- FSD 51 - Family reunion
- Introduction
- Family Reunion Travel Allowance
- Child/Student Travelling to Mission
- Family Reunion for Unaccompanied Employees
- Family Reunion for Employee-Couples
- Visiting Under Custody Arrangements
- Family Reunion away from Mission
- Period of Entitlement
- Travel leave
- Appendices
- Telephone Calls to Dependants
- Appendix A - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Student 21 Years of Age or Less
- Appendix B - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Student Reached 21 But Not 24 Years of Age
- Appendix C - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Child Not In School
- Appendix D - Family Reunion Travel - Other Situations
- Appendix E - Family Reunion Travel - Away from Mission under FSD 51.08
FSD 51 - Family reunion
Introduction
To minimize the separation in families, where such separation is directly caused by the employee being assigned to a post, the employer provides for telephone calls and for reunion of families at public expense at least once a year. For ease of reference the Appendices to this directive summarize the circumstances and frequency of family reunion travel.
The entitlement for family reunion travel under FSD 18 - Special family separation assistance supercedes the provisions of this directive.
Family Reunion Travel Allowance
51.01 Throughout this directive, the non-accountable family reunion travel allowance shall reflect:
(a) the lowest available airfare appropriate to a particular itinerary, including APEX, charters and other reduced or discounted fares, for the most direct routing between the mission and either the location of the dependant or the headquarters city, as applicable; and
(b) an amount for local transportation costs to and from airports at the points of departure and /or destination; if these costs are not known when the allowance is issued, a supplementary allowance may be issued; and
(c) an amount to cover the expenses for meals, accommodation and local transportation to and from the airport for a necessary stopover, where it is not possible or practicable to arrange an itinerary which will permit continuing travel to the approved destination, when authorized in advance by the deputy head; if these costs are not known when the allowance is issued, a supplementary allowance may be issued;
where
(d) discount and reduced fares shall be selected prior to full fare economy where these rates are available; significant savings can be realized if flights are booked as far in advance as possible; employees are expected to make travel arrangements 4-6 weeks in advance of travel; unless there is a reason acceptable to the deputy head, full-fare economy shall not be authorized; and
(e) where more than one rate is available for the same standard of air travel, depending on whether the ticket is purchased in Canada or at the mission, the most economical airfare rate shall be used, and
(f) where the employee purchases restricted tickets in advance, in order to obtain a reduced fare, the employer will reimburse the cost of the fee necessary to change the ticket, should it be necessary to change the dates of travel for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the employee; and
(g) if the dependant or employee prefers to drive, the family reunion travel allowance shall be based on the lower kilometric/mileage rate for return travel between the location of the dependant and the mission, up to the cost of the lowest available airfare determined in accordance with this section. The lower kilometric/mileage rate is established by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by adjusting the Lower Kilometric/Mileage Rate applicable to Ottawa (as approved by the National Joint Council and quoted on the Treasury Board of Canada Government Travel web site www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tbm_113/menu-travel-voyage-eng.asp), to exclude the fuel/gasoline component of that rate and replace it with a component based on the fuel/gasoline cost incurred by the employee at the post; and
(h) provisions for the issue and verification of family reunion travel allowances are found in FSD 70 - Reporting requirements and verification of allowances.
Child/Student Travelling to Mission
51.02 Subject to Section 51.01, 51.08 and 51.09, the deputy head may provide a non-accountable family reunion travel allowance to an employee or to one employee of an employee couple, for the purpose of family reunion travel for:
(a) Dependent Student - Elementary and Secondary Level:
Three return trips in a twelve-month period for a dependent student who is in full-time attendance at a school where an education allowance is paid under FSD 34 - Education allowances, for travel between the location of the student and the mission, when the dependant is being educated:
(i) in Canada at the elementary or secondary level;
(ii) away from the mission at the secondary level because schools at the mission are not compatible,
where the last year of entitlement shall be the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs; and
where one of the trips must be taken during the long school holiday recess;
(b) Dependent Student 21 or Less - Post-Secondary Level:
Two return trips in a twelve-month period for a dependent student who is in full-time attendance at a post-secondary educational institution, for travel between the location of the student and the mission, up to the cost of travel between the headquarters city and the mission for travel from Canada, or between the mission and the headquarters city for travel from outside Canada, where the last year of entitlement shall be the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs;
(c) Dependent Student Over 21 and Less than 24:
One return trip in a twelve-month period for a dependent student who:
(i) is over the age of 21 but who has not yet attained 24 years of age; and
(ii) is in full-time attendance at an educational institution which has been approved by the deputy head;
for travel between the location of the student and the mission, up to the cost of travel between the headquarters city and the mission for travel from Canada, or between the mission and the headquarters city for travel from outside Canada; and
where the last year of entitlement shall be the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 23rd birthday occurs.
