Question Period Note: Ukraine – Measures available after March 31, 2024

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine. Since then, there have been domestic and international movements of the Ukrainian population, including to Canada given our country’s strong Ukrainian-Canadian community. IRCC implemented various special measures under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), which were available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members until March 31, 2024.

• Canada continues to stand with the people of Ukraine and is committed to helping Ukrainians and their family members as the war continues.

• Canada received over one million temporary resident applications under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measures, which ended on March 31, 2024.

• We have recently introduced additional measures to support CUAET holders who are currently in Canada with valid temporary resident status.

• CUAET holders who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024 have until March 31, 2025, to apply for a new open work permit that is valid for up to three years, extend a current open work permit or apply for a new study permit, subject to standard fees.

• All Ukrainians and their family members in Canada with temporary resident status are eligible for settlement services in Canada until March 31, 2025.

If pressed:
• Every application received by July 15, 2023 will be processed. Clients whose CUAET application was approved on or after February 4, 2024, will have until December 31, 2024, to travel to Canada to benefit from many of the previously available CUAET measures, including an extended temporary stay of up to 3 years in Canada and access to fee-exempt study permits and open work permits.
• CUAET visa holders may continue to travel to Canada using their approved CUAET visa until it expires.

• CUAET holders who were approved for an open work permit as part of their initial CUAET application, but who did not travel to Canada by March 31, 2024 remain eligible to have their permit issued upon arrival in Canada subject to the validity of their Letter of Introduction.

• Ukrainians and their family members who applied for CUAET on or before July 15, 2023, but who did not receive a decision on their application by February 4, 2024, have until December 31, 2024 to arrive in Canada and to apply at a port of entry or inland for a study permit or open work permit, free of charge.

• Ukrainians and their family members who received CUAET visitor visas can continue to travel to Canada while their visa remains valid. Upon arrival in Canada, they will be processed as regular visitors. A border services officer will determine their length of stay, which is typically up to 6 months.

• The family reunification pathway to permanent residence for Ukrainian nationals residing in Canada opened in October 2023 and applications were accepted until October 22, 2024. To qualify, Ukrainian nationals must have been in Canada with valid temporary resident status and been an immediate or extended family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada.

• Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently can also apply for permanent residence through various immigration programs and streams, including economic pathways and through family sponsorship.

• Generally, all foreign nationals applying for permanent or temporary residency in Canada are required to provide a valid passport or travel document as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. However, if applicants cannot meet these requirements due to compelling and exceptional circumstances, IRCC may consider their situations on a case-by-case basis.

If pressed on other supports
• The Government of Canada continues to work closely with provincial, territorial, and municipal partners, as well as settlement service providers and the Ukrainian-Canadian community, to welcome Ukrainians and their family members fleeing Russia’s illegal invasion.
• The extension of federally-funded settlement services to these individuals, in provinces and territories outside of Quebec, allows for those fleeing the invasion to fully participate in Canadian communities. These services include activities that promote connections with communities, provide information about life in Canada including how to obtain longer term housing, language training and employment.
• CUAET visa holders who arrived on or before March 31, 2024, were eligible for temporary accommodations of up to 14 nights and had until June 30, 2024 to apply for transitional financial assistance.
• Quebec provided its own settlement services and temporary accommodations to Ukrainians and their family members fleeing the invasion.

Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)

• Background information is available in Ukraine – CUAET Measures until March 31, 2024

• Effective April 1, 2024, CUAET holders who were approved prior to February 4, 2024 will be processed at the port of entry as regular TRV holders, with the exception of those who were approved for an open work permit at the time of their CUAET TRV approval. The latter will be eligible for a port of entry issued open work permit upon arrival in Canada, so long as their OWP letter of introduction is valid.

• CUAET holders who were approved on or after February 4, 2024 will be eligible for the issuance of fee-exempt study permits and open work permits at port of entry or from within Canada until December 31, 2024.

• Measures have also been extended for Ukrainians and their family members who arrived in Canada under the CUAET measures on or before March 31, 2024 to apply until March 31, 2025 for a new open work permit that’s valid for up to 3 years, extend an existing open work permit, or apply for a new study permit, subject to standard fees.

• After CUAET intake ended on July 15, 2023, Ukrainians and their family members could still apply for a regular temporary resident visa to come to Canada.
• CUAET visa holders had until March 31, 2024 to arrive in Canada and be eligible for in-Canada supports, such as temporary accommodations of up to 14 nights, and transitional financial assistance (Canada-Ukraine Transitional Assistance Initiative - CUTAI).
• These measures have now ended. Ukrainians and their family members who had their visa issued prior to February 4, 2024, and who arrived in Canada on or after April 1, 2024 do not receive inland facilitation, nor do they have access to federally-funded temporary accommodations or transitional financial assistance.
• Settlement services, such as language training and orientation services, are available to all Ukrainian nationals and their family members in Canada with temporary resident status until March 31, 2025.