Canadian Visa Expert could confirm that the federal government is set to launch a new permanent residency program for Ukrainians. With the program, Ukrainians in Canada with family will be issued permanent residency.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, roughly 166,000 Ukrainians have come to Canada through a special visa program launched in March 2022. The program was launched under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET).
The program allowed Ukrainians to come to Canada, live and work for up to three years. The special visa program also grants Ukrainians different benefits, including increased speed of visa processing, waived fees, and prioritized processing.
According to Canadian Visa Expert, Ukrainians who have moved to Canada under the special program represent 21 percent of the 800,000 emergency visas granted.
Expectations about the new permanent residency program
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) CEO, Ihor Michalchyshyn, says, “We are asking for lots of flexibility on the pathways for Ukrainians as they make their way through what is a very uncertain situation. The war has not ended, and we must keep options open for these people.”
According to Canadian Visa Expert, UCC is pushing for more options for Ukrainians in Canada. As people await the details of the new permanent residency, the organization hopes the federal government will afford Ukrainians much flexibility to benefit from the program.
People are keenly interested in knowing what the government would use as the yardstick for eligibility and approvals throughout the process.
Besides Ukraine and Russia, Canada has the largest diaspora of Ukrainians. More than 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent are currently living in Canada.