Question Period Note: Ukraine – CUAET Measures and PR family based pathways

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine. In response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented and extended various temporary measures under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and created a family-based PR pathway.

• IRCC introduced measures to support Ukrainians and their family members by providing a temporary safe haven in Canada, recognizing that most will eventually return home when it is safe.

• Holders of Canada–Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, have until March 31, 2026, to renew their work permit, or apply for a new open work permit or study permit from within Canada.

• Intake for the family reunification pathway to permanent residence for certain Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada and their eligible family members closed on October 22, 2024. Processing of applications is ongoing.

• The Government of Canada continues to monitor the situation in the region.

• On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine. Since the invasion, a large number Ukrainians have sought safety outside Ukraine, including in Canada. There are also strong people to people ties with Canda including a long-standing Ukrainian-Canadian community.

Canada-US Relations and Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA):
• Ukrainians temporarily staying in the U.S. are facing uncertainty, as the U.S. administration has publicly considered revoking their status, and has already paused the processing of new applications.
• Despite increased uncertainty among Ukrainian migrants in the U.S., there has not been an increase in number of Ukrainians claiming asylum in Canada.
• Under the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the U.S., Ukrainians already in the U.S. wishing to seek asylum must do so in the U.S., unless they qualify for an exception or exemption to the STCA. (Established April 2022)

On Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)
• Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, IRCC implemented a series of measures to continue supporting individuals fleeing the war in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian nationals in Canada wishing to extend their stay. The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was launched on March 17, 2022 with overseas intake closing on July 15, 2023.
• CUAET offered Ukrainians and their family members an accelerated temporary residence pathway in Canada, allowing them to work, study or stay in Canada for up to three years. There was no limit to the number of individuals who could apply.
• While overseas application intake for the CUAET closed on July 15, 2023, IRCC continues to process all applications received up to that date.
• All CUAET visa holders had until March 31, 2024 to arrive in Canada to receive the associated benefits of temporary accommodations and transitional financial assistance. Settlement services were available to all Ukrainian temporary residents and their family members until March 31, 2025.
• Ukrainian workers, students and visitors and their family members who are in Canada as CUAET temporary residents were eligible to apply until March 31, 2024 to extend their stay, without paying the application fee. These measures have now largely ended.
• Measures had also been previously extended for Ukrainians and their family members who applied for a CUAET visa prior to July 15, 2023, but did not receive a final decision on their CUAET application until after February 4, 2024, and therefore had insufficient time to travel to Canada by March 31, 2024. To access these fee-exempt measures, individuals had until December 31, 2024 to arrive in Canada and apply at a port of entry or from within Canada. These measures have since ended.
• Some temporary in-Canada measures have been extended until March 31, 2026, to allow Ukrainians and their family members who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024 under the CUAET measures to apply for a new open work permit valid for up to 3 years, extend an existing open work permit or apply for a new study permit from within Canada, subject to standard fees.
• Approved CUAET visa holders who are still overseas may travel to Canada at any point during the validity of their visa. At a port of entry, they will be treated as regular visitors by Canada Border Services officers. Those who were approved for a work permit with their CUAET visa application remain eligible to receive their work permit at the port of entry, subject to the validity of their Letter of Introduction.
• Since March 2022 and as of March 31, 2025, over 967,000 CUAET visas were approved and over 304,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada under CUAET.

PR Pathway:
• On October 23, 2023, IRCC implemented a family reunification pathway to permanent residence for certain Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada and their eligible family members. Intake closed on October 22, 2024. Processing of applications is ongoing.
• Since October 2023 and as of March 31, 2025, over 25,000 applications (in persons) have been received under the family reunification pathway, and close to 1,100 applications have been approved.

In-Canada Supports

Canada-Ukraine Transitional Assistance Initiative (CUTAI)
• CUAET visa holders who arrived in Canada by March 31, 2024 were eligible to apply for transitional financial assistance until June 30, 2024.
• The online application for the transitional financial assistance was launched on June 2, 2022. The benefit consisted of a direct one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child (17 years and under).
• IRCC made amendments to the Resettlement Assistance Program authorities to be able to deliver the transitional financial assistance, in partnership with Service Canada for service delivery.
• Payments under CUTAI have been completed and as of September 1, 2024, 296,779 CUAET holders have been approved for payment, for a total payout of $794.8M.
Settlement Services
• All Ukrainian temporary residents and their family members in Canada could access free settlement services until March 31, 2025.
• Settlement services are provided in provinces and territories outside of Quebec by a national network of approximately 550 federally-funded settlement service provider organizations.
• As of April 1, 2025, 163,100 unique Ukrainian and CUAET clients (122,855 CUAET and 40,255 non-CUAET) accessed settlement services provided by service provider organizations funded by IRCC. The Settlement Program is generally intended for permanent residents, although in exceptional circumstances, certain temporary resident populations (such as Ukrainians and their family members in Canada) have been granted eligibility on a time-limited basis, to help them learn about life in Canada and support themselves during their stay.
• Regular settlement services offered by Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) are available to all CUAET holders with a work permit.
• Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven (OUSH), which was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, was a national coordination initiative linking key stakeholders involved with supporting Ukrainians coming to Canada. OUSH served as a platform for information exchange and helped ensure coordination and complementarity in actions.

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