CUAET Applicants Get More Time to Apply for Work Permits

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended the deadline for applying for a work permit under the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Those participating in the CUAET program can now apply for an open work permit until March 31, 2025. However, unlike before, these work permit applications will now require a fee.

The open work permit is available for up to three years, depending on the applicant's passport validity and biometrics. To qualify, applicants must have been approved under the CUAET program and arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024.

The CUAET program ceased accepting new applications on July 15, 2023. Those who were approved had until March 31 of this year to arrive in Canada to benefit fully from the program's support, including fee exemptions for work and study permits.

Participants in the CUAET who are already in Canada can continue to access a variety of free settlement services until March 31, 2025. These services are designed to help newcomers find jobs, learn an official language, prepare for citizenship, and support specific groups such as women, 2SLGBTQI individuals, and seniors.

Additionally, Ukrainians with family members in Canada might be eligible for a special pathway to Canadian permanent residence. The IRCC is accepting applications for this pathway until October 22, 2024.

There are two main categories for eligibility. For the first category, applicants must be Ukrainian nationals and provide a statutory declaration from their Canadian family member explaining their relationship. The second category is for spouses or common-law partners of Ukrainian nationals. They must prove that their partner has immediate family in Canada and that their partner is either missing, deceased, or presumed deceased.

The CUAET program was introduced in February 2022 as a temporary measure to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. It allowed Ukrainians and their immediate families to stay in Canada for up to three years. Upon arrival, they could apply for work or study permits without paying fees, a benefit that extended to those already in Canada needing permit extensions.

According to IRCC data, between March 17, 2022, and April 1, 2024, the department received over 1.1 million applications for the program and approved nearly 963,000. However, fewer than 300,000 Ukrainians actually arrived in Canada during this time.