Nova Ventures News Team
Published: August 19, 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an extension for participants in the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program to apply for work permits. CUAET participants, currently in Canada as temporary residents, now have until March 31, 2025, to submit their applications for open work permits.
Unlike previous CUAET measures, the new work permit applications will not be fee exempt. The open work permits are valid for up to three years, based on the applicant’s passport expiry and biometrics.
Eligibility Criteria for Work Permits
To qualify, participants must have been approved under CUAET and arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024. The program officially stopped accepting new applications on July 15, 2023, with participants required to arrive by March 31, 2024, to benefit fully from the program’s support, including fee exemptions.
Settlement Services for Ukrainian Nationals
CUAET participants can continue to access free settlement services in Canada until March 31, 2025. These services include assistance with employment, language learning, citizenship preparation, and support for specific groups such as women, seniors, and the 2SLGBTQI community.
Permanent Residence Pathways for Ukrainians
Some Ukrainians with family members in Canada may also be eligible to apply for permanent residence. IRCC is accepting applications for this pathway until October 22, 2024. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a family connection with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, including relationships such as spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or sibling.
CUAET, introduced in February 2022, was designed to assist Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in their country. Participants and their immediate family members could stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years, with options to apply for work or study permits without fees. Since its inception, IRCC has approved over 960,000 applications under the program, although fewer than 300,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada during the same period.
This extension offers continued support to Ukrainians seeking stability and opportunities in Canada.