(d) Child Not in School:
The child of an employee/spouse/common law partner who:
(i) is not a dependent student;
(ii) does not reside with the employee at the mission; and
(iii) normally resides, and is in a dependent relationship with the employee/spouse/common law partner in Canada;
is entitled to:
(iv) two return trips in a twelve-month period, if the child has not yet attained 19 years of age, for travel between the location of the child and the mission, up to the cost of travel between the headquarters city and the mission for travel from Canada, or between the mission and the headquarters city for travel from outside Canada, where the last year of entitlement shall be the twelve-month period commending September 1st in which the 18th birthday occurs;
(v) one return trip in a twelve-month period, if the child is over the age of 18 but has not yet attained 22 years of age, for travel between the location of the child and the mission, up to the cost of travel between the headquarters city and the mission for travel from Canada, or between the mission and the headquarters city for travel from outside Canada, where the last year of entitlement shall be the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs.
(e) Child with Special Needs:
Where travel is by a dependent child with special needs (mentally or physically challenged) and the airline will not accept the child unaccompanied, or where the child is under 13 years of age, one of the trips available each year under Section 51.02 may be used for an escort.
Instructions
1. For the purposes of this directive, employee/spouse/common law partner refers to the employee or spouse or common law partner, as appropriate.
2. There is no minimum period of time which the dependant must spend at the mission or which the employee, as provided for in Section 51.08, must spend away from the mission, except that, since the purpose of this directive is to minimize the separation of families resulting from foreign service, it is expected that a reasonable period of time will be spent together as a family. Visits of one week or less shall be reported to the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental coordinating committee.
3. The provisions of Section 51.02(c) may be applied to students in a recognized educational program which includes work assignments between scheduled courses of instruction (e.g.: co-op program)
4. Travel under section 51.02 (e) will only be approved when the employee has provided documentation indicating that the airline will not accept the dependent child on an unaccompanied basis, i.e. letter from the airline.
51.03 Blank
51.04 Blank
Family Reunion for Unaccompanied Employees
51.05 Subject to FSD 18 - Special family separation assistance, unless otherwise specified in this section, where an employee accepts an assignment on an unaccompanied basis, the deputy head may authorize up to two trips per twelve-month period for the dependants of that employee, as follows:
(a) Families Relocated to Third Location:
Where dependants have been relocated to another location under FSD 15.40, the family reunion travel allowance shall be for return travel between the mission and the location of the separated dependants.
(b) Other Situations:
Where Section 51.05(a) does not apply, the family reunion travel allowance shall be for travel:
(i) between the mission and the location of the separated dependants, up to the cost of travel between the mission and the headquarters city, or
(ii) between the location of the separated dependants and the mission, up to the cost of travel between the headquarters city and the mission,
as applicable.
Instruction
The intent of this section is to provide family reunion twice per twelve-month period, except where family reunion travel is only permissible once per twelve-month period, as in Section 51.02(d), where the employee has accepted the posting on an unaccompanied basis.
Family Reunion for Employee-Couples
51.06 Where an employee-couple accept assignments at different Missions, the deputy head may authorize a family reunion travel allowance as follows:
(a) Employee Travelling to Other Employee's Mission:
Up to two trips in a twelve-month period for travel between missions, where either employee, including a dependent child residing with one employee of the employee-couple, may use the entitlement to travel to the mission of the other employee; and
(b) Child/Student Travelling to Either Mission:
Up to three trips in a twelve-month period for travel which would otherwise have been authorized under Section 51.02(a), (b), (c) or (d) from the location of the child/student to either mission, except that:
(i) where travel is in lieu of travel under Section 51.02(a), for a child at the elementary or secondary school level in Canada, two trips must be for the purpose of family reunion with the employee-couple; and
(ii) where travel is in lieu of travel under Section 51.02(b), (c) or (d), travel must be for the purpose of family reunion with the employee-couple; and
(iii) travel for a child/student under this section is subject to the age and cost limitations as prescribed in Section 51.02, as applicable.
