(OTTAWA) The Canadian government on Saturday announced details of its long-awaited new pathway that will allow Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion of their country to apply for permanent residency in Canada starting this fall.
In a statement, Ottawa said Ukrainians who fled the fighting and wish to remain in Canada will be able to apply for permanent residency starting Oct. 23, provided they already have temporary resident status and at least a member of their family is in Canada.
Eligible persons are Ukrainian spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, siblings and children or grandchildren of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The announcement came at the same time another program, which offered temporary emergency visas to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, officially ended.
Ukrainians and their family members will still be able to apply to come to Canada via a temporary resident visa, but they will have to do so using pre-existing immigration measures.
The emergency visa was available to an unlimited number of Ukrainians and allowed them to work and study in Canada for three years as temporary residents, rather than refugees. According to the government, it has enabled more than 166,000 Ukrainians to obtain visas.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said Ukrainians with visas will have until March 31, 2024 to travel to Canada under the temporary special measures.