Guide to Your Application Journey
This guide has information to help you navigate the application process. It includes checklists of the documents
and information you will need and explains how to get help during the application process.
The Application Steps
There are eight steps in the application process.
Figure 1: The eight steps in the application journey
You will work through these steps using your online application portal (OAP) to receive and complete various
tasks at each step. It can take several months to complete the steps. If you were born outside of Canada, travel
frequently, or have close relatives living outside of Canada, it may take longer.
Getting Help
You can find your Recruiting Centre's contact information by opening the menu panel on your
application dashboard. If you have questions, you can email, call, or text your Recruiting Centre. They
usually reply within a week.
For help with technical issues contact: STG-CFRG-FASM-CFRIMS@forces.gc.ca
For general inquiries contact: STG-CFRG-CustomerSvc@forces.gc.ca
Forms Requirements
You will need to fill out and submit several forms online during the application process. Some forms may ask for
the same information more than once. Make sure to provide the requested details each time because every form
is necessary for the screening and selection process.
Completing forms
Forms are usually completed using software like Adobe Reader. The forms are designed to use the most recent
version of PDF. Try using a different PDF application if you have trouble completing the forms.
You can complete the forms on a mobile device, but it is easier to complete them on a laptop or desktop
computer.
Signing forms
You do not need to print the form to sign it. You can sign the forms electronically by:
❑ Typing your name in the signature field
❑ Drawing your signature with the built-in features in your PDF application
You will need to have a parent or legal guardian sign some of your forms if you are under eighteen years of age.
Witnessing Forms
Several of the forms need to be witnessed. Please leave the witness sections on these forms blank. Your
recruiter or representative from the Canadian Armed Forces will witness these forms during one of your inperson visits.
Uploading Forms and Documents
If you have issues uploading a form, check that it is a PDF by making sure the file name ends in .pdf. Then,
check that the file size is less than 5MB. If you need to reduce the size:
❑ Go to the hamburger menu (Windows) or the File menu (macOS)
❑ Select Save As Other > Reduced Size PDF
❑ Choose the location to save the file and select Save.
Acrobat will display a message showing the successful reduction in PDF size.
If you have issues uploading documents, like transcripts or pictures of your driver's license or birth certificate,
check that the file ends in pdf, jpeg, jpg, or png. These files must also be smaller than 5MB.
If you have trouble with file sizes that are too large, try:
❑ Adjusting the camera settings on your mobile device before taking the photo
❑ Using a secondary scanning application to capture the image before uploading
❑ Resizing the image to a lower resolution
After completing the forms, be sure to upload them to finish the task.
Information Gathering
You will need the following information, so start gathering it now.
Identification Information
❑ The address of every place you have lived in the last 5 years
❑ Birthplace, meaning the city and country that shows on your birth certificate
❑ Proof of that you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This could be your passport or birth
certificate if you were born in Canada. If you were not born in Canada, this could be your Proof of
Citizenship or Permanent Resident Card
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❑ Any other countries that you have citizenship for
Education Information
❑ High school transcripts – required if high school is the highest level of education completed OR if the
occupation you are applying to requires specific high school courses
❑ Transcripts from any CEGEP, colleges, universities or trade schools you went to, even if you did not finish
❑ Diplomas from any high school, CEGEP, college, university or trade school that you did complete
❑ Validated transcripts from any education you obtained outside of Canada. Transcripts must be validated
through World Education Services or Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Work Information
You will need to list all the places you have worked in the last five years or since you started working, whichever
is shorter. For every place you work, you will have to provide:
❑ Name and address of your employer
❑ Your job title
❑ The name and phone number of your immediate supervisor. We will not contact your current supervisor if
you tell us that doing so could jeopardize your job
❑ If you were fired or asked to leave your job, and why
Being fired from a job does not automatically disqualify you, but you can be disqualified for lying about it.
Character References
You will need to provide three references who have known you for at least a year each, but in total, your
references must cover the last 5 years. Your references must be able to talk about your character. At least one
of them must be a professional or educational reference, which means they must be someone you worked for or
one of your teachers.
For each reference, you need to provide:
❑ Their full names as well as their birthdate
❑ The address where they live, as well as the address where they work (if applicable)
❑ Their phone number and email
This is sensitive information, so ask permission from your references before gathering this information.
