Posting In - Leaving Canada
The aim of this page is to assist you in planning your departure from Canada. You are responsible to ensure your administration and financial liabilities are taken care of prior to departure from Canada & arriving in Europe. Caution: Rules and regulations may have changed since the time this page was created. This page is not the final authority but is only a guide. For critically important items you should confirm information from the main reference.
"Welcome Packages" or "Cope Kits" are available in many countries (select a country in the Left Menu or Click on Welcome Package).
Change of Address
American Express Card
Banking
Child Tax Benefits
Canadian Driver's License
Social Insurance Numbers for Teens
Employment and Immigration Canada
Traffic (Furniture and Effects)
Animals:
Pet Imports 
Pet Passport (also see What's Up/General Information)
Dog Regulations in Germany
Change of Address:
Before you move, make sure that you visit your local Canadian post office and complete a ‘Mail Redirection Card’ to ensure that personal mail is forwarded to your new address. This service covers a six-month period and is normally reimbursable through the Relocation Services. You might also want to pick up change of address cards to advise relatives, friends, magazines, insurance companies, etc. of the change of address. Your mailing address will be: (for mail sent from Canada and/or the USA):
Name
Slot # (when allocated)
P.O. Box 5053, Station Forces,
Belleville, On
K8N 5W6
You may use the British Forces Post Office to correspond with individuals or companies in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Your address will be:
Name
Slot # (when allocated)
CFPO 5053 via BFPO 28
Mail from other countries may be sent to your home address:
Name
Slot # (when allocated)
CFPO 5053
52511 Geilenkirchen, Germany
You may also use your local address for European and International mail.
American Express:
Before you move, do not forget to inform American Express of your change of address. You will probably travel on Temporary Duty while being posted in Europe.
AMEX Contact Information
AMEX Card Member
Banking:
During your house-hunting trip, you should open a European bank account immediately after getting your accommodation. You will need to set up an appointment and you and your spouse will need your passports to open a bank account. In most countries major transactions can be arranged through the bank for automatic payment, i.e. rent, insurance, telephone, etc. and your pay can be deposited into your European bank account in Euros. Your rent allocation will also be directly deposited into that account and you must arrange to automatically pay your landlord from your European account. Your sponsor will have more information on banking arrangements and locations. ATM services are available at most locations in Europe, but charges vary widely – make sure you get a EUROPAS debit card (PIN) which will be accepted in most countries in Europe. Most restaurants and stores use bankcards more frequently than credit cards. However, it is also recommended to get a European-issued credit card.
You should keep a bank account open in Canada, obtain a good supply of cheques, and sign up for internet banking. This will help when paying Canadian bills, buying bonds or RRSPs in Canada and for depositing any Canadian cheques you may receive. You can also arrange to have your Child Tax Benefit or pension cheques deposited directly to your Canadian account. Some European banks will not accept Canadian cheques. The Canadian Forces Post Office sells postal money orders in Canadian and American dollars, as well as in British pounds.
Should you have a relative in Canada, you may wish to set up a joint account to allow you to transfer funds via Internet banking. This is especially good if you have a son or daughter attending university back home.
Child Tax Benefit:As the Child Tax Benefit (which replaced the Family Allowance on 1 Jan 93) is paid to members serving in Europe, you must therefore inform the Regional Taxation office of your change of address. Profit of the occasion to check with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) your resident status while you will be in Europe for your next Income Tax return.
See the following link: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/individuals/nonres-f.html
Should CRA determine that the non-military spouse is a deemed non-resident it will likely negatively impact your entitlement for the child tax benefit. Given our non-taxable status due to our NATO Status of Forces Agreement your spouses may be a deemed resident (and thus remain eligible for Child Tax Benefit). However, the status of non-military spouses should be carefully considered prior to leaving Canada.
Canadian Driver's License:
Try to ensure that your Canadian license will remain valid for the duration of your tour. It can be difficult renewing a Canadian license while in Europe. See the CFSU(E) Corporate Services - Licensing Section for more information.
Socal Insurance Numbers for Teens
In order to participate in the STEP program (Student Temporary Employment Program), students need a Social Insurance Number (currently the STEP program is open to students who have reached 16 years of age).
Employment and Immigration Canada
Permanent Resident Card Issues. Recently, Employment and Immigration Canada has stated that permanent residents must be in possession of a Permanent Resident Card (PRC) in order to return to Canada when traveling on international flights. This requirement became effective 1 Jan 04. So if your spouse or any of your dependents are not citizens of Canada, they must apply for a PRC while in Canada and the completed card must be picked up in Canada before your departure. Call Employment and Immigration Canada for more details.
