Transferring from British Military to Canadian Military

[bowmanator]

I am currently serving in the British Army as an IS Engineer ( or CS Eng as it is now known apparently).
My wife are I are interested in emigrating to Canada as soon as we can, and have been looking at the route to joining the Canadian Army.
I have dual citizenship of being both British and Canadian, but I can't seem to find any info on how to go through this process, and if it is at all possible.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cdn_spr]

If you have full canadian citizenship, your best bet is to contact a CFRC (Recruiting Centre) in the area you will initially move to. They will process your application, as a 'Skilled Applicant', and complete a medical, background check and interview, and they will ask for a posting preference.

Should all this be successful, which it no doubt will, you will be given a conditional offer of employment, which will detail your starting rank, pay grade, credit for time served, qualifications granted and qualifications granted 'provisionally'. What that means is basically they will probably grant 80-90% of your quals, and simply owing to the fact the Canadians have SOME different kit and procedures, you can make up the remaining 10-20% of training either in unit or on short refresher courses.

Once you accept the offer, you'll be given a posting message to your new unit. You'll most likely be posted on IR ( ), for the first month or so, during which time you will have rations and quarters paid for, and a seperation allowance. During this time, you'll complete the IRP (Intergrated Relocation Program), which will pay for:
- the moving costs to your new location (from a location in Canada).
- Daily incidentals up to $65 per person, and hotels up to $130 (nice double room in other words) for each day that you are waiting for either your effects to arrive, or a quarter to be assigned to you
- mileage from your old canadian location to your new location
- should you buy a house at your new location, they will pay all survey fees, lawyer fees, and in most instances, the mortgage insurance premium

Plus a raft of other benefits.

What you NEED to know:
For all this to happen, it's best if you are living in Canada already. By all means start the process now, but they will not pay any costs for you and your wife to come from the UK, as I believe the aussies do.

Bring your entire service history with you, and I mean absolutely EVERYTHING.

Be prepared to wait 2-3 months for the whole process to happen. The time is taken up by your qualifications being review in what is known as a PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Review) by the Director Army Training.

If you are offered a rank lower than your rank now, do not sweat it or worry too much. That is, unless they only offer Pte of course! I dropped a rank coming across, but within 6 months had found my feet, gotten qualfications granted, learned the ropes, and was promoted back to my equivalent British rank. Also, your unit will push for your quals to be granted should you turn up with a good attitude, and quietly blend in. By this, I don't mean be the grey man, but don't turn up saying 'well this is crap, we did things this way in the British Army' so on and so forth.

Please feel free to ask more questions on this thread, we can make this a sticky perhaps?? And I, and other transferees, can add to it.

 

[AlienFTM]

I am currently serving in the British Army as an IS Engineer ( or CS Eng as it is now known apparently).
My wife are I are interested in emigrating to Canada as soon as we can, and have been looking at the route to joining the Canadian Army.
I have dual citizenship of being both British and Canadian, but I can't seem to find any info on how to go through this process, and if it is at all possible.
Any help would be appreciated.

Try dropping a PM to my mucker hat_mackem. We served in 15/19H together. After Options For change, he emigrated to the Hat (hence his nickname) where his wife is from, and he is currently serving in the South Alberta Light Horse (as a reservist cos he is an old twaaaaaaaaat like me).

Tell him Boggles sent you.

Edited: Or send me an e-mail to AlienFTM@hotmail.co.uk and I'll forward it.

 

[Op_tesco]

Info on here is good but wandering if you could offer some more. I am currently serving under FTRS (full time reserve service) and as such once this is completed looking to sign short service contract. I like others have heard that being in British Forces can drastically reduce the time taken to emigrate if transferring to Canadian Forces. I have asked the Canadian High Commission about the transferral but have heard nothing back in 4 months. Do you have any info that would prove useful?

 

[niner_domestic]

A few things to consider:

We still require Canadian citizenship (which means you'll need to get into the country first and wait out the time required for full citizenship);
On very rare occasions, does the CF give a waiver of citizenship for an applicant;
The reserves will accept a person with landed immigrant status but they will not be allowed to hold a commission;
If you are at all concerned about age, we accept recruits right up to age 55;

However:

FIRST OFF - Do you meet the 3 CRITERIA to join the Canadian Forces?


First:
Are you a Canadian Citizen?

You MUST be a Canadian Citizen.

If you are not, then you must attain your Canadian Citizenship first.

Second:
Do you meet the AGE requirements?

You must be 16 years of age to join the Primary Reserves, and have Parental Consent.

You must be 17 years of age to join the Regular Forces, and have Parental Consent.

Age of Majority is 18 years of age, and you can join without Parental Consent after your eighteenth birthday, not before.

