Canada Welcomes Unlimited Number Of Ukrainians Fleeing War

“To help Ukrainians, Canada has implemented a number of key immigration measures.”

For Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently or temporarily, Canada is establishing new immigration streams. 

With 1.4 million individuals, Canada has the world's third-largest Ukrainian community. As a result, it wants to do everything it can to help as many Ukrainians as possible. 

Ukrainians who seek to enter Canada on a temporary basis will be allowed to do so with the help of a Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization. The number of Ukrainians who desire to apply will be unlimited. They will be entitled to extend their stay in Canada for at least two years, pending a background check and security screening.

In two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) hopes to have these new pathways accessible for applicants. A specialised accelerated family sponsorship program for permanent residency will also be introduced by IRCC. 

All Ukrainians who enter Canada as a part of these measures will be eligible for open work permits. This implies that they will be able to work for any employer in Canada. This is in addition to the other open work permits that IRCC has already provided to Ukrainians in Canada. If they have a temporary resident visa, temporary resident permit, or formal notice that their application for permanent residency in Canada has been granted, Canada will allow unvaccinated Ukrainians to enter the country. 

IRCC is prioritising applications for those residing in Ukraine who wish to travel to Canada for jobs, education, reuniting with family, or immigration. They are also prioritising the processing of travel documents for Canadians and their family members who want to return to the country after visiting Ukraine. For immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have valid passports, the IRCC will provide single-journey travel documents.

Ukrainian nationals in Canada can apply to have their visiting, student, or worker status extended. Canada will give priority to renewing Ukrainian work and study permits, as well as expanding a provision that allows individuals to apply for work permits from within the country. Temporary residents who are offered a job are permitted to stay in Canada and resume work while their work permit application is completed. 

In addition, the IRCC is developing a specific service channel for Ukraine queries, which will be available to both Canadian and international clients. IRCC is accepting collect calls at +1-613-321-4243.  Affected clients can use the IRCC web form to add the term "Ukraine2022" to their inquiry, and their email will be prioritised.

On the government's website, you can find the most up-to-date information on Canada's measures on Ukraine. For ease of access, this Canadian government page will have information in Ukrainian.

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Open Work Permits

Visitors, workers, and students from Ukraine who are presently in Canada and are unable to return home will be issued open work permits by the IRCC. Fees for certain travel and immigration documents, such as Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proof of citizenship, tourist visas, and work and study permits, will be waived retroactively to February 22, 2022. More information will be released in the following weeks.

Increasing IRCC Operations

In anticipation of an increased volume of requests, IRCC has substantially increased operational readiness in the region by relocating staff, moving additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collection kits, and adjusting operations in offices across its global network to ensure service continuity for Ukraine. For the majority of applications, there are online options available.

Pause In Removal Orders

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has an administrative deferral of removals (ADR) in effect for Ukraine to assist Canada's approach to the situation there. An ADR is a temporary measure that can be used to postpone the execution of a removal order that would otherwise force a person to depart Canada right away. Once the situation in their region has stabilised, the deportation of these people will resume. Those who are barred from entering Canada because of criminality, abuses of international or human rights, organised crime, or security concerns can still be deported despite the ADR.