Permanent residence in Canada for Ukrainians - conditions and categories of applicants

In July, IRCC announced a new program allowing Ukrainians and their family members in Canada to apply for residency. It will be effective from October 23, 2023. Full instructions on how to apply will be published after that date, and now there are details on the categories of applicants — there will be two in total.

Category 1: A family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada

An applicant in this category must meet the following requirements:

• be a citizen of Ukraine;
• be a family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, which include:
  • spouse or common-law partner;
  • child (regardless of age);
  • grandson;
  • parent;
  • grandmother or grandfather;
  • brother or sister (or half-brother or sister).
• be in Canada at the moment:
  • of the application;
  • to get a permanent residency.
• have a valid temporary resident status in Canada or apply for its reinstatement if it expired less than 90 days ago;
• have a passport or other identity document;
• provide a signed declaration form (IMM 0191) from your family member in Canada attesting to your relationship to them;
• meet the criteria of Canadian immigration law.

The inviting party, represented by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (a member of your family), must:

• currently residing in Canada;
• be at least 18 years old;
• not have been granted permanent residence themselves under this policy.

Category 2: Spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national who has family in Canada

You can apply for immigration if you have a spouse or civil partner who is a Ukrainian citizen:

• unable to leave Ukraine, missing, deceased or presumed deceased;
• is a family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (child — regardless of age, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother or sister, including half-siblings).

In doing so, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• be in Canada at the moment:
  • of the application;
  • to get a permanent residency.
• not to remarry or enter into a civil partnership with another person after leaving Ukraine;
• have a valid temporary resident status in Canada or apply for its reinstatement if it expired less than 90 days ago;
• have a passport or other identity document;
• provide a signed declaration form (IMM 0191) from a family member of your spouse or partner in Canada with proof of your relationship to them;
• meet the criteria of Canadian immigration law.

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident (a family member of your husband/civil union spouse) must:

• currently residing in Canada;
• be at least 18 years old;
• not have been granted permanent residence themselves under this policy.

Additional rules

Applicants in both categories can bring their family members with them. This includes a spouse or partner, a dependent child (under 22 years of age) and grandchildren, but they must be listed immediately on the application. Family members may be in Canada or outside of Canada, but the applicant must be in Canada for the entire application process.

If you intend to live in Quebec, the Ministry of Immigration will forward your application directly to the province. You must then obtain a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) to be able to become a resident.

As a reminder, Ukrainians holding a CUAET visa will be able to move to Canada until March 31, 2024. After CUAET applications close on July 15, 2023, Ukrainians and their families can still apply for temporary resident visas — to come to Canada under the immigration measures in place before then.