Since the war in Ukraine broke out, Canada has been looking at ways to extend humanitarian help to the country and its citizens.
Special temporary residence pathway launched for Ukrainians
Canada is now accepting applications from Ukrainians for a fast-track visa processing pathway
Since the war in Ukraine broke out, Canada has been looking at ways to extend humanitarian help to the country and its citizens.
In that vein, on March 17, 2022, the Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Sean Fraser announced that Canada would be launching an accelerated temporary residence pathway for Ukrainians trying to escape the war torn country.
The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will allow Ukrainians and their immediate family members to come into Canada and stay in the country for a period of three years.
What does the applicant need to do? Individuals can apply for a visitor visa online and provide their biometrics.
The Canadian government is encouraging CUAET applicants to also apply for a three-year open work permit when submitting their visa application. If they have a work permit, they will be able to work in Canada.
Working will allow applicants some financial security, a means of making a living and provide them with valuable Canadian work experience which can be used to apply for permanent residency through other immigration programs.
In order to accelerate and simplify the process, the government has waived most of the usual requirements that go hand in hand with visitor visas and work permits. Students who are in elementary or high school can start going to school as soon as they land in the country, while university students can apply for a student permit.
A valid passport is not required to apply for the CUAET and IRCC will evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis and issue a single journey travel document when necessary.
Benefits will also be provided to Ukrainian students, workers, and visitors who are already living in Canada. Individuals without a permanent status can apply to extend their visitor status or work permit for three years. They can extend their existing study or work permits or apply for new ones. All application fees will be waived by IRCC.
Employers in Canada who want to support Ukrainians through job offers, can register them on Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine section. Once they do so, Job Bank will work with employers and local organizations and connect Ukrainians looking for employment.
Opening the doors to Ukrainians in need also means having the resources in place to provide support once they arrive in the country. As such, the government is having discussions with provincial governments, and community and settlement organizations on how to support the newcomers. As the first waves of Ukrainians begin landing, IRCC will monitor their needs and take whatever action is needed. Priorities and mandates may change and shift.
While Ukrainians coming into Canada are exempt from Canada’s vaccination requirements to enter the country, they will still need to quarantine and be tested.
In the coming weeks, Canada will also be releasing details of a special family reunification sponsorship pathway which will allow Ukrainian nationals with immediate and extended family members who are settled in Canada to reunite with them permanently.
As soon as the crisis started, Canada jumped into action and undertook a number of immigration measures to help Ukrainians find refuge in the country. As part of this response, $117 million in funding has been announced in order to implement the new immigration measures.
Depending on how the coming days and weeks unfold, Trudeau said Canada may implement additional measures to help Ukrainians.