You must be able to complete BMQ, SQ and Trades Training before Compulsory Retirement Age (which is 60 now).

Third:
Do you meet the EDUCATION requirements?

These will vary from Province to Province and for what "Entry Plan" you are applying for. In Ontario, for example, it is Grade 10 (Quebec Secondary III) is the minimum to join the Primary Reserves. Visit your local CFRC to find out what your Provincial requirements are. It is highly recommended that if you want to make the CF a full-time career, you graduate from High School with a diploma.

NOTE: In Ontario, you must be 18 or have graduated High School to legally join the Regular Force (or leave school for any reason).


You can get more information from your CFRC:

TOLL FREE: 1 800 856 8488

On the Web: www.forces.ca

-The CFRC is also starting to provide a "Chat Line" on their Web Site.

For more info have a look here: http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,82097.0.html

 

[Canuck]

Yes it says that Canadian citizenship is required. However:

On very rare occasions, does the CF give a waiver of citizenship for an applicant;

Depending on the demand for your trade that can be waived. Try to contact a recruited in the on-line chat and get a contact somewhere in Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (if that's what it's still called) and go from there.

 

[niner_domestic]

I'd start by reading this doc... http://www.forces.ca/media/_PDF/NonCitizen_en.pdf for anything to do with a waiver of citizenship. I do believe, that one still has to be physically in Canada before they can apply.

 

[RCEME]

I'd start by reading this doc... http://www.forces.ca/media/_PDF/NonCitizen_en.pdf for anything to do with a waiver of citizenship. I do believe, that one still has to be physically in Canada before they can apply.

The process for foreign military is slightly different:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/p=2571996.html#2571996

 

[bowmanator]

Thanks Tiff Meister for the link, but I am having problems downloading the document.

Could you PM me and I will send you my Civvy Email address.

Thanks

 

[RodneyTronic]

Hey, let's not put off some potential applicants here! I am still not a Canadian citizen after 2 years of Reg Force service with the CF (following 21 years in REME) and in these lean recruiting times the CF seem happy to take as many of us as they can.

I'm not a recruiter as you can imagine, but happy to take PMs or respond to posts from anyone considering the move across the pond.

(I haven't read the full extent of this discussion - but like to kill these "must be a citizen" lines every time.)

Here's my comments:

A few things to consider:

We still require Canadian citizenship ....;
On very rare occasions (Rodney comment: much more frequently today), does the CF give a waiver of citizenship for an applicant;
The reserves will accept a person with landed immigrant status but they will not be allowed to hold a commission;
If you are at all concerned about age, we accept recruits right up to age 55 (Rodney comment: I believe 58 based on 2 years return of service but hey who'se counting);

However:

FIRST OFF - Do you meet the 3 CRITERIA to join the Canadian Forces?


First:
Are you a Canadian Citizen?

You MUST be a Canadian Citizen.

If you are not, then you must attain your Canadian Citizenship first (Rodney comment: wrong, get a waiver).

Second:
Do you meet the AGE requirements?

You must be 16 years of age to join the Primary Reserves, and have Parental Consent.

You must be 17 years of age to join the Regular Forces, and have Parental Consent.

Age of Majority is 18 years of age, and you can join without Parental Consent after your eighteenth birthday, not before.

You must be able to complete BMQ, SQ and Trades Training before Compulsory Retirement Age (which is 60 now).

Third:
Do you meet the EDUCATION requirements?

These will vary from Province to Province and for what "Entry Plan" you are applying for. In Ontario, for example, it is Grade 10 (Quebec Secondary III) is the minimum to join the Primary Reserves. Visit your local CFRC to find out what your Provincial requirements are. It is highly recommended that if you want to make the CF a full-time career, you graduate from High School with a diploma.

NOTE: In Ontario, you must be 18 or have graduated High School to legally join the Regular Force (or leave school for any reason).


You can get more information from your CFRC:

TOLL FREE: 1 800 856 8488

On the Web: www.forces.ca

-The CFRC is also starting to provide a "Chat Line" on their Web Site.

For more info have a look here: http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,82097.0.html

 

[RodneyTronic]

Hey cdn_spr, how's tricks?

Good news on the moves from the UK, the CF are now paying for shipping, so any UK applicants, please make sure you ask for that. They are also paying for a recce trip, so check with your recruiter and keep your travel and hotel receipts et.

... but they will not pay any costs for you and your wife to come from the UK, as I believe the aussies do.

 

[extankie]

I'd start by reading this doc... http://www.forces.ca/media/_PDF/NonCitizen_en.pdf for anything to do with a waiver of citizenship. I do believe, that one still has to be physically in Canada before they can apply.

