CIMM – Afghanistan v. Ukraine– November 18, 2022

Key Messages

The Government of Canada is committed to operating a fair and non-discriminatory immigration system. The Department manages thousands of applications from people around the world every day, and IRCC takes this responsibility very seriously.
As part of its commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion, IRCC is looking closely at eligibility criteria through the lens of how they impact racialized clients to ensure its programs, policies, and processes are fair, transparent, equitable, and culturally sensitive.
The situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine are very different and required different responses initially, and as the crises continue to unfold. Afghans are fleeing a permanent regime change within their country. Under the new regime, specific sub-populations in Afghanistan are at increased risk. As a result, Afghans require a permanent protection solution which is why the government is resettling Afghans as refugees.
Ukrainian nationals and their family members are fleeing a war of unknown duration and where there is generalized risk. The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel was designed as the quickest and most effective way to help Ukrainians who choose to seek a safe haven in Canada. It offers Ukrainians and their family members free, extended temporary status and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada until it is safe for them to return home.

IRCC has a legislative requirement to complete health screening as outlined in section 38.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This allows us to protect the health and safety of Canadians and to prevent excessive demand on Canada’s health and social service systems.
As part of our responses to the situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine, clients were required to complete health screening either prior to departure or upon arrival in Canada, depending on various factors including local conditions, the safety of our clients, and the risk to public health. Where possible, streamlined approaches were implemented to help accelerate their safe travels to Canada.
Any decision to tailor or streamline immigration medical exam processes is based on the public health advice of IRCC’s Medical Officers and takes into account various public health risk factors, including protecting public health in Canada.

On March 17, 2022, the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was introduced to support individuals fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under the CUAET, Ukrainians and their family members can stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to 3 years; leave and return to Canada any time while their visa is valid; obtain a free open work permit; and study in Canada.
As of November 6th, IRCC has received over 676,000 applications under CUAET and, of these, has approved over 378,979. Approximately 87,000 CUAET holders have arrived in Canada.

While Ukrainians are arriving on a temporary visa, permanent resettlement in Canada was considered the best option for Afghans under the circumstances, given their vulnerability and lack of other durable solutions in third countries.
As of October 19, 2022, nearly 23,000 vulnerable Afghans have arrived in Canada, including 8,305 clients under the SIM program, another 14,250 under the Humanitarian stream and an initial 360 under the pathway for extended family members of former interpreters.

2023-03-17