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NJC meal and incidental allowances

The National Joint Council sets the meal and incidental allowances for federal public servants who travel. Many Canadian employers use the same rates, which took effect on October 1, 2026.

A business traveller ordering at a café

NJC daily allowance from October 1, 2026

CA$148.20 a day

Canada and the USA. Lodging is paid at actual cost.

  • BreakfastCA$29.95
  • LunchCA$30.55
  • DinnerCA$62.70
  • IncidentalsCA$25

NJC allowance calculator

Rate table

Trip

Meals claimed

Uncheck any meal that was provided, for example by a conference, an airline or a host.

Incidentals: CA$25.00

Paid for every day in travel status, whichever meals are claimed.

Lodging

This rate table reimburses lodging at actual cost. There is no nightly cap to apply.

Estimated allowance

Estimated total

CA$444.60

Meal allowance per full dayCA$148.20
Full days3
Meals and incidentalsCA$444.60

How to apply the NJC allowances

Each meal has its own amount, and the rates drop on long stays in one place.

  1. Pick the right column

    Canada and the US share one column, paid in US funds for US travel. Yukon and Alaska, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut each have their own, higher rates.

  2. Claim only the meals you paid for

    If a meal is provided, leave it out. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are separate amounts for exactly that reason.

  3. Add incidentals for every day

    The incidental allowance is $25 a day in travel status in every column, whichever meals are claimed.

  4. Step down on long stays

    From day 31 in the same place, meals and incidentals are paid at 75%. From day 121, meals drop to 50% while incidentals stay at 75%.

NJC allowances, effective October 1, 2026

Full rates for days 1 to 30, in Canadian dollars, taxes included.

RegionBreakfastLunchDinnerIncidentalsDaily total
Canada and USACA$29.95CA$30.55CA$62.70CA$25CA$148.20
Yukon and AlaskaCA$27.35CA$34.70CA$81.30CA$25CA$168.35
Northwest TerritoriesCA$29.30CA$34.75CA$74.15CA$25CA$163.20
NunavutCA$35.55CA$42.20CA$101.90CA$25CA$204.65

Frequently asked questions

From October 1, 2026, in the Canada and USA column: $29.95 for breakfast, $30.55 for lunch, $62.70 for dinner and $25 for incidentals, or $148.20 a day. The territories are higher, up to $204.65 a day in Nunavut.

The NJC reviews Appendix C of the Travel Directive twice a year, with changes taking effect on April 1 and October 1.

The April 2025 table paid $28.40 for breakfast, $27.40 for lunch, $57.70 for dinner and $17.30 for incidentals in the Canada and USA column. The table has been revised since, and the version effective October 1, 2026 is the one that applies now.

No. The Travel Directive governs federal public service travel. Private employers set their own allowances, and many follow the NJC table because it's public, current and easy to justify.

They apply when someone stays in one location. From day 31, meals and incidentals are paid at 75%. From day 121, meals are paid at 50% and incidentals stay at 75%.

Where these numbers come from

Rates are from Appendix C of the NJC Travel Directive.

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