Canadian Visa For Ukrainian Citizens

Thousands of Ukrainian citizens availing social security benefits in Canada have got a new hope with the Canadian expedition to extend visa provisions for the Ukrainians . As an effort to empower Ukrainian tourists, the government of Canada has offered some important cost reduction on travel and immigration related services.

Ukrainian passport can be more than a visa for Canada, it can give you a possibility to travel for the whole world. But if you want to get visa from Canadian consulate you should be aware of the fact that it isn’t a proof of your arrival. Visas can be given in different periods, but mostly for 90 days in every half year. If you aren’t able to stay in Canada longer than 6 months, there is another way: work permit!

Canada is becoming one of the most preferred countries in regards to migrating. It has a great economic and political system, low taxes, hardly any corruption, beautiful landscapes and very welcoming people. It doesn’t matter whether you are interested in the health care system or not, this country has so much to offer.

Canadian Visa For Ukrainian Citizens

Canada is a country in North America, the northern most country in the world. Lying off the east coast of the United States, it is home to some of the continent’s oldest cities and territories. The fourth largest country in the world, Canada has gained worldwide reputation as an industrialized nation with a high level of life standard, making it an attractive destination for immigrants all over the world.

New immigration pathways for Ukrainians

Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel

Ukrainians wishing to come to Canada on a temporary basis will be able to obtain a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET). This is a new special pathway designed to facilitate the immigration process by eliminating many of the usual visa requirements.

After a background and security check, i.e. biometrics, Ukrainians and their immediate family members, regardless of nationality, will be allowed to stay in Canada for up to three years. There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can apply under this program. Applications are to be submitted online for a visitor’s visa. 

Biometric data can be submitted at any Visa Application Centre (VAC) outside Ukraine, in countries such as Moldova, Romania, Austria and Poland, among others.

Furthermore, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has identified the following groups of people who are considered low risk and therefore may be exempt from biometric screening:

• persons aged 14-17 years;
• persons over 60 years of age;
• persons who have already obtained a Canadian visa, who do not have a derogatory immigration history and who are in possession of supporting documents.

3-Year Open Work Permit

The Canadian government advises applicants to apply for a three-year open work permit at the same time as they apply for their visa. Under this special program, most of the usual requirements associated with a visitor visa or work permit will be waived.  

• Primary and secondary school students are allowed to enroll and start school immediately upon arrival in Canada, and anyone wishing to study at the post-secondary level can apply for a study permit upon arrival in Canada. 
• Applicants without a valid passport may also apply, and IRCC will issue a single journey travel document on a case-by-case basis, should it be required. 
• Ukrainian workers, students, visitors and their family members already in Canada may also benefit from these measures. They can either:
  • apply for an extension of their visitor status or work permit for 3 years; or
  • apply for a new work or study permit or extend their existing permit.

In order to ease the burden on applicants, IRCC will waive fees for the extension of work or study permits as well as all application fees for these programs.

Expedited Family Sponsorship for Ukrainians

In addition, the federal government will launch a family reunification sponsorship program to facilitate permanent entry of Ukrainians to Canada. Family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be able to be sponsored by them and obtain permanent residence in Canada. Details of this new program are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Ukrainians who come to Canada under these new pathways will also be able to apply for an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer of their choice in Canada.

The Government of Canada is calling on employers who wish to support Ukrainians with job offers to register their offers on Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage. The Job Bank will then work with regional organizations and employers to help them connect with Ukrainians seeking employment in their area.

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Additional measures to support Ukrainians

Canada has taken additional and timely measures to support Ukrainians and residents of Ukraine, and to facilitate and expedite the return to Canada of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members. They are as follows: 

• A dedicated hotline for immigration enquiries for Ukraine has been set up. The line is available to individuals in Canada and abroad at 613-321-4243 (collect calls are accepted). In addition, anyone seeking information using the IRCC web form can now add the keyword “Ukraine2022” in order to have their inquiry prioritized;
• Canada provides urgent processing of travel documents, including single-journey travel documents to immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have a valid passport;
• The Canadian government is ensuring that Ukrainians are able to extend their stay or work longer in Canada by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits and extending a policy that allows people to apply for a work permit from within Canada. Temporary residents who receive a job offer are allowed to remain in Canada and start working while they wait for their work permit application to be processed.
• Canada is issuing open work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers, and students who are currently in Canada and cannot go home; 
• Fees for travel and immigration documents, such as Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proof of citizenship, visitor visas and work and study permits, are currently waived.
• Canada is exempting unvaccinated Ukrainians from Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements. They are however required to meet all other public health requirements for travel, such as quarantine and testing and use of ArriveCAN app. 
• Ukrainian nationals wishing to immigrate to Canada permanently can apply for permanent residence under a variety of different immigration programs and streams.

• Settlement program services are available to temporary residents in Canada who are eligible for the CUAET. Available services include: 
  • Language training;
  • Information and orientation to life in Canada, such as assistance with registering children in school;
  • Information and services on labour market access, including mentoring, networking, counselling, skills development and training;
  • Activities that promote links with communities;
  • Assessment of other needs of Ukrainians and referral to appropriate agencies;
  • Services to meet the needs of women, older people, youth and LGBTQ2+ people;
  • Arrival services at Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver international airports, including translation and information on government and community services.
  • More information about newcomer services can be found on the Government of Canada page. 
• Starting April 20, Canadians and Canadian companies can donate Aeroplan points to the Ukraine2Canada Travel Fund through the Air Canada or Miles4Migrants websites. Cash donations can also be made to the fund through the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto’s Travel & Settlement Fund. Ukrainian nationals and their accompanying family members who hold a valid Canadian travel document and have been approved for travel to Canada will be eligible for the program. Details on how eligible Ukrainians and their families can access the program will be announced in the coming weeks.  Canada aims to enable at least 10,000 Ukrainians and their families to fly to Canada. 
• On 11 May, Canada announced that three charter flights will be available to bring Ukrainians to Canada. These flights will be available to Ukrainians who have been approved under the CUAET. All three flights will depart from Poland, with seats available on a first come, first served basis. The first flight will leave for Winnipeg on May 23, the second will fly to Montreal on May 29, and the third will take off for Halifax on June 2. Further details and information on how to register will be emailed by IRCC to those who have been approved under the CUAET. 
• Ukrainians arriving in Canada can apply to receive transitional financial assistance, a one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child (17 years and under). Ukrainians and their family members who are in Canada with a valid work permit, study permit, temporary resident permit or visitor record under the CUAET will all be eligible to receive this one-time payment. Applications for the assistance must be submitted through the Government of Canada’s online portal, which opened on June 2, 2022.