Instructions
1. The intent of this section is to provide for the reunion of both employees and all eligible dependants at one location at the same time.
2. The intent of this section is to provide family reunion twice per twelve-month period, except where family reunion travel is only permissible once per twelve-month period, as in Section 51.02(d), where the employee has accepted the posting on an unaccompanied basis.
Visiting Under Custody Arrangements
51.07 Where a custody agreement is in place, the deputy head may authorize payment of a family reunion travel allowance as follows:
(a) Reunion with Dependent Child's Other Parent:
Where the employee/spouse/common law partner is responsible for travel for a dependent child,
(i) who is residing with the employee at the mission; or
(ii) who is a dependent student as defined in FSD 2.01(l)
to visit the other parent, a family reunion travel allowance may be authorized for up to two trips in a 12-month period, less the cost of travel, if any, between the location of the child's other parent and the employee's headquarters city, except that:
(iii) in applying Section 51.07(a)(i), where the best interests of the child would be met by reunion at the mission with the child's other parent, such travel for the child's other parent for return travel only to the mission, in lieu of travel by the child, may be approved by the deputy head, at the request of the employee.
Instructions
1. In applying FSD 51.07(a), where the location of the child's other parent is at a mission outside Canada, and that parent is an employee/spouse/common-law partner subject to the Foreign Service Directives, the family reunion travel allowance shall not be reduced to reflect the cost of travel between the child's other parent and the employee's headquarters city.
2. The intent of Section 51.07(a)(iii) is to recognize special situations in which travel by the other parent to the dependent child is recommended for reasons such as the age of the child, special needs of the child (mentally or physically challenged), or special circumstances based on the recommendation of a health or education specialist, where the deputy head is satisfied that the intent of family reunion is best met at the employee's mission.
3. Travel under section 51.07(a) will only be approved when the employee has provided documentation in support of the special needs, such as, but not limited to, an assessment and recommendation of an appropriate health or education specialist.
(b) Non-Dependent Child Visiting Mission:
A family reunion travel allowance may be authorized for a child of the employee/spouse/ common law partner, who does not qualify as a dependant under FSD 2.01(k)(ii) for the sole reason that the child does not normally reside with the employee/spouse/common law partner, but the latter has visiting privileges with the child under the terms of a custody agreement, for up to two trips per 12-month period, from the location of the child to the employee's mission, less the cost of travel, if any, between the location of the child and the employee's headquarters city.
Instruction
In applying FSD 51.07(b), where the location of the child is at a mission outside Canada with a parent who is an employee/spouse common-law partner subject to the Foreign Service Directives, the family reunion travel allowance shall not be reduced to reflect the cost of travel between the location of the child and the employee's headquarters city.
(c) Child with Special Needs:
Where travel is by a dependent child with special needs (mentally or physically challenged) and the airline will not accept the child unaccompanied, or where the child is under 13 years of age, one of the trips available under this section may be used during the applicable twelve-month period for an escort.
Instructions
1. Travel under Section 51.07 shall apply to cases of joint custody, and shall not exceed the frequency of travel permissible under Section 51.02. This section also applies to a child of the employee/spouse/common law partner who has not yet attained 22 years of age, but where a custody agreement does not apply because of the child's age.
2. Where travel is permissible under Sections 51.02 and 51.07 for the same child, the total number of trips which may be authorized in a twelve-month period is four trips.
3. Where travel is permissible under Sections 51.07(a) and (b) for the same child, the total number of trips which may be authorized in a twelve-month period is two trips.
4. In determining the employee's share of travelling expenses under the provisions of this directive, the deputy head shall take into consideration the type and mode of transportation used, for example:
(a) where travel is on an excursion ticket, the employee's share shall be based on excursion rates;
(b) where travel for which the employee is responsible is in excess of 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the employee's headquarters city, Canadian airfare rates in effect on the date travel commences shall be used; or
(c) where travel for which the employee is responsible is within 800 kilometres (500 miles) of the employee's headquarters city, the lesser of Canadian bus or rail costs shall be used.
Family Reunion away from Mission
51.08
(a) Travel to the Location of the Separated Dependant:
While it is expected that family reunion will normally occur at the employee's mission, at the employee's request a family reunion travel allowance may be authorized for a return trip between the mission and the location of the child/student/ spouse/common law partner, or the headquarters city, as applicable, for:
(i) the employee, where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.05 or 51.07(b); or
(ii) the spouse/common law partner, where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.07(b); or
(iii) the employee and spouse/common law partner and any dependent child residing with the employee at the mission, where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.02;
where the deputy head is satisfied that the intent of family reunion is best met.
