Closure of Temporary Visa Application Centres

Ottawa, September 28, 2023—The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was launched on March 17, 2022, to provide Ukrainians and their immediate family members the opportunity to come to Canada as temporary residents for up to three years.

With the launch of the program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada opened temporary visa application centres (VACs) in Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Krakow (Poland), Prague (Czechia) and Warsaw (Poland). With the end of overseas application intake for CUAET on July 15, 2023, volumes at these VACs have decreased and most of the temporary centres will now close.

The temporary visa application centres (VACs) in Bratislava, Budapest and Krakow will close on September 30, 2023, while the temporary VAC in Prague will close on October 19, 2023. The temporary VAC in Warsaw will become permanent.

The existing VAC network, including the VACs in Vienna (Austria), as well as in Lviv and Kyiv (Ukraine), will continue to serve clients in these regions.

We are working with all VACs to make sure this transition is smooth. Visit our website to stay updated and check your nearest VAC’s website for details.