OLLO – Ukraine – May 16, 2022

Key Messages

• As part of the Government of Canada’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced immigration measures to support Ukrainians, wherever they may be.
• In mid-January, IRCC implemented measures to priority-process applications for travel documents for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members, and grant applications for adoption, and permanent and temporary residence applications for people with a primary residence in Ukraine who want to reunite or travel with family, study, work or start a new life in Canada.
• On February 24, Canada announced additional and immediate measures to help people affected by the ongoing situation in Ukraine, including making it easier and faster for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their accompanying immediate family members to return to Canada. These new measures include:
  • Establishing a dedicated service channel for Ukraine enquiries on immigration;
  • Urgent processing of travel documents, including issuing single-journey travel documents for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have valid passports;
  • Ensuring that Ukrainians currently in Canada are able to extend their stay or work longer in Canada by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits;
  • Issuing open work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers, and students who are currently in Canada and cannot go home; and
  • Waiving fees for travel and immigration documents, such as for Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proofs of citizenship, visitor visas and work and study permits.
• On March 3, new immigration streams were announced for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily or permanently, such as:
  • a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), available for an Ukrainian nationals.
  • For immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, IRCC is also implementing a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for permanent residence.
• On March 17, the CUAET was launched, providing Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality the opportunity to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years, and are eligible for a free open work permit or study permit, allowing them to take a job with almost any Canadian employer or enroll in an education program in Canada.
• Ukrainian workers, students or visitors and their immediate family members who are already in Canada can also benefit from these measures by either applying to extend their visitor status or work permit by up to three years, or by applying for a new work or study permit. IRCC will waive all extension and permit applications fees.
• Over the last several weeks, IRCC has been working closely with other government departments, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and others across the Ukrainian-Canadian community to ensure that all measures meet the needs of Ukrainians and their communities. IRCC will continue to engage with provinces and territories, and other partners as to how they can contribute and support the effort.
• IRCC confirmed on March 27 that Canada is offering temporary federal support to help Ukrainians settle in their new communities. Settlement Program services, which are typically only available to permanent residents, will soon be extended until March 31, 2023 for temporary residents in Canada eligible under the CUAET.

Supplementary Messages

• The chancery of Canada’s Embassy in Kyiv, including the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office has been temporarily closed as of February 9, 2022. Visa application centres in Kyiv and Lviv have been closed since February 24.
• IRCC continues to deliver immigration services through its global integrated network. IRCC has increased operational readiness in Europe, including relocating staff and moving additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collection kits, in anticipation of an increased volume of requests.
• Online options are available for most applications.
• Between March 17 and March 30, 2022, IRCC received approximately 91,177 CUAET applications. Approximately 14,500 applications have been approved.
• I have issued a class-based national interest exemption to allow unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Ukrainian nationals and their family members who hold a temporary resident visa or permit to enter Canada. This also applies to people who are vaccinated with vaccines not currently recognized by Canada. These individuals will be subject to all other public health requirements to protect the health of Canadians.
• Conversations are ongoing between the Government of Canada, provinces and territories and key organizations across the country on how we can best support Ukrainian arrivals.
• Ukrainians coming to Canada as permanent residents, including through the special Family Reunification Pathway, will be eligible for IRCC-funded settlement services, such as employment-related services and language training, so they can succeed in and contribute to Canada over the long term.
• Ukrainians arriving through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measure are expected to remain in Canada on a temporary basis. The Department is working quickly to ensure that Ukrainian temporary residents arriving under the CUAET are able to access federally-funded settlement services such as language training, orientation, employment-related services and other supports as they settle into their new communities.

If asked about why the measures for Ukraine aren’t being extended to other populations in need of protection/safe haven:

• Each humanitarian crisis that Canada responds to is different from those that came before it, and with each, we learn more about how to respond effectively to each unique circumstance. There are no simple answers to unique and complex situations.
• Each time there is an international crisis, we evaluate how Canada can best help. We look at whether temporary or permanent solutions are required. We look at the neighbouring countries the individuals affected are fleeing to, whether they have temporary safe harbor in those countries, and whether those countries have long-term durable solutions for resettling. We coordinate with our international partners, considering what they are doing to support. We also listen to Canadians, the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada, and our clients.
• Ukrainian nationals who arrive through the CUAET will not be entering as refugees. The CUAET is an exceptional measure taken to address the unique situation of Ukraine. Its design took many factors into consideration, including Canada’s unique relationship with Ukraine, the extensive Ukrainian diaspora in Canada, and family links and supports already in Canada.
• Because Ukraine shares borders with the European Union, and IRCC has many visa offices and visa application centres in neighbouring countries, the Department is able to leverage its existing temporary resident visa processes, networks and infrastructure to bring as many Ukrainians as we can to Canada as quickly and safely as possible.

If pressed on Ukraine’s request for visa liberalization:

• Canada and Ukraine enjoy a close friendship built on shared values and strong people-to-people connections. 
• Similar to Canada’s like-minded partners, Canada considers a range of factors before lifting a country’s visa requirement.
• Our relationship Ukraine is indeed a key factor, but so is the safety and security of Canadians, and the importance of maintaining a well-managed migration system.
• We already have a number of effective immigration solutions that we believe will help Ukrainians.
• Canada’s visa approach is in line with that of the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
• Ukraine’s visa requirement is not currently under review. We are actively monitoring the situation to support the people of Ukraine.

Background

• Internal and external displacement of Ukrainians has reached significant volumes over the past month.
• While the majority of international displacement has been in Europe, particularly in the EU states closest to Ukraine, Canada is prepared to continue supporting all Ukrainians including in-Canada Ukrainian nationals wishing to remain in Canada.

Visa exemption request and related issues

• [Redacted].
• Canada and Ukraine have a dedicated channel through which to discuss the visa requirement, and other migration matters of mutual interest, via the Canada-Ukraine Mobility Working Group (CUMWG).