Information for the Scored Employment Application Form (SEAF)
You will have to complete a SEAF if you are applying for a full-time position. This assessment will ask you for:
❑ Your employment history since you started working or for the last 10 years, whichever is longer
❑ Details about your participation in sports, including any awards you have won
❑ Information about your participation in community activities or charitable organizations, including any
certificates, recognition, or awards you have received
❑ Details about your hobbies and interests
❑ Details about your education, including your grade point average
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Information on your Travel
This information is collected for security screening, so it is important to be as accurate as you can.
For every trip you made outside of Canada in the last ten years, including trips to the USA, even if they only
lasted for a day:
❑ Destination country
❑ Departure and return dates
❑ Reason for the trip
If You Lived outside of Canada or have Foreign Assets
If you were born, lived or own foreign assets outside of Canada, you may need to provide details including:
❑ Whether you have citizenship outside of Canada, and in which countries
❑ How long and where you lived in other country or countries, including entry and exit dates
❑ Whether you have any immediate relatives who live outside the country, their relationship to you and what
country they live in
❑ Specifics about any financial assets you hold and in which country they are.
This information is part of your security screening, so it's important to be as honest and as detailed as possible.
If you have financial debt
Having financial debt can create a security risk, depending on personal circumstances. Having debt does not
automatically disqualify you, but you can be disqualified for lying about it. Be prepared to provide details about
your debts.
If You Have a Criminal Record
Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you but you can be disqualified for lying about it. Be
prepared to provide details about your offence.
Appointment Information
You will have different appointments during your application journey – some will be in-person, while others may
be virtual. Your recruiting center will inform you if any appointment will be conducted virtually.
❑ Arrive 15 prior to all appointments
❑ Always bring a government-issued photo ID to confirm your identity
Information about your interview
You will have a job interview during the second step of the recruiting process.
❑ A military career counsellor will lead the interview, which usually lasts between 30 to 90 minutes depending
on the job(s) you are applying for.
❑ You do not need to buy new clothes for the interview. We recommend wearing business casual or smart
casual clothing. If you do not have clothing that fits that description, just make sure your clothes are clean
and neat.
❑ To prepare, visit forces.ca to learn more about the job(s) you are applying for. Be ready to talk about your
past work experience or education and how it relates to the job(s) you are applying for. You may also be
asked about the personal information you provided in your application.
❑ You will be sent an email with more details and instructions after you book your interview.
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Information about your medical appointment
CAF members need to be ready to perform physical tasks at any time. The medical appointment checks if you
meet the CAF's medical requirements.
During your medical exam, you will:
❑ Have your vision and hearing checked, and your weight and measurements taken
❑ Undergo a thorough physical exam conducted by a qualified medical professional. You will keep your
undergarments on at all times and there will be no examination of genitals or breasts.
❑ Review your completed medical questionnaire form about your medical history
Getting ready
If you take prescription medication, ask your pharmacist to print off a list of all prescription medication, including
dosages. Bring this to your appointment.
We recommend not smoking or drinking alcohol or caffeine the day of your appointment.
Use of a Chaperone
A clinician who is not your regular health care provider will do your medical assessment. Since you have not built
a trusting doctor-patient relationship with them, we encourage you to bring someone who can be a chaperone
during your appointment. This person can be a family member or friend. Make sure you feel comfortable
discussing your full medical history, including past treatments or hospitalizations, with them.
If you or the examiner request it, a CFRC-trained chaperone of your preferred gender will be present during your
physical exam. In some cases, the examiner may require a recruiting centre chaperone, even if you bring your
own. Let the recruiting staff know in advance if you need them to assign a chaperone.
Vision
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, ensure you bring your glasses not your contact lenses the day of your
medical examination. You must remove your contact lenses as follows:
❑ For soft contact lenses at least 24 hours prior to your medical examination
❑ For rigid gas permeable (RGP) at least 72 hours prior to your medical examination
❑ Please bring in a copy of your current prescription if you received one within the last year
Additional Examinations (if required)
After your exam, you might be told that you need to get reports from your family physician or a specialist. If this
happens, you will be given forms that have all the instructions your physician or specialist needs to follow. You
are responsible for any costs associated with these reports.
Changes in Medical Health Status
Important: Any changes in your medical status may delay or affect your fitness for enrolment.
If any changes occur in your health status between now and your enrolment, it is your responsibility to
immediately notify the medical section of your CFRC.
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Tips for improving your application process
1. Start gathering your documents now. Some documents, like school transcripts, can take time
to gather.
2. If you are not sure about your career choices, contact your Recruiting Centre to book a career
counseling session. The contact information for your Recruiting Centre is in the menu of your
recruiting portal.
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