Under the newly created Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) programme, Ottawa makes it easier for Ukrainian refugees to travel to Canada.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said: “Businesses and employers can now post jobs for Ukrainians on Canada’s online job bank. We are working with partners on how best to support Ukrainians, including provinces and territories, the business community, the Ukrainian-Canadian community, and settlement organizations.”
The new method, which accepts applications, allows anyone escaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Russia-Ukraine war and stay in Canada. This method enables the applicants to stay in Canada
for up to three years and be eligible for free open work and study visas.
New routes allow Ukrainians to enter Canada until it is safe to return home
Ukrainian nationals—who have a valid Ukrainian passport or another national identity document and are currently outside of Canada—can apply for a visitor visa. This way, the Ukrainians can come to Canada temporarily until it is safe for them to return to Ukraine under the CUAET.
Those who do not have a passport or national identity documents may still apply, but an immigration officer must assess whether they fit temporary resident permit requirements.
The visas for visitors:
- Are fee-free
- Are valid for ten years or until the applicant’s passport expires
- Allow the Ukrainian nationals to travel in and out of Canada as long as their visas are valid
- Will be handled promptly
- Allow the applicant to apply for a fee-free work permit at the same time
When Ukrainian nationals enter Canada via the CUAET, they are awarded the status of a:
- Visitors
- Workers, only if they apply for an open work permit
- Students, if they are under the age of 18 and want to study in Canada
When the applicant’s status in Canada is due to expire, she/he merely needs to apply to extend the stay.
Even unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Ukrainians—or those whose immunizations are recognized by the World Health Organization but not by Canada—can use the CUAET method.
Ukrainian spouses and children must demonstrate a family relationship
“To benefit from this exemption, you must show that you are a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national when you arrive in Canada,” according to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
The IRCC “All other public health regulations must be met, including quarantine and testing.” With a few exceptions, all visitors entering Canada—even those using the CUAET—must also use ArriveCAN.
Ukrainians who come to Canada under the CUAET do not have to pay the biometrics cost, but they must submit their biometrics.
Under this particular pathway, Canada is also waiving other fees, such as those for:
- Temporary resident visas
- Openwork permits
- Study permits
- Biometrics
- Temporary resident permits
CUAET applications are submitted electronically via the IRCC portal.
The IRCC website further states: “If you create an account for the first time on the IRCC Portal, you will require an invitation code. We’ll ask for your email and provide you with a code to sign up.”
The Ukrainian national will use the invitation code to create an online portal account and then will log in to complete the online application form.
Ukrainians can apply for work permits using the online IRCC portal
The IRCC website states: “When you apply for the CUAET, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit at the same time. With this work visa, you can work for most employers in Canada.”
The new path is also open to Ukrainian nationals’ family members, including:
- Spouses or common-law partners
- Dependent children and dependent children of their spouse or common-law partner
- Grandchildren
The relatives of Ukrainian nationals are eligible to apply for the CUAET if they:
- Belong to a visa-required country
- Prove that they are a family member of a Ukrainian national
- Hold a valid passport
The following documents can be used to prove a family relationship with the help of:
- A marriage certificate or proof of common-law status
- A birth certificate
- Other papers demonstrating an immediate family connection, such as communication from the IRCC indicating an ongoing spousal sponsorship application or records showing a shared home location
Border services officers may seek certain documents, so travellers using this route are recommended to take them with them when they come to Canada.
Those flying under the CUAET from a nation that requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to board an aircraft to Canada must apply for and pay for an eTA before their trip.
The countries requiring eTA are as follows:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- British citizens
- British nationals (overseas)
- British overseas citizens (re-admissible to the UK)
- British overseas territory citizens with citizenship through birth, descent, naturalization, or registration in one of the following British Overseas Territories:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- The British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Island
- Saint Helena
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Vatican
Those with eTAs can still take advantage of the CUAET on arrival
Ukrainian nationals and their family members with a valid visiting visa or eTA can travel to Canada on their existing visitor visas or eTAs. This way, the Ukrainians can take advantage of the CUAET once they arrive.
Ukrainian nationals already in Canada can use the CUAET to extend their stay as visitors or workers:
- For three more years
- Until their passports expire
- To study in Canada until they complete their studies
Ukrainian nationals in Canada whose passports are about to expire are advised to renew them at a Ukrainian embassy in Canada.
The North American nation has also pledged to admit an unlimited number of Ukrainians, potentially resulting in a tremendous surge of newcomers.
Among the new immigration policies announced since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict are:
- A unique service channel for Ukraine inquiries at 613-321-4243, with collect calls permitted, will be available for clients in Canada and overseas. In addition, the clients can now include the phrase “Ukraine2022” in their inquiry to the IRCC web form, and their email will be set as a priority.
- Process travel documents urgently, including the issuance of single-journey travel documents for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have valid passports.
- A new webpage with updated information on measurements has been launched.
- For your convenience, this page will have content in the Ukrainian language.
- Allow Ukrainians already in Canada to stay longer or extend their stay by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits and developing a policy that will enable individuals to apply for a work permit from within Canada. This policy would allow temporary residents who accept a job offer to stay in Canada and begin working while their work permit application is being processed.
- Allow open work permits to Ukrainian visitors and workers.
- Allow students who are currently in Canada and unable to return home to stay longer if they so desire.
- The fees for various travel and immigration documents—such as Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proofs of citizenship, visitor visas, and work permits and study permits—are being waived retroactively to February 22.
A special family reunification plan for Ukrainians is being developed
The IRCC also intends to establish a specific family reunification sponsorship pathway. This pathway will be meant for:
- Permanent residents who wish to begin a new life in Canada
- Immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens
Ottawa is working with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to finalize the terms of the program, which is expected to be unveiled in a few weeks.
“To the people of Ukraine, you have inspired the world with your strength and fortitude, and Canada is here to support you,” the International Rescue Committee (IRCC) said on its website. It further stated, “We are working hard to put these procedures in place and are ready to welcome more Ukrainians to Canada.”
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