Ukraine – CUAET: In-Canada applications for temporary resident visas, TR extensions and temporary resident permits
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
The Prime Minister announced on February 23, 2022, that the Government of Canada has taken a strong stance against Russia’s attack on Ukraine and is committed to helping Ukrainian nationals and their family members overseas and in Canada.
As per the Minister’s announcement on March 22, 2023, the Government of Canada had extended the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) via public policy. This means that
- anyone holding a CUAET visa will have until March 31, 2024, to travel to Canada under the special measures
- CUAET visa holders who are already in Canada will have until March 31, 2024, to extend or adjust their temporary status through these measures, free of charge
These program delivery instructions inform IRCC staff on how to process applications for in-Canada temporary resident visas (TRVs), extensions of temporary resident (TR) status and applications for temporary resident permits (TRPs) under the CUAET measures.
In-Canada applications for TRVs, extensions of TR status and applications for TRPs under the CUAET measures are not subject to priority processing. However, in-Canada applications for a corrected CUAET TR document should be processed in priority to ensure that clients are able to apply for in-Canada supports associated with the CUAET.
On this page
- In-Canada TRVs
- Extensions of TR status
- Admissibility
- Immigration medical examinations (IMEs)
- Biometrics
- Non-compliance
- TRPs
- Restoration
- Fees
In-Canada TRVs
The extended special measures for Ukraine (CUAET) allowed Ukrainian nationals and their family members outside and in Canada to apply on or before July 15, 2023, for a fee-exempt multiple-entry TRV valid for up to 10 years (or to passport validity, whichever comes first).
Officers processing applications submitted by Ukrainians and their family members after July 15, 2023, are instructed to follow the instructions found here.
Note: Following subsection 1(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), family members under this measure are defined as
- a spouse or common-law partner
- a dependent child of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner
- a dependent child of a dependent child referred to in paragraph (b)
Important: Clients were required to submit an online application and self-identify using the code “Ukraine 2022” in the “purpose of visit – other” field and were required to provide identity documents and documentary evidence substantiating their eligibility (where available).
Clients applying from within Canada were instructed to apply through the IRCC Secure Account.
Clients who applied for a TRV from within Canada must have held valid TR status at the time of submission of their CUAET TRV application. Clients who did not have valid TR status were required to apply to restore their status prior to submitting a TRV application. See the Restoration section below..
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must
- hold a valid Ukrainian passport (see note below for clients without valid passports) or
- a valid passport from a TRV required country and demonstrate that they are a family member of a Ukrainian national
It is not necessary for family members to be travelling together.
Note: Officers may consider issuing a TRP if the Ukrainian national does not meet the requirement under section R52 to hold a valid passport or travel document. The suggested duration of a TRP to overcome this requirement is 3 years. Non-Ukrainian family members with an expired passport or no passport at all should obtain a new passport from their country of citizenship.
Extensions of TR status
Ukrainian nationals and their family members in Canada under CUAET may apply, fee exempt until March 31, 2024, to extend their TR status for up to 3 years or until passport or biometric validity (whichever comes first).
Important: The department is aware of the difficulty and delays Ukrainian clients are experiencing in regard to renewing their passports. All clients in Canada must apply to extend their status, ideally before the expiry date of their current visitor record, work or study permit. If they apply before the expiry date, they can continue working or studying with maintained status until we make a decision on their application. Officers can request a written explanation from the client if it is not possible to get a passport extended before the expiry date of their current passport and their visitor record, work or study permit. Officers can request a copy of the client’s expired passport and a letter explaining that they have applied to get their passport extended, and will submit their new passport as soon as it’s received.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the three-year extension of TR status, clients must
- be a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national who holds valid TR status
- apply before their status expires to
- extend their stay in Canada as a visitor or
- get a new TRP
- have complied with all the conditions that were imposed on entry (R181)
- have valid biometrics on file
For more information regarding the procedures for extensions of TR status, refer to Temporary residents: Eligibility for extending temporary resident status.
Admissibility
Eligible foreign nationals are subject to all admissibility requirements, except section 39 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) (the requirement for a foreign national to not be inadmissible for financial reasons) and section R179(b) (the requirement that the officer must be satisfied that the client will leave at the end of their authorized period of stay), as waived via the public policy.
Immigration medical examinations (IMEs)
In-Canada applicants are not exempt from the IME requirement under the public policy.
Biometrics
Under the extended CUAET measures, Ukrainian nationals and their family members aged 14 to 79 applying for the CUAET from within Canada are required to provide their biometrics, but the fee has been waived.
See below for more information relating to fees.
Non-compliance
There are 2 cohorts of non-compliant applications:
- non-compliance related to document requests
- non-compliance related to biometrics
A phased approach to managing these non-compliant cases to finalization will be undertaken.
- The department may issue procedural fairness letters to non-compliant applicants from whom we have not received a response to give them 30 days to submit the requested documentation or information.
- Applicants may be granted an extension if they have requested one to comply.
- The department will refuse the applications for which the requested document or information was not provided within the allotted time.
TRPs
Officers may consider issuing a TRP to a foreign national found to be inadmissible or who does not meet the requirements of the IRPA.
If the client is applying for a new or subsequent TRP, officers are encouraged to consider issuing a TRP for up to 3 years or until passport validity, whichever is sooner.
Please refer to Temporary Resident Permits for additional guidance.
Note: TRP fees are waived under the public policy.
Restoration
For those seeking restoration, please refer to the Restoration PDI for guidance.
Fees
As part of the Government of Canada’s response to support those affected by this situation, the department is waiving certain fees.
Under these measures, the following fees are waived for eligible Ukrainian nationals and their family members at POE and in Canada:
- TRV ($100)
- extension of TR status ($100)
- TRP ($200)
- biometrics ($85)
- restoration ($200)
For more information, refer to Ukraine: General processing – Fee waivers and refunds.
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