Foreign Service Development Program: How the program works

Candidates who participate in the 3-year Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) are shaped into effective migration foreign service officers through

• a diverse training regimen
• a variety of work assignments both in Canada and abroad
• mentorship opportunities

Complete your training

Once you’ve been accepted into the program, you’ll participate in mandatory training in Canada and abroad.

In the first 6 to 12 months, you must successfully complete

• onboarding activities and training courses
• a certification course on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• case processing assignments
• work assignments with a team at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada headquarters in the National Capital Region
• a 6-week training assignment at an embassy, high commission or consulate abroad

After you complete all of your training, you’ll move abroad as part of your first work assignment for the remainder of your time in the program, usually for a minimum of 24 months. This assignment will be at a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate.

During their first posting abroad, participants are expected to gain experience in IRCC’s migration program delivery and develop their skills and competencies as they are exposed to processing in an environment outside of Canada.

How we assess you

During your time in the program, we’ll monitor and assess you based on how you meet

• work objectives
• required competencies
• conditions of graduation and program requirements
• conditions of employment

The competencies needed to graduate from the program are

• demonstrating integrity and respect
• thinking things through
• working effectively with others
• demonstrating initiative and being action oriented
• showing adaptability and flexibility
• networking and alliance building
• establishing technical expertise

Graduate from the program

If you meet all conditions and requirements at the end of the 3-year period, you’ll

• graduate from the program
• be promoted to the FS-02 level

After graduation, foreign service officers are expected to remain abroad for subsequent assignments. The average foreign service officer spends two thirds of their career working abroad.