Welcome to fleeing Ukrainians extended
Special measure to expedite visas, temporary residence permits was due to expire this month
With no end in sight for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada is extending its welcome to Ukrainians displaced by the yearlong war.
On Wednesday, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the federal government will continue to offer temporary shelter to Ukrainian refugees under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program.
The special measure to expedite visas and temporary residence permits for Ukrainians was set to expire on March 31. Now, they will have until July 15 to apply overseas for the CUAET visa, free of charge, and use the visa to come to Canada before March 31, 2024.
After the July cutoff, Ukrainians wishing to come to Canada from abroad will have to apply for a regular visa, work or study permit and will be subject to the normal fees and requirements.
“Canada will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine, including those who’ve been forced to flee Russia’s senseless invasion,” Fraser said in a statement.
“We remain committed to helping those fleeing Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. We continue working to provide Ukrainians with a temporary safe haven and the vital settlement services and supports they need to thrive in communities across Canada.”
Ottawa’s announcement came after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in a show of support with their respective allies.
A peace proposal by Beijing has already been rejected by the west and there’s currently no active peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow to end the war that started on Feb. 24, 2022.
As of Sunday, more than 190,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada under the special immigration program.
Fraser said CUAET visa holders who are already in Canada will have until March 31, 2024 to extend or adjust their temporary status to remain in Canada, free of charge.
Those arriving in Canada can continue to access settlement services and be eligible for the one-time transitional financial support and two-week emergency accommodations if needed.