Permanent Residence for Ukrainian Nationals With Family Members in Canada

CUAET is no longer accepting applications. On October 23rd 2023, a new pathway was launched to support Ukrainians in Canada. It will give opportunities to those who qualify to stay in Canada.

What was the CUAET?

The CUAET was the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. This measure was valid until July 15th, 2023 to allow Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine to come to Canada. Current CUAET holders had until March 31, 2024, to travel to Canada from overseas.

The measure aimed to help Ukrainians and their families come to Canada as quickly as possible. It provided them with the ability to work and study while in Canada. It also allowed them to stay for up to 3 years.

The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)  received 1,189,320 applications and 922,590 were approved. Approved applications were granted for up to three years, which was a great relief for those who wanted to leave behind the violence since the start of the war in Ukraine.

A New Pathway for Ukrainians

As of October 23rd 2023, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, launched a new pathway to offer Permanent residence for Ukrainian nationals with family members in Canada. This will help them reunite with their families and stay permanently in Canada.

This new pathway will start on October 23, 2023, and it will provide Permanent Residence (PR) to Ukrainian citizens who already have temporary resident status in Canada and have one or more family members with Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status. However, those who do not comply with the conditions of the new program, can still apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) to come to Canada. 

Once in Canada, temporary residents will be eligible to apply for an extended stay of up to 3 years through study or open work permits. Ukrainians also have access to relocation services such as language training and employment services. These services are aimed at helping Ukrainians to settle and integrate into Canadian society smoothly and help them thrive here in Canada. 

Who is Eligible?

Category 1

In this category, Ukrainian family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada are considered eligible. This includes spouses or common-law partners, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, and half-siblings.

Requirements for this category

Requirements for the applicant:

• Be a Ukrainian national
• Be a family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident including their:
  • spouse or common-law partner
  • child (regardless of age)
  • grandchild
  • parent
  • grandparent, or
  • sibling (or half-sibling)
• Be in Canada when:
  • you submit your application
  • you’re granted permanent residence
• Have valid temporary resident status in Canada, or have applied to restore your status if it has been expired for less than 90 days
• Hold a passport or travel document, or provide supporting identity documents if you don’t hold one
• Provide a signed statutory declaration form (IMM 0191) from your family member in Canada explaining your relationship to them, and
• Be admissible to Canada

Requirements for the citizen:

• Be currently living in Canada
• Be at least 18 years of age or older
• Not have been granted permanent residence themselves under this policy

Category 2

In this category, Spouses or common-law partners of a Ukrainian national who has family in Canada, are considered eligible.

Requirements for the applicant:

• Be in Canada when:
  • you submit your application
  • you’re granted permanent residence
• Not have remarried or be in a common-law relationship with another person since leaving Ukraine
• have valid temporary resident status in Canada, or have applied to restore your status if it has been expired for less than 90 days
• hold a passport or travel document, or provide supporting identity documents if you don’t hold one
• provide a signed statutory declaration form (IMM 0191) from your spouse or partner’s family member in Canada explaining your relationship to them, and
• be admissible to Canada

Your spouse or partner must:

• Be unable to leave Ukraine, be missing, have passed away, or have presumed to have passed way
• Be the family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident including their:
  • child (regardless of age)
  • grandchild
  • parent
  • grandparent, or
  • sibling (or half-sibling)

The Canadian citizen or permanent resident (your husband/common-law’s family member) must:

• Be currently living in Canada
• Be at least 18 years of age or older
• Not have been granted permanent residence themselves under this policy

Who is not Eligible to Apply?

If you don’t meet the criteria of 1 of the 2 categories above including if:

• you’re outside of Canada
• you’re inadmissible, other than for financial reasons
• your relationship type is not listed above

Learn more about your options to immigrate to Canada as an Ukrainian National, start by completing our free online assessment form.