On Saturday, the Canadian government announced that it will introduce a new pathway this October to enable Ukrainians in Canada to apply for permanent residence.
Effective October 23, 2023, the new pathway will be available to Ukrainians in Canada with temporary resident status and who have at least one family member in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says that more details will be available leading up to the launch of the program in October.
IRCC notes among those who will be eligible include Ukrainian spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, siblings and children or grandchildren of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Ukrainians who hold a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa will have until March 31, 2024 to travel to Canada under the temporary special measures offered by the Canadian government. Canada stopped accepting new applications for the CUAET on July 15, however Ukrainians and their family members can still apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) to come to Canada.
Once in Canada on a TRV, Ukrainians and their families will be able to extend their stays for up to three years through study permits and open work permits, which IRCC will prioritize. In addition, they will have access to settlement services, including language training and employment supports.
Since its launch in March 2022, the CUAET has enabled over 166,000 Ukrainians to move to Canada.
