How to stay in Canada after CUAET?
Forget about refugee status and humanitarian programs. There are much more reliable ways to get permanent residency in Canada.
Immigrating to Canada through general programs is challenging due to high requirements that only very skilled professionals, like top IT specialists, can meet. However, many people believe that humanitarian programs or refugee status are much easier options. I'll explain why economic immigration is actually simpler than it seems, while humanitarian programs aren't suitable for everyone.
My family and I moved to Canada in 2016, and my wife and I started our own immigration company to help others. Many of our clients and acquaintances from Ukraine often ask about humanitarian programs and refugee status in Canada. From the outside, it may seem that this type of immigration is much easier than immigration through work or study, for example.
I have both good and bad news for these people. The bad news is that humanitarian immigration isn't a cure-all solution. It's not suitable for everyone and has a high rejection rate. The good news is that among the more than 100 Canadian economic programs, you're likely to find one that suits you. Some programs have much less stringent requirements than commonly believed. Importantly, there are special streams for Ukrainians!
Refugee Status and Humanitarian Programs
Why are refugee status and humanitarian programs usually recommended only as a last resort? Firstly, they have high rejection rates. In the first nine months of 2024, the refugee acceptance rate in Canada was 82%, significantly higher than in 2018 (64%). However, this applies to applications that are considered on their merits, and many don't reach this stage. Secondly, with refugee status, you can't leave the country while your case is being reviewed, which can take a year or more.
Humanitarian programs have their own challenges: you need to prove that you'll be beneficial to Canadian society and that you can't return home at all. We've already discussed the riskiest immigration programs, and the humanitarian program ranked second. A word of caution: even if you seek help from an immigration consultant, not everyone is licensed to handle refugee cases. For example, we don't deal with refugee applications.
The Simplest Alternative
What are the options for obtaining permanent residency after CUAET? There are many, but I'll focus on the most suitable ones for Ukrainians. I'll start with the easiest. If you have close relatives in Canada and a Ukrainian passport, you're practically guaranteed permanent residency.
In October 2023, the Immigration Ministry launched a special program similar to regular family sponsorship: there's an applicant who wants to move and a relative willing to receive them. The significant and pleasant difference is that this program has no income requirements for the sponsor and no sponsorship obligations. The program was active until October 22, 2024, and as of early 2025, there's no information about its extension.
Here's a personal example. I signed a document stating that I'm a Canadian citizen with a Ukrainian relative — my sister, who currently lives in Canada with her family. She, her three children, and her husband — five people in total — will receive permanent residency in Canada without any points, language tests, or job search requirements. They'll need to prepare additional documents, but that's just a technicality.
Other Options
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Provincial and federal immigration programs don't consider Ukrainian applicants separately from others. However, this doesn't mean you should ignore them. Many of these programs offer relatively easy paths to legalization.
When choosing a program, the most important thing is to look at your experience through the eyes of an immigration officer and identify your strengths. For all Ukrainians who arrived through CUAET, a significant bonus is that you're already living in Canada, possibly working. The CUAET program continues to operate in a reduced capacity: all Ukrainians arriving in Canada for the first time until March 31, 2025, receive support from host organizations. Ukrainians who arrived in Canada before March 31, 2024, through CUAET can extend their work or study permits until March 31, 2025. This means you have a strong connection to a province, and you should definitely consider the provincial programs of the region where you live.
Another good option is the federal program for those with Canadian work experience. If you've already worked in Canada for a year, you'll have high chances of getting permanent residency through this program, regardless of which region you live in. If you work in one of the Atlantic provinces, you can also consider the Atlantic Immigration Program.
It's also worth looking at reliable immigration programs with the highest approval rates for candidates.
In general, obtaining permanent residency in Canada is far from an impossible task. But I'll remind you again: don't rely on general rules and instructions when submitting documents. In Canadian immigration, about half of your success depends on choosing the right program for your specific situation. You can try to figure it out on your own, or you can book a consultation with us. Our team will be happy to help.
Alex Pavlenko, founder of Immigrant.Today