The process for foreign military is slightly different:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/p=2571996.html#2571996

Is this letter still extant.

I left the British forces early April 09.
I applied for CF MP as a skilled applicant in May 09. To date I have recieved my security vetting back and have completed my CF Aptitude Test, Medical and Interview this month. I have to submit a detailed CV outlining job experience etc.
To date I am only a PR in Canada. Is the Citizenship waiver something you recieve in person or is it a paperwork process by HQ CFRC Ottowa.

 

[RodneyTronic]

Hi extankie

The waiver is just a letter sent to your recruiting office and copied to you. It looks like the process hasn't been followed exactly as mine was, but that's OK. When CFRG has assessed your CV they will decide if they have a job for you and then (assuming they do) issue the waiver. I am only guessing, but it looks good if they have let you go ahead with the reruitment tests. Also at the interview I imagine they gave you a pointer that the trade you wanted was short of people (hah, what trade isn't?) so assuming that is the case, the waiver will be issued. Welcome to Canada! Enjoy.

R_T

 

[extankie]

Military Police is in demand in the 3 services. Something to do with needing a 2 year diploma in a relavant field, and people not willing to spend the time to join the non commissioned ranks. At least that's what I was led to believe.

 

[RCEME]

I'd start by reading this doc... http://www.forces.ca/media/_PDF/NonCitizen_en.pdf for anything to do with a waiver of citizenship. I do believe, that one still has to be physically in Canada before they can apply.

The process for foreign military is slightly different:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/p=2571996.html#2571996

Is this letter still extant.

I left the British forces early April 09.
I applied for CF MP as a skilled applicant in May 09. To date I have recieved my security vetting back and have completed my CF Aptitude Test, Medical and Interview this month. I have to submit a detailed CV outlining job experience etc.
To date I am only a PR in Canada. Is the Citizenship waiver something you recieve in person or is it a paperwork process by HQ CFRC Ottowa.

As you're probably aware, I'm also going down the ex-mil enlistment road - I'm still serving and my run-out date is May 2011. I applied to enlist as a Vehicle Technician (VT) back in March and since then have had to send through various info (résumé, CRs, SJARs, course reports, certificates, qualifications, etc) to enable them to do a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). I had the verbal acceptance a couple of weeks back and today I got my Offer of Employment (4-yr VIE in the rank of Sgt) and Waiver of Citizenship letters from the CF. I also received my Arranged Employment Opinion (AEO) letter from the Human Resources & Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

I sent in my Permanent Residency (PR) application to CiC (applying as a Cat 1 Federal Skilled Worker) at the start of June. Last week I got my 120-day letter through from CiC giving me the nod to send everything through to the Canadian High Commission in London for full processing.

Just as R_T said, the waiver is just a letter detailing the job offer details and stipulating that I have 4-yrs from enlistment to gain citizenship - it's signed by the Commander of CFRG.

The next stage is to submit all of the above to the Canadian High Commission as part of my immigration application. Nearer the time I will get called forward by the CF to do the interview, CFAT, medicals and security etc.

Hopefully this clears up the issue about eligibility, i.e. you can apply and be provisionally accepted by the CF without either being a PR or Citizen of Canada, provided you are UK mil.

 

[hank]

If the OP has dual Canadian/UK citizenship there should be no problem. Re. having to be in Canada to apply, it may have changed now but I did the whole process from UK in 1990 (I'm a Canadian with British army service prior to that date) albeit with a couple of visits to CFB Lahr which of course no longer exists. It's worth visiting Canada House to sort it out in person if you can, probably needs a prior appointment, they are generally really helpful.

 

[Armr_Andy]

Hi, I have 3 1/2 years left to push in REME as an Armourer and then my 22 years are up. I am thinking of trying to continue my career with the CF. I have a few questions that I would really appreciate some help with:

1. Would anyone know what the medical standards as I am currently medically downgraded?

2. Whats the first step, who do you contact?

3. When would be the right time to start making an application?

I had emailed CFRG and a recruiter emailed me back to say that I needed to be a Canadian citizen before I could apply, no mention of any waivers. What I have read on here does sound more promising than what I got back from him. I am expecting the medical to be a problem though.

 

[Hungry_Wolf]

I am currently serving in the British Army as an IS Engineer ( or CS Eng as it is now known apparently).
My wife are I are interested in emigrating to Canada as soon as we can, and have been looking at the route to joining the Canadian Army.
I have dual citizenship of being both British and Canadian, but I can't seem to find any info on how to go through this process, and if it is at all possible.
Any help would be appreciated.

Splitter!

 

[armr617]

Armr andy, 6 yrs to push then I'll be following!

Rodney, what trade where you in REME, and did you follow the trade across?

 

[SSeeker]

Any updates