Today, on October 23, 2023, Canada is set to open a new pathway to permanent residence for Ukrainians living in Canada. After wrapping up the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program this past July, Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is poised to launch a program that will provide Ukrainian Temporary Residents with a dedicated pathway to apply for permanent residence (PR).
We will not have full details until the program launches, but here is what we know so far:
The CUAET program came to an end in July 2023, and over 900,000 Ukrainian citizens were approved for temporary residence in Canada. However, only ~185,000 of these visa holders have arrived in Canada, accessing open work permits, and establishing themselves in the community.
CUAET Visa Holders – Arrival Deadline
CUAET visa holders who have yet to come to Canada will have 5 months – until March 31st, 2024 – to arrive and claim their temporary visitor status in Canada. Those already in Canada will have until March 31st, 2024, to extend their temporary status free of charge. Thereafter, Ukrainian citizens will once again be subject to regular Canadian Immigration laws and fees governing temporary resident visas.
Eligibility for the New PR Program
To be eligible for the new permanent residence pathway, Ukrainian citizens must fit one of two categories.
The first category is for Ukrainian family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents already in Canada. To be eligible in this category, you must be a Ukrainian national living in Canada with temporary status and with at least one family member who is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This includes spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, or grandchildren.
The second category is for spouses and common law partners of Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada. If your spouse or common law partner is Ukrainian, but they are unable to leave Ukraine for any reason, you may be eligible in this category. Your partner must, however, have at least one family member who already has Canadian citizenship or PR. Once again, to be eligible in this category you need to be living in Canada with temporary status at the time you apply.
The goal of this program is to reunify Ukrainian families in Canada and provide them with a pathway to settle and establish themselves permanently in Canada.
If you meet one of these two categories, family members will have one year, until October 22nd, 2024, to make their PR applications.
Benefits of the New PR Program
What benefits does this pathway create for our clients? In addition to the relaxed eligibility criteria, IRCC is expected to waive the financial undertaking, meaning that there will be no minimum income requirement for potential Ukrainian applicants.
Applications details have now been released. Those who are eligible are invited to file their completed application package using the PR Online Application Portal. Unlike the CUAET temporary visa program, applicants will be required to pay processing fees, including the right of permanent residence fee and the biometrics fee, if applicable.
Get in Touch
If you are a Ukrainian Citizen interested in migrating to Canada, get in touch with Kate at reception@migrationlawgroup.com. If you already have a CUAET visa our team of experienced immigration professionals can help evaluate your options and determine if this program is the right fit for you.
Stay tuned for updates as the program rolls out.
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