Yesterday, on 23 October, Canada started a new Family Reunification Pathway for Ukrainians. The new pathway is designed to help Ukrainians already living in Canada as temporary residents gain Canadian permanent resident status. 

Ukrainian Temporary Residents who satisfy the eligibility criteria of the new family reunification pathway can apply for permanent resident status under this new initiative. 

In order to qualify under the new pathway, candidates must have at least one family member in Canada who is a Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen, such as a spouse, common-law partner, children, parent, grandparent, or sibling. 

Eligibility Criteria for New Family Reunification Pathway for Ukrainians 

This section will provide details on the eligibility criteria for the new pathway for Ukrainian Temporary Residents, i.e., New Family Reunification Pathway.  

Notably, the new pathway is divided into two eligible categories with specific requirements. However, some criteria are applicable to both. 

Eligibility Requirements for both Categories: 

The following are the eligibility requirements devised by the Canadian government that you must satisfy if you are considering the new pathway: 

  • You must be present in Canada at the time of application submission. 
  • You must have a valid Canadian temporary status or must have filed a request to restore your status if your temporary resident status has expired for a period of no more than 90 days. 
  • You must have a travel document or a passport. If you lack both, they must provide a supporting identity document. 
  • You must be permitted to enter Canada. 

Furthermore, in both categories, the Ukrainian nationals or their wives or common-law partners are required to prove their relationship to a Canadian permanent resident or Canadian Citizen. They could be a: 

  • spouse or common-law partner 
  • child (Irrespective of age) 
  • parent 
  • grandparent, 
  • grandchild or 
  • sibling (or half-sibling) 

Category-Wise Eligibility criteria for new pathway  

The following are the specific eligibility criteria for each category, i.e., category 1 and category 2. 

Category 1  

  • Candidates of Category 1 must be Ukrainian citizens. 
  • They must also submit a signed statutory declaration form (IMM 0191) from their Canadian family member demonstrating their relationship to them. 

Category 2  

  • Candidates of Category 2 must be the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national with family living in Canada. 
  • Their spouse or common-law partner must not be allowed to leave Ukraine, have died, be missing, or be thought to have died. 
  • Candidates who qualify under this category must not be remarried or be involved in a common-law relationship with another person while leaving Ukraine. 
  • They must also submit a signed statutory declaration form (IMM 0191) from the Canadian family member of their spouse or common law demonstrating their relationship to them. 

According to the Canadian Immigration Department, IRCC, the number of slots available under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) would not be affected by this new PR pathway for Ukrainians. Individuals admitted via this new pathway to Canada are alongside the family members who enter Canada via the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). 

Application under this pathway will be accepted until 22 October 2024. Families who are willing to avail of this opportunity must submit their application by the date mentioned above. 

It should be noted that similar to other family-class sponsorship programs, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident family member is not required to sign a financial undertaking to support the individuals arriving in Canada through the New Family Reunification Pathway for Ukrainians. 

Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) 

Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) is a notable initiative introduced by the Canadian government in March 2022 in response to a situation created by the Russian invasion. 

Ukrainian citizens who were escaping violence Could apply for a visitor visa and a temporary work permit for free between March 2022 and July 2023. 

According to an IRCC report, until 30 September 2023, IRCC received around 1,189,372 applications via CUAET. From them, 909,464 applications were approved by the IRCC, and among them, 185,753 Ukrainians had already arrived in Canada. 

Ukrainians were granted exemptions from the standard feeds associated with the temporary residents under programs, including those for: 

  • Extensions of temporary resident status (visitor record) 
  • restoration of status 
  • temporary resident permits 
  • Biometrics 
  • study permits and extensions 
  • work permits and extensions (including open work permits) 

Furthermore, until June 2023, the Canadian government provided the Ukrainians with $3,000, a one-time settlement support fee. 

Later, from 15 July 2023, IRCC discontinued accepting applications via the CUAET. However, it continues to process the applications that it received on or prior to 15 July 2023. 

Candidates whose applications have been approved by the IRCC and who haven’t entered Canada yet are allowed to come to Canada under these special measures until 31 March 2024. 

Approved Ukrainian citizens who will not be able to come to Canada until the specified date will have to undergo regular application processing as well as fees for a temporary resident (visitor) visa. Also, in order to apply for a work or study permit, they are required to wait until they come to Canada.