(b) Travel to a Third Location:
In special circumstances (see Instruction 2), provided that the intent of family reunion is best met, return travel may be authorized by the deputy head to a location on a routing to the mission, for the employee and any dependant(s) eligible for travel under this directive, including dependants residing at the mission up to the cost of travel between mission and headquarters city.
(c) Limitations and Conditions:
(i) The allowance authorized under Section 51.08 shall not exceed the allowance that would have been payable pursuant to Section 51.02, 51.05, 51.06 or 51.07, as applicable, except that where travel for an employee/spouse/common law partner has been authorized in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.07 because the child is too young to travel unaccompanied, the deputy head shall also authorize an allowance for actual and reasonable accommodation expenses incurred by the employee/spouse/common-law partner in the headquarters city when it is the place of residence of the child, for a period not to exceed five days; and
(ii) When travel is approved from mission, such travel shall liquidate one travel entitlement each for all eligible dependants, regardless of their locations or the frequency of travel entitlement.
Instructions
1. When considering the financial implications of Section 51.08(a) and 51.08(b), the travelling expenses of all persons authorized to travel from the mission are to be compared with the total travelling expenses that would have been incurred for travel to mission by all eligible dependants/children under the applicable provisions of this directive.
2. Special circumstances under Section 51.08(b) include any of the following:
(a) security, health or environmental conditions at mission make it unwise for dependants to visit;
(b) a long flight or many time zone changes in proportion to the length of family reunion;
(c) it is more convenient for the family to meet at a midway location because of individual work and/or school schedules;
(d) dependants may be in separate locations;
where reunion at a third location will facilitate reunion of the employee and all eligible dependants for family reunion travel under this directive.
Guidelines
1. The intent of this directive is to provide for family reunion, at least once a year, either at the mission, at the location of the separated dependant(s), or, for reasons acceptable to the deputy head, at some other location. This section is designed to provide some flexibility in arranging family reunion to recognize circumstances or conditions which justify family reunion away from the mission. It is intended that travel authorized under this section will result in the employee and all dependants having an opportunity to spend time together as a family at one location.
2. It is not the intent of this section to provide the employee and/or a dependant with additional vacation travel nor a trade-off, so that, for example, where there are two children away from mission, the employee would seek to visit them six times during the entitlement period, thus resulting in a family reunion with some members but not others. Travel by one parent to visit one child would only be approved by the deputy head, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental coordinating committee, in unusual personal circumstances which require the presence of a parent at the location of the child, and which would achieve the objective of family reunion.
3. In considering travel from a mission under this section, an employee may wish to explore alternatives such as FSD 45 - Foreign service travel credit bank, FSD 50 - Vacation travel assistance or FSD 56.10 - Post specific allowance to avoid the liquidation of entitlements for all eligible dependants under this directive.
Period of Entitlement
51.09 Entitlements under this directive shall be determined on the basis of a twelve-month period commencing on September 1st of each year, except for travel under Section 51.05 by a dependant of an employee who has accepted an assignment on an unaccompanied basis, where entitlements shall be determined on the basis of the twelve-month period commencing on the date of the employee's arrival at the mission.
Instruction
In determining family reunion travel entitlements for periods of less than twelve months, the deputy head shall take into consideration the date of arrival of the employee at the mission in relation to the school vacation schedule, where applicable, as the twelve-month period corresponds to the academic year. In the majority of cases, travel is taken at Christmas and during the summer vacation period. Consequently, where travel is twice per twelve-month period and an employee is posted in January, travel would normally be authorized once, during the long school holiday recess, before the commencement of the first full twelve-month period on September 1st. It is left to the discretion of the deputy head to determine the frequency of travel for periods of less than twelve months.
Travel leave
51.10 When family reunion travel is authorized for an employee under Section 51.08, the employee shall be charged the appropriate number of leave credits except that, where the deputy head is not prepared to authorize family reunion at mission because of unusual circumstances at mission and it is not feasible for the employee to travel during non-working hours, travel leave shall be authorized for a period equal to:
(a) the travelling time between the mission and the location of the separated dependant, or an approved third location, pursuant to Section 51.08(b), where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Sections 51.02 or 51.05; or
(b) the travelling time between the mission and the destination, less the travelling time between the destination and the headquarters city, where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.07; or
(c) the travelling time between the mission and the destination, up to the travelling time for a return journey to the employee's headquarters city, in all other cases.
