Immigration measures for Ukrainians and family members: Extend your open work permit in Canada
New As of April 1, 2026, special measures for Ukrainians and their eligible family members have changed.
If you’re a Ukrainian national or an eligible family member of a Ukrainian and you arrived in Canada on or before December 31, 2024, you may be eligible to extend your open work permit for up to 3 years.
Deadline to apply: March 31, 2027
How to extend your open work permit
Who can apply
You may extend your status if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024.
- You have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
- You have a valid open work permit that was issued under a public policy for Ukrainians and eligible family members of Ukrainians.
- You’re in Canada when
- you apply for your work permit extension, and
- a decision is made on your work permit extension
- This will be your first time being issued a work permit extension under these new special measures.
- You can only extend your work permit under these new measures once.
Public policies
Public policies are put in place to provide temporary programs or services to the public.
To be eligible for these measures, you must have a valid work permit that was issued under one of the following public policies:
- Temporary public policy to facilitate continued access to open work permits and study permits for foreign nationals in Canada who arrived under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures – Extension 16 February 2026
- ARCHIVED – Temporary public policy to facilitate continued access to open work permits and study permits for foreign nationals in Canada who arrived under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures 8 August 2024
- ARCHIVED – Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who applied under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures and for new temporary resident applicants 7 July 2023
- ARCHIVED – Temporary public policy to renew the Canada–Ukraine Authorization of Emergency Travel from April 1, 2023 21 March 2023
- ARCHIVED – Temporary public policy to exempt Ukrainian nationals from various immigration requirements in support of the Canada–Ukraine authorization of emergency travel 16 March 2022
Check the expiry date on your passport and biometrics
We can’t issue you a work permit that goes past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics. If your passport or biometrics will expire within 3 years, you should renew them before you apply.
You may experience delays renewing your Ukrainian passport in Canada
Due to a backlog of applications at the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, you may experience delays renewing your Ukrainian passport. If you want to extend your temporary resident status in Canada but you can’t renew your passport in time, you can still submit an application. We’ll assess these applications on a case-by-case basis.
If you get your new passport while we’re processing your application to extend your status, send us a copy of it using our web form.
How to apply
Follow the instructions below to extend your open work permit from within Canada.
-
Fill out the application form
Complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710) (opens in a new tab).
When you’re filling out the form
- select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit you’re applying for in the Details of Intended work in Canada section
- enter “UKRAINE 2022” as the Job title
- enter “Ukraine 2022 public policy—open work permit” in the Brief description of duties field
-
Sign in to your account
Sign in or create an IRCC secure account to start your application.
Sign in to start your application
If you can’t apply online
Contact us using our crisis web form if you can’t apply online due to a
- disability that prevents you from applying online or
- problem with the online application system
Choose the option “I need help with something else.”
Complete all the required fields in the form and write “Ukraine2022” in the “Tell us about your situation” text box.
-
Tell us you want to apply under an active public policy
When answering the questions in the online application, answer “yes” when asked:
Does one of the following apply to you?
- I am subject of a removal order that is unenforceable.
- I applied for a study or work permit before entering Canada that was approved, but not issued at a port of entry.
- I am in primary or secondary school, or a visiting or exchange student, in Canada with visitor status.
- I am applying for an open work permit under an active public policy or pilot program announced by IRCC.
- I am a student who has completed a program of study that is a prerequisite to my enrolment at a designated learning institution with visitor status in Canada.
- I applied for permanent residence and was found eligible (first stage approval) under one of the following classes:
- spouse or common-law partner in Canada
- humanitarian and compassionate cases
- protected persons in Canada
- live-in caregiver in Canada
-
Upload your forms and documents
In your application, include
- the application to extend your worker status (opens in a new tab)
- a copy of your passport or travel document
- a letter that says you’re applying under the 2026 Ukraine special measures
- Upload this in the “Client Information” section.
- a copy of your work permit issued under one of the public policies for Ukrainians and eligible family members of Ukrainians
- Upload this in the “Client Information” section.
-
Pay the application fees
We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. You’ll need a valid credit or debit card.
Total fees Type of fee Amount Who needs to pay this fee Work permit processing $155 All applicants Open work permit fee $100 Open work permit applicants only Biometrics fee Individual: $85
Family: up to $170 (if you’re eligible)Check if you need to give biometrics -
Submit a complete application
Make sure you submit a complete application in your IRCC secure account. Your application may be refused if you’re missing documents or other required information.