Pet Passport
Animal Passport is a legal requirement
Effective 1 October 2004 law requires the EC-Pet-Passport.
Anyone intending to travel to EC-countries with dog or cat requires the blue passport, which will be issued by a vet at a charge of € 10 (excluding vaccination cost). The international vaccination pass used to this date will be accepted 12 months past date of issue. The stricter rules used so far in Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Malta will be applicable for five more years. Outside of the EC, the new passport is also valid in Switzerland, Iceland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican and Croatia. National regulations apply in all other countries.
Dog Regulations in Germany
1. Because of incidents involving dangerous dogs, commonly known as fighting dogs, the German government has implemented regulations, which may vary from province to province.
2. Dog owners who do not observe these rules may face extremely high fines in addition to losing their dog. Even though Canadians with NATO SOFA status are exempt from German dog tax, they must still comply with German civil law in this case as in any other. All owners of category c - e dogs are required to present themselves and their animals to the “Ordnungsamt” (Office of Public Law and Order) of the community they reside in.
3. In North Rhine Westphalia, dogs are listed in 5 categories:
a. Small;
b. Large;
c. Dangerous dogs;
d. Dangerous breeds; and
e. Very dangerous breeds, AKA fighting dogs.
Category a 4. Dogs smaller than 40 cm (shoulder height) and weighing no more than 20 kg are considered to belong to the category small dogs.
Category b 5. Dogs larger than 40 cm (shoulder height) and/or weighing more than 20 kg are considered to be large dogs and must be on a leash if in public places, in busses and on trains.
Category c 6. Dogs bred or trained for aggressiveness are considered to be dangerous regardless of their size. Also considered as dangerous are dogs that in the past have threatened humans, i.e. have jumped at them in a threatening manner and dogs that, unsupervised, bite, chase and kill game, cattle, cats and other dogs. To own such an animal, one must be over 18 years of age, able to hold back the animal, provide proof of having sufficient knowledge of the animal (dog handling license), provide a proof of no criminal record as well as proof of liability insurance for the dog. One must also assure that the dog is kept in an area where he cannot escape and always on leash and muzzled when in a public place. Breeding of these dogs is prohibited.
Category d 7. Dangerous breeds are listed as follows: Akbash, Berger de Brie (Briard), Berger de Beauce (Beauceron), Bullmastiff, Carpatin, Dobermann, Estrela Mountain hound, Kangal, Caucasian Owtscharka, Central Asian Owtscharka, South Russian Owtscharka, Karakatschan, Kars hound, Komondor, Kraski Ovcar, Kuvasz, Liptak (Gorale hound), Maremma herding dog, Mastiff, Pyrenese Mastiff, Mioritic, Polish Owczarek Podhalanski, Pyrenean mountain dog, Rafeiro do Alentejo, Rottweiler, Slovensky Cuvac, Sarplaninac, Tibetan Mastiff, Tornjak. To own such an animal, one must be over 18 years of age, able to hold back the animal, provide proof of having sufficient knowledge of the animal (dog handling licence), provide proof of no criminal record as well as proof of liability insurance for the dog. One must also assure that the dog is
kept in an area where he cannot escape and always on leash and muzzled when in a public place. Breeding of these dogs is not prohibited.
Category e 8. The following are considered to be very dangerous breeds (AKA fighting dogs): American Staffordshire Terrier, PittBull Terrier, Staffordshire BullTerrier, BullTerrier, Neapolitan Mastiff, Mastin Espanol, Bordeaux Mastiff, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Roman fighting dog, Chinese fighting dog, Bandog, and Tosa Ina. To own such an animal, one must be over 18 years of age, able to hold back the animal, provide proof of having sufficient knowledge of the animal (dog handling licence), provide proof of no criminal record as well as proof of liability insurance for the dog. Military personnel stationed in Germany may obtain such a proof of no criminal record from the Military Police, who sends the members request to the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) Ottawa. One must also assure that the dog is kept in an area where he cannot escape and always on leash and muzzled when in a public place. Breeding of these dogs is prohibited.
9. Owners of category b, c, d and e dogs must provide proof of third party liability insurance for these dogs and have a microchip identification tag implanted under the animal’s skin. Owners must also provide proof of no criminal record as well as good knowledge about these animals.
10. Other provinces where Canadians reside are implementing the following rules:
a. Bavaria (Garmisch and area) – has severe fines for keeping fighting dogs;
b. Rhineland-Palitinate (Ramstein and area) – a decree requires that all fighting dogs be neutered, registered and marked; and
c. Baden-Württemberg (Heidelberg and area) –ownership of any fighting dogs requires a special permission. This office will notify personnel of applicable regulations as they are received.