Appendices
51.11 Family reunion travel provisions are summarized in the Appendices to this directive.
Telephone Calls to Dependants
51.12 Subject to Sections 51.13 and 51.14, an employee, or one employee of an employee-couple, who are assigned to the same post, may claim an allowance for telephone calls between the location of a dependent child and the employee's mission, as follows:
(a) for a student attending:
(i) secondary school in Canada; or
(ii) elementary school in Canada where an educational allowance has been approved under FSD 34 - Education allowances,
an employee may claim an allowance for telephone calls up to the cost on September 1st of ten five-minute direct-dialed long-distance telephone calls per academic year from the location of the dependent student to the employee's mission;
(b) for a student attending:
(i) a post-secondary educational institution; or
(ii) a Canadian curriculum secondary school, away from the mission, but not in Canada, where educational facilities at the mission are incompatible;
an employee may claim an allowance for telephone calls up to the cost on September 1st of ten five-minute direct-dialed long-distance telephone calls per academic year from the headquarters city to the employee's mission;
(c) for a dependent child not attending an educational institution, an employee may claim an allowance for telephone calls up to the cost on September 1st of ten five-minute direct-dialed long-distance telephone calls per academic year from the headquarters city to the employee's mission.
Instructions
1. The academic year is the 12-month period commencing September 1st and ending the following August 31st. Assistance is based on the Canadian academic year, whether or not the dependent child is a student.
2. Assistance is not provided for a dependent student who is attending elementary school away from the mission, where an educational allowance has not been authorized.
3. The maximum amount of assistance available under Section 51.12 shall be determined by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on September 1st of each year.
4. As requested by the deputy head, telephone costs are to be supported by receipts or an appropriate statutory declaration that the costs have been incurred. Where direct-dialing facilities are not available, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs shall determine the appropriate allowance.
5. Where an employee-couple are assigned to different Missions, each employee may claim assistance for telephone calls.
51.13 Subject to Section 51.14, the provisions of Section 51.12 are available from the employee's arrival at mission up to and including the 12-month period commencing September 1st in which the dependant's 21st birthday occurs.
51.14 Where an employee is claiming assistance for telephone calls in accordance with Section 51.12 for a period of less than the complete academic year, the allowance shall be pro-rated to reflect the number of months of entitlement relative to the 12-month period.
Instructions
1. In determining the number of months of entitlement for periods of less than a complete academic year, credit shall be given for each month during which the employee is assigned to a Mission for at least ten compensation days.
2. Where an employee is claiming assistance for telephone calls for a dependent student, the allowance shall be based on ten five-minute telephone calls per academic year, notwithstanding that the student is not separated from the family because:
(a) the student spends all or part of the long school holiday recess at the mission; or
(b) the employee is relocated to Canada during the long school holiday recess.
3. The deputy head may exercise discretion where an allowance for telephone calls has been authorized under this directive; and
(a) the dependant relocates to the mission during the academic year; or
(b) the employee is relocated to a new place of duty in Canada during the academic year.
Appendix A - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Student 21 Years of Age or Less
| Education Taken | Education Level | Facilities At Mission | Frequency | Cost Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Canada FSD 51.02(a)(i) |
Elementary | Incompatible | 3 return trips in 12-month period | Educational Institution/Mission |
| In Canada FSD 51.02(a)(i) |
Elementary Final Year Only |
Compatible | 3 return trips in 12-month period | Educational Institution/Mission |
| In Canada FSD 51.02(a)(i) |
Secondary | N/A | 3 return trips in 12-month period | Educational Institution/Mission |
| In Canada FSD 51.02(b) |
Post-Secondary | N/A | 2 return trips in 12-month period (Note 2) | Educational Institution/Mission UP TO COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
| Not in Canada - Away From Mission | Elementary | Compatible / Incompatible | N/A | N/A |
| Not In Canada - Away From Mission | Secondary | Compatible | N/A | N/A |
| Not In Canada - Away From Mission FSD 51.02(a)(ii) |
Secondary | Incompatible | 3 return trips in 12-month period | Educational Institution/Mission |
| Not In Canada - Away From Mission FSD 51.02(b) |
Post-Secondary | N/A | 2 return trips in 12-month period (Note 2) | Educational Institution/Mission UP TO COST OF Mission/ Headquarters City |
NOTES:
1. Family reunion travel is normally based on the twelve-month period from September 1st to August 31st.
2. The last year of entitlement for two trips under Appendix A is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs.
3. One of these trips may be utilized to fund the cost of an escort to travel with the special needs dependent student (mentally/physically challenged and airline requires dependent student be accompanied, or dependent student is under 13 years of age). (Reference: FSD 51.02(e)).
