441-00352 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada is committed to helping Ukrainians and has announced a number of new measures to help people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily, the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel is open as of March 17, 2022, to an unlimited number of Ukrainians and their immediate family members fleeing the war. This is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians and their immediate family members to come to Canada and eliminates many of the normal visa requirements. As of March 30, 2022, IRCC has already received more than 90,000 applications under this program. On March 30, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that Ukrainians entering Canada as temporary residents will have access to settlement services, which are typically only available to permanent residents. Settlement services include language training, orientation, employment-related services and other supports for Ukrainians as they settle into their new communities.  Further, in recognition that many Canadians and permanent residents have family in Ukraine, IRCC is quickly implementing a special family reunification sponsorship pathway.

While the measures above fall outside of Canada’s Refugee Resettlement Program, the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel allows for large numbers of Ukrainians in need to arrive in Canada more quickly than traditional refugee pathways.   

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or other designated referral agency refers refugees to the Government of Canada under the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program. Individuals cannot apply directly to become a Government Assisted Refugee.

The Government will continue to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine, and engage with provinces, territories, and other partners on how we can continue to collectively support these efforts.