education until you have completed your screening and have received a formal posting message.
Update your budget
Updating your budget by completing the SISIP FINANCIAL’s budget worksheet is an excellent way to get ready for your posting.
This can be a starting point for discussing your financial situation with a financial advisor during a SISIP Financial counselling session. Schedule your session by:
- contacting your local SISIP office
- booking an appointment on-line
- calling 1-800-267-6681
If you are already struggling financially due to the challenges of serving in the CAF, you or your family can apply for financial help through Support Our Troops. CFMWS has more information on Finances and insurance available to you.
When completing your budget sheet, be sure to include gains or losses that are due to Allowances. Allowance rates vary considerably according to your posting location. For example, the Canadian Forces Housing Differential (CFHD) allowance (described in Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 205.453) may not be available at your new place of duty. Check with your unit or base orderly room staff.
You and every other eligible member of your family should consider getting a CF One card for access to discounts, savings, rewards, and programs exclusive to the military community. This official rebate program may help you reduce some of your daily costs.
Spousal/partner/dependent employment
Finding employment for your spouse or partner and child dependents in the host country OUTCAN may be difficult or not allowed at all. This is due to numerous factors such as:
- visa restrictions;
- limited or no work permits;
- a lack of job opportunities in certain fields;
- inability or a difficulty to obtain required accreditation for specialized professions such as nurses, teachers, and lawyers;
- limited local language capabilities;
- diplomatic status restrictions; and
- the unavailability of suitable and affordable childcare.
Our Military spouse and partner employment page has more guidance as does Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). Select your community and discover employment opportunities at your posting location.
As of 1 March 2024, spouses and partners of CAF members who are relocating also have access to a new career coaching tool called CareerCOACH+. This coaching tool offers assistance in finding and maintaining meaningful careers. Learn more by consulting Career Development on the CFMWS website.
Posting Allowance – Service Couple
If you are a part of a service couple, confirm with your support unit clerk how your posting allowance is calculated.
Spousal/partner employment insurance
Your spouse or partner may not qualify for regular employment insurance while you are posted OUTCAN.
Income tax return
DND and CAF do not provide advice on income tax. Below is general information for you to consider. Contact Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or Revenu Québec for questions regarding your personal situation.
Which military benefits are taxable? Information can be found here Tax implications guide on relocation benefits for military personnel.
CFMWS has put together information, based on the experience of families posted abroad. Access the links based on your posting location:
- US OUTCAN | US Navigation | CFMWS
- Europe CFMWS | MFS | OUTCAN Europe | CFMWS
- Rest of the World CFMWS | MFRC | OUTCAN Rest of World | CFMWS
-
OUTCAN cross-posting
The term OUTCAN cross-posting refers to the posting of CAF members and their families from one location outside of Canada directly to another location outside of Canada.
If you are selected for a cross-posting, you must undergo a screening process, which could include medical and dental screening. This requirement applies to your family members as well.
-
Next steps
Once the screening process is complete and the relevant authorities are satisfied with the results, you will be eligible to receive a posting message which will include further administrative guidance. Posting messages are usually sent out at the end of March. Please note that not every successful screening results in a posting message.
If your screening is unsuccessful, you may ask your career manager for feedback.