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Foreign assignment directive: allowances 2023- 2024

Find relocation benefits and foreign allowances in effect from February 2023 to September 2024.

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Relocation benefits

Costs for shipping, furnishings and long-term storage

For relocation, Posted Personnel receive a one-time Non-accountable Allowance. It covers the shipping of household goods and the purchase of any furnishings. It also covers any long-term storage costs. You can claim them at the beginning and end of the Foreign Assignment.

The table below describes the maximum allowance amount. We base them on family size and the distance between the pre-post home and the country of assignment. For an assignment of less than two (2) years, you can only claim half of the Non-accountable Allowance for the return trip.

Non-accountable allowance for relocation, shipping of household effects and long-term storage (Limitation table)
Employee family situationAllowance according to employee family situation
Less than 1,000 km1,001 to 5,000 km5,001 to 8,000 km8,001 to 10,000 km10,001 to 13,000 kmover 13,001 km
Single$1,000$3,000$5,000$7,000$8,000$9,000
One dependent$1,200$3,600$6,000$8,400$9,600$10,800
Two dependents$1,400$4,200$7,000$9,800$11,200$12,600
Three dependents$1,600$4,800$8,000$11,200$12,800$14,400
Four dependents$1,800$5,400$9,000$12,600$14,400$16,200
Five or more dependents$2,000$6,000$10,000$14,000$16,000$18,000

All amounts are in Canadian dollars.

We will periodically review these limitations and revise them as necessary. For example, to reflect the annual Canadian Consumer Price Index. This table applies for deployment departures and the return to the home country of residence. We calculate distance as a straight-line (direct distance) between the originating city and the city of assignment.

These amounts apply to both the deployment and the return trip.

Foreign allowances

For the allowances currently in effect please see: Foreign assignment directive for international development assistance organizations.

In addition to their salary, Posted Personnel may receive the following foreign allowances:

Hardship and recognition of foreign service allowance (HRFSA)

The HRFSA compensates individuals for hardship conditions in the city of assignment. We compare hardship with Canada or the originating country of residence for third country recruitment. It also acts as an incentive to serve outside the originating country of residence. Find the maximum annual amounts eligible in the tables below.

HRFSA for an unaccompanied person
Country of residenceCountry of foreign assignment
Post ratingLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Level 1

$0

$16,000

$18,000

$22,000

$25,000

Level 2$ 0$ 0$12,000$16,000$20,000
Level 3$ 0$ 0$ 0$14,000$18,000
Level 4$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$14,000
Level 5$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0
HRFSA for person with one dependent
Country of residenceCountry of foreign assignment
Post ratingLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Level 1$ 0$21,000$24,000$29,000$34,000
Level 2$ 0$ 0$16,000$21,000$27,000
Level 3$ 0$ 0$ 0$19,000$24,000
Level 4$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$19,000
Level 5$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0
HRFSA for person with two dependents
Country of residenceCountry of foreign assignment
Post ratingLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Level 1$ 0$25,000$28,000$34,000$40,000
Level 2$ 0$ 0$20,000$25,000$31,000
Level 3$0$ 0$ 0$23,000$28,000
Level 4$0$ 0$ 0$ 0$23,000
Level 5$0$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0
HRFSA for person with three or more dependents
Country of residenceCountry of foreign assignment
Post ratingLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Level 1$ 0$27,000$30,000$36,000$42,000
Level 2$ 0$ 0$21,000$27,000$33,000
Level 3$ 0$ 0$ 0$24,000$30,000
Level 4$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$24,000
Level 5$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0$ 0
  1. Amounts are in Canadian dollars.
  2. We will periodically review all amounts, including for factors such as the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI).
  3. If the employee does not work a full year, the allowance will be pro-rated in accordance with the posted months (or portion thereof). For example, 9.5 months out of 12 months = 79.2% of the allowance.
  4. Post Rating Level website: 
  5. The following restrictions on dependents apply (to be reviewed periodically):
  6. Countries that are not eligible for Official Development Assistance are considered level 1.
  7. The allowances, as detailed above, represent limitations (maximums) regarding allowable costs for the HRFSA that are deemed to be prudent and required to attract the best qualified persons. As such, Organizations may choose to adopt lower amounts, if appropriate.
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