If you apply to extend your status and it expires before your application is processed
You’re considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Use this web form:
In the “Tell us about your situation” box,
- describe your situation, including what you need help with
- add the keyword Ukraine2022 at the end of your description
Who can apply
You may extend your status if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You arrived in Canada between April 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024 (inclusive).
- You have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
- You have a valid open work permit that was issued under a public policy for Ukrainians and eligible family members of Ukrainians.
- You’re in Canada when
- you apply for your work permit extension, and
- a decision is made on your work permit extension
- This will be your first time being issued a work permit extension under these new special measures.
- You can only extend your work permit under these new measures once.
Public policies
Public policies are put in place to provide temporary programs or services to the public.
To be eligible for these measures, you must have a valid work permit that was issued under one of the following public policies:
- Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who applied under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures and whose applications were pending as of February 4, 2024 – Extension 21 July 2024
- ARCHIVED – Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who applied under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures and whose applications were pending as of February 4, 2024 29 March 2024
Check the expiry date on your passport and biometrics
We can’t issue you a work permit that goes past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics. If your passport or biometrics will expire within 3 years, you should renew them before you apply.
You may experience delays renewing your Ukrainian passport in Canada
Due to a backlog of applications at the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, you may experience delays renewing your Ukrainian passport. If you want to extend your temporary resident status in Canada but you can’t renew your passport in time, you can still submit an application. We’ll assess these applications on a case-by-case basis.
If you get your new passport while we’re processing your application to extend your status, send us a copy of it using our web form.
How to apply
Follow the instructions below to extend your open work permit from within Canada.
-
Fill out the application form
Complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710) (opens in a new tab).
When you’re filling out the form
- select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit you’re applying for in the Details of Intended work in Canada section
- enter “UKRAINE 2022” as the Job title
- enter “Ukraine 2022 public policy—open work permit” in the Brief description of duties field
-
Sign in to your account
Sign in or create an IRCC secure account to start your application.
Sign in to start your application
If you can’t apply online
Contact us using our crisis web form if you can’t apply online due to a
- disability that prevents you from applying online or
- problem with the online application system
Choose the option “I need help with something else.”
Complete all the required fields in the form and write “Ukraine2022” in the “Tell us about your situation” text box.
-
Tell us you want to apply under an active public policy
When answering the questions in the online application, answer “yes” when asked:
Does one of the following apply to you?
- I am subject of a removal order that is unenforceable.
- I applied for a study or work permit before entering Canada that was approved, but not issued at a port of entry.
- I am in primary or secondary school, or a visiting or exchange student, in Canada with visitor status.
- I am applying for an open work permit under an active public policy or pilot program announced by IRCC.
- I am a student who has completed a program of study that is a prerequisite to my enrolment at a designated learning institution with visitor status in Canada.
- I applied for permanent residence and was found eligible (first stage approval) under one of the following classes:
- spouse or common-law partner in Canada
- humanitarian and compassionate cases
- protected persons in Canada
- live-in caregiver in Canada
-
Upload your forms and documents
In your application, include
- the application to extend your worker status (opens in a new tab)
- a copy of your passport or travel document
- a letter that says you’re applying under the 2026 Ukraine special measures
- Upload this in the “Client Information” section.
- a copy of your work permit issued under one of the public policies for Ukrainians and eligible family members of Ukrainians
- Upload this in the “Client Information” section.
-
Pay the application fees
We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. You’ll need a valid credit or debit card.
Total fees Type of fee Amount Who needs to pay this fee Work permit processing $155 All applicants Open work permit fee $100 Open work permit applicants only Biometrics fee Individual: $85
Family: up to $170 (if you’re eligible)Check if you need to give biometrics -
Submit a complete application
Make sure you submit a complete application in your IRCC secure account. Your application may be refused if you’re missing documents or other required information.
If you apply to extend your status and it expires before your application is processed
You’re considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Use this web form:
In the “Tell us about your situation” box,
- describe your situation, including what you need help with
- add the keyword Ukraine2022 at the end of your description
Visitors, study permit holders, temporary resident permit holders and other work permit holders
You can apply to extend your temporary resident status in Canada through the regular process, if you’re eligible.