Ukrainians in Canada will be able to apply for permanent residence beginning in October

The Canadian government has announced a new immigration pathway for Ukrainians in Canada to apply for permanent residence. Starting on October 23, 2023, this pathway will be available to Ukrainian individuals who have temporary resident status in Canada and have at least one family member residing in the country. The program aims to provide more details leading up to its launch in October, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Eligible individuals include Ukrainian spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, and children or grandchildren of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Ukrainians holding a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa will have until March 31, 2024, to travel to Canada under the temporary special measures provided by the Canadian government. Although new applications for CUAET ended on July 15, Ukrainians and their family members can still apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) to come to Canada.

Once in Canada with a TRV, Ukrainians and their families will have the opportunity to extend their stays for up to three years through study permits and open work permits, which will be given priority by IRCC. They will also have access to settlement services, including language training and employment support.

Since its launch in March 2022, over 166,000 Ukrainians have moved to Canada through the CUAET program.