The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the launch of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) as a response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The CUAET is a special, expedited temporary residency option for Ukrainians seeking a safe shelter in Canada while their own country is still at war.
Canada is dedicated to assisting people who have been impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They have introduced several measures to help Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Ukraine return home, as well as to assist Ukrainians in entering and staying in Canada.
Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality are eligible to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years under the CUAET. Applicants from outside Canada have to apply online for a Canadian visitor visa and give their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Applicants without a valid passport may still apply. IRCC will issue a single journey travel document if it is required in their case.
Applicants should apply for a 3-year open work permit at the same time that they apply for a visa. With this permit they will be able to work in Canada during their stay. Many of the standard procedures associated with a normal visitor visa or work permit have been waived under this special scheme.
Students in elementary and high school can enrol and begin attending school as soon as they arrive in Canada. Along with that, anyone wishing to pursue post-secondary education can apply for a study permit once they are in Canada.
These measures also benefit Ukrainian employees, students, visitors, and their family members who are already in Canada. They can apply for a three-year extension of their visitor status or work permit. They can also apply for a new work or study permit, or an extension of their current permit. IRCC is waiving all application fees for these programs to make it easier for candidates.
The Canadian government asks employers who want to support Ukrainians with job offers to register those offers on Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage. The Job Bank will then collaborate with local groups and employers to assist them connect with Ukrainians looking for work in their areas. They are also having discussion with provinces and territories, the business community, the Ukrainian-Canadian community, and settlement organisations about how to effectively serve persons coming from Ukraine. IRCC will continue to closely monitor the number of travellers and their needs, and will take appropriate action as needed.
The officials are working continuously to help Ukrainians and their families arrive in Canada quickly and safely. The government has already prioritised and expedited their applications. Through CUAET, the processing of electronic visa applications in standard situations will be done within 14 days of receipt of a complete application. They have also waived certain fees, including application as well as processing fee, between February 22, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
In preparation of a higher amount of requests, they have extended their operational capacity in the region. Relocating personnel as well as additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collecting kits, are all part of this process. In order to assure service continuity for Ukraine, they are also altering operations in offices throughout the world.
IRCC has established a dedicated service channel for Ukraine immigration inquiries at 613-321-4243, which accepts collect calls from both Canadian and international clients. Clients can include the keyword “Ukraine2022” in their inquiry on the IRCC crisis web form and it will be prioritized.
Ukrainians and their family members are exempt from the Covid-19 vaccination requirements to enter Canada. They must, however, comply with all other travel-related public health obligations, such as quarantine and testing. All visitors to Canada (with a few exceptions) must use ArriveCAN, including those arriving under the CUAET.
The CUAET is a temporary residence pathway and not a refugee stream. Those desiring to immigrate to Canada permanently can apply for permanent residence under a variety of immigration programs and streams, including the CUAET. A special permanent residence stream for family reunion is also being developed by IRCC.
The CUAET and Job Bank will play a critical role in assisting the Canadian government in responding to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Above all, these initiatives have been developed to help the government do their part to welcome more Ukrainians to Canada.
