Canada is launching a new permanent residency program for Ukrainians fleeing war
The federal government has launched a new immigration program for Ukrainians fleeing their embattled country, allowing those in Canada with family to gain permanent resident status.
“We continue to provide unwavering support and a lifeline to families separated by this conflict, including through this family reunification journey that will help Ukrainian families stay together as they rebuild their lives in their new communities in Canada,” said minister of Immigration Sean Fraser in a statement. statement released Saturday.
Admission is extended to Ukrainians living in Canada with temporary status and with one or more relatives in Canada.
The government said more details will be released as the program launches on October 23, 2023. There is no charge for the program and it lasts for one year.
Saturday’s announcement comes on the day the government’s first emergency immigration program was due to expire.
Under the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization (CUAET), launched in March 2022, Ukrainians could come to Canada and live and work there for up to three years. They took advantage of a variety of measures designed to speed up the visa process, including prioritized processing and fee waiver.
About 166,000 Ukrainians have come to Canada through the special visa program. That’s about 21 percent of the 800,000 emergency visas granted, out of about 1.1 million applications, the government said.
Ukrainians approved under the CUAET can still travel to Canada until March 31 of next year. After that, they will be subject to the standard immigration measures available to others around the world.
“Once in Canada, temporary residents will be eligible to apply for an extended stay of up to three years through study permits and open work permits, all of which will be given priority. They will also have access to settlement services, such as language training and employment services. These measures will help them thrive in communities across the country,” the government statement said.
Canada has the largest diaspora of Ukrainians outside of Ukraine and Russia, with more than 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent living here, according to government statistics.