Appendix B - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Student Reached 21 But Not 24 Years of Age
| Education Taken | Education Level | Frequency | Cost Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Canada FSD 51.02(c) |
Post-Secondary | 1 return trip in 12-month period |
Educational Institution/Mission UP TO COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
| Not In Canada Away From Mission FSD 51.02(c) |
Post-Secondary | 1 return trip in 12-month period |
Educational Institution/Mission UP TO COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
NOTES:
1. Family reunion travel is normally based on the twelve-month period from September 1st to August 31st.
2. The first year of entitlement for travel under Appendix B is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 22nd birthday occurs.
3. The last year of entitlement for travel under Appendix B is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 23rd birthday occurs.
4. The provision for an escort for a dependent student with special needs is not available under Appendix B as travel is limited to one trip per year.
Appendix C - Family Reunion Travel - Dependent Child Not In School
| Age Limitation | Frequency | Cost Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Has not yet attained 19 years of age FSD 51.02(d)(iv) |
2 return trips in 12-month period (Notes 2 and 4) |
Location of Child / Mission UP TO COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
| Over the age of 18 but has not yet attained 22 years of age FSD 51.02(d)(v) |
1 return trip in 12-month period (Notes 3 and 5) |
Location of Child / Mission UP TO COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
NOTES:
1. Family reunion travel is normally based on the twelve-month period from September 1st to August 31st.
2. The last year of entitlement for two trips under Appendix C is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 18th birthday occurs.
3. The last year of entitlement for one trip under Appendix C is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs.
4. One of these trips may be utilized to fund the cost of an escort to travel with the special needs dependent child (mentally/physically challenged and airline requires dependent child be accompanied or child under 13 years of age). (Reference: FSD 51.02(e)).
5. The provision for an escort for a dependent student with special needs is not available, as travel is limited to one trip per year.
Appendix D - Family Reunion Travel - Other Situations
| Situation | Frequency | Cost Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Unaccompanied Employee - Family relocated to third location under FSD 15.40 (FSD 51.05(a)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period | Mission/Location of Separated Dependant(s) (as approved under FSD 15.40) |
| Unaccompanied Employee - Employee travels (FSD 51.05(b)(i)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period | Mission/Location of Separated Dependants(s) UP TO THE COST OF Mission/Headquarters City |
| Unaccompanied Employee - Dependant(s) travel(s) (FSD 51.05(b)(ii)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period | Location of Separated Dependants(s)/Mission UP TO THE COST OF Headquarters City/Mission |
| Employee-Couple - No children (FSD 51.06(a)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period | Mission/Mission |
| Employee-Couple - Dependent child(ren) residing with one parent (FSD 51.06(a)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Notes 4 and 5) | Mission/Mission |
| Employee-Couple - Dependent children residing with each parent (FSD 51.06(a)) |
Up to 2 return trips in a 12-month period (Notes 4 and 5) | Mission/Mission |
| Employee-Couple - Dependent student in Canada AND/OR Dependent student away from mission (FSD 51.06(b), in lieu of FSD 51.02(a)) |
Up to 3 return trips in 12-month period (Notes 2, 3 and 6) | Location of child/student // Either mission |
| Employee-Couple - Dependant 21 or less - Post-Secondary Education (FSD 51.06(b) in lieu of FSD 51.02(b)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Notes 4, 6 and 10) | Location of student/Either Mission UP TO THE COST OF Headquarters City/Mission (Travel from Canada) OR Mission/Headquarters City (Travel from outside Canada) |
| Employee-Couple - Dependant over 21 and less than 24 Post-Secondary Education (FSD 51.06(b) in lieu of FSD 51.02(c)) |
1 return trip in 12-month period (Notes 4, 7, 11 and 12) |
Location of student/Either mission UP TO THE COST OF Headquarters City/Mission (Travel from Canada) OR Mission/Headquarters City (Travel from outside Canada) |
