Ukrainians Can No Longer Enter Canada Under CUAET Program

March 31, 2024, marks three significant deadlines for the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program were reached.

The first two deadlines are directly related to the CUAET program itself. As of today, eligible visa holders can no longer enter Canada under the special measures of CUAET. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allowed foreign nationals with a visitor visa under CUAET until today to arrive in Canada and benefit from the program's various supports. According to IRCC data, although 960,000 Ukrainians had been approved under CUAET, only 248,726 had arrived in Canada by the end of February.

Starting tomorrow, April 1, 2024, those with a CUAET visa who arrive in Canada will need to comply with the country's standard entry requirements and will not be eligible for CUAET-related support. Additionally, today is the final day for those already in Canada under CUAET to apply for an extension or change to their temporary resident status through this program, as well as the last day to benefit from the waiver of application fees for these processes.

The third deadline concerns post-CUAET measures. For individuals already in Canada under CUAET, today is also the last opportunity to apply for an open work permit, a study permit, or to extend their stay for up to three years under these measures.

The CUAET program was created to offer Ukrainians and their family members extended temporary status in Canada until it was safe for them to return home. This special immigration measure provided Ukrainian nationals and their family members with a dedicated pathway to obtain temporary resident status in Canada for up to three years. The application deadline for the CUAET program had passed on July 15, 2023. Those pursuing temporary residence through CUAET were exempt from paying application fees and could apply for an open work permit at no cost.

In addition to the temporary residence options under CUAET, IRCC established two permanent residence pathways for Ukrainians with Canadian family ties. These new family sponsorship streams began on October 23, 2023. For both streams, the Canadian family member of the Ukrainian applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, currently living in Canada, and must not have obtained PR status through this special measure.

The first stream is for Ukrainian nationals who are family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Eligible relatives include spouses or common-law partners, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and siblings or half-siblings.

The second stream targets applicants who are the spouses or common-law partners of Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada. Eligibility criteria for this pathway include being the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national who has family in Canada, and being in Canada at the time of application and when granted permanent residence. Applicants must not have remarried or entered a new common-law relationship since leaving Ukraine.

These measures underscore Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukrainian nationals during this challenging time, providing both temporary and permanent pathways to safety and stability in Canada.