441-01106 (Citizenship and immigration)

The Government of Canada strongly condemns Russia’s egregious attack on Ukraine, and remains committed to helping Ukrainians and their families. 

The Government has previously announced both temporary and permanent resident immigration pathways to help people affected by the conflict.

The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was launched on March 17, 2022, for Ukrainians and their immediate family members fleeing the war.  This initiative offers Ukrainians and their immediate family members options to visit, work, or study in Canada and to extend their temporary resident status for a period of up to three years. The CUAET is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians and their immediate family members to come to Canada to seek temporary safe haven.

As of February 16, 2023, IRCC had received 862,386 applications under the CUAET and approved  559,868 applications. The latest key figures are available on the IRCC website.

Under the CUAET, Ukrainians and their family members:

• have their applications prioritized for processing and benefit from streamlined requirements;
• have most application fees waived, including the visa application fee, biometric collection fee, work and study permit application fees, as well as renewal fees for applications for visitor extensions, and work and study permits within Canada;

• are provided with up to 14 nights of temporary accommodation upon arrival, for those arriving without planned accommodation;
• can apply to receive transitional financial assistance for themselves and their family members to help meet basic needs – such as transportation and longer-term housing – as they arrive in communities across Canada. The benefit consists of a direct one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child (17 years and under).  As of December 6, over 88,000 individuals have been approved for financial assistance;

• have access to settlement services such as language training, orientation, employment-related services and other supports to help newcomers settle into their new communities that are normally only available for permanent residents;
• may apply for permanent residence under a variety of different immigration programs and streams if they are inclined and eligible to do so; and

• have access to IRCC’s dedicated service channel.

IRCC has a number of existing pathways that support transitions from temporary to permanent residence, including Express Entry, Canada’s application management system for the Federal Skilled Programs and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.  CUAET participants who have accumulated one-year of work experience in Canada in a skilled occupation and that have moderate levels of proficiency in English and French would meet the minimum entry criteria for entry into the Express Entry pool.  CUAET participants in the pool would obtain additional points for any skilled Canadian work experience they acquired while in Canada, increasing their chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence through the many rounds of invitations IRCC conducts throughout the year.

As Ukrainian individuals and families settle in communities throughout Canada and obtain employment, there are also regional programs that they could access in order to transition to permanent residence. These programs, developed to support provincial and regional labour market needs, include the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. Depending on their Canadian work experience, Ukrainian individuals may also qualify for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker pilot programs.

The ability to extend their status for a period of up to three years under the CUAET provides candidates with more time to qualify for these permanent residence pathways; whether it be through improving language levels, finding employment, or having their credential upgraded or recognized in the Canadian context.

In developing and implementing its immigration measures, IRCC has worked closely with other government departments, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and other members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community to ensure that they meet the needs of Ukrainians and their families, and their communities. IRCC will continue to engage with provinces and territories and other partners about how to contribute and support Ukrainians and their families moving forward.

Up-to-date data concerning Ukrainian immigration measures and the CUAET can be viewed online at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/key-figures.html.