| Employee-Couple - Child not yet 19 and Not in School (FSD 51.06(b) in lieu of FSD 51.02(d)(iv)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Notes 4, 6 and 8) | Location of child/Either mission UP TO THE COST OF Headquarters City/Mission (Travel from Canada) OR Mission/Headquarters City (Travel from outside Canada) |
| Employee-Couple - Child over 18 but not yet 22 and Not in School (FSD 51.06(b) in lieu of FSD 51.02(d)(v)) |
1 return trip in 12-month period (Notes 4, 7 and 9) |
Location of child/Either mission UP TO THE COST OF Headquarters City/Mission (Travel from Canada) OR Mission/Headquarters City (Travel from outside Canada) |
| Custody Arrangement - Dependent Child at Mission (FSD 51.07(a)(i)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Note 6) | Mission/Location of Other Parent MINUS THE COST OF Location of Other Parent/ Headquarters City |
| Custody Arrangement - Dependent Student under FSD 2.01(k) (FSD 51.07(a)(ii)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Note 6) | Location of Child (Mission or School) / Location of Other Parent MINUS THE COST OF Location of Other Parent/ Headquarters City |
| Custody Arrangement - Non-dependent child visiting mission (FSD 51.07(b)) |
Up to 2 return trips in 12-month period (Note 6) | Location of Child/Mission MINUS THE COST OF Location of Child/ Headquarters City |
NOTES:
1. Family reunion travel is normally based on the twelve-month period from September 1st to August 31st.
2. Two of the three trips must be for the purpose of family reunion with the employee-couple (Reference: FSD 51.06(b)).
3. One of the three trips may be for travel to either location of the employee-couple (Reference: FSD 51.06(b)).
4. Travel must be for the purpose of family reunion with the employee-couple (Reference: FSD 51.06).
5. Dependent child(ren) must travel at same time as the parent (Reference: FSD 51.06(a)).
6. One of the trips may be utilized to fund the cost of an escort to travel with the special needs child (mentally/physically challenged and airline requires child be accompanied, or child is under 13 years of age). (Reference: FSD 51.02, FSD 51.07(c))
7. The provision for an escort for a dependent child/student with special needs is not available as travel is limited to one trip per year.
8. The last year of entitlement for two trips under FSD 51.02(d)(iv) is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 18th birthday occurs.
9. The last year of entitlement for one trip under FSD 51.02(d)(v) is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs.
10. The last year of entitlement for two trips under FSD 51.02(b) is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 21st birthday occurs.
11. The last year of entitlement for travel under FSD 51.02(c) is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 23rd birthday occurs.
12. The first year of entitlement for travel under FSD 51.02(c) is the twelve-month period commencing September 1st in which the 22nd birthday occurs.
Appendix E - Family Reunion Travel - Away from Mission under FSD 51.08
| Travel Authority | Person(s) Travelling | Travel To: |
|---|---|---|
| Travel under FSD 51.08(a) in lieu of FSD 51.02 |
Employee and spouse/common-law partner and any dependent child at mission | Location of child/student |
| Travel under FSD 51.08(a) in lieu of FSD 51.07(b) |
Employee or spouse/common-law partner, as applicable | Location of child |
| Travel under FSD 51.08(a) in lieu of FSD 51.05 |
Employee | Location of separated dependants |
| Travel under FSD 51.08(b) Special Circumstances |
The employee and any dependants eligible for travel under this directive, including dependants at mission | A location on a routing to the mission |
NOTES:
1. The allowance authorized under Section 51.08 shall not exceed the allowance that would have been payable under Sections 51.02, 51.05, 51.06 or 51.07, as applicable.
2. When considering the financial implications of Section 51.08(a) and 51.08(b), the travelling expenses of all persons authorized to travel can not exceed the total travelling expenses that would have been incurred for travel to mission by all eligible dependants under the applicable provisions of this directive.
3. In addition to travelling expenses, where travel is in lieu of the provisions of Section 51.07 because the child is too young to travel unaccompanied, an allowance for accommodation expenses for 5 days in the headquarters city may be paid when it is the child's place of residence.
4. When travel is from mission, this liquidates one travel entitlement each for all eligible dependants.
5. Frequency of travel is determined by Sections 51.02, 51.05, 51.06 or 51.07, as applicable.