Temporary protection: Canada
🛰️ Varta monitors 4 official sources for this country — checked daily.
Legal basis: CUAET overseas applications closed on 15 July 2023; IRCC special measures for people in Canada and regular immigration programmes. • there is no single national date — your own permit sets the period
Steps
- 1
Determine your pathway
First check the type and expiry date of your IRCC document. CUAET is closed to new applications; other programmes have their own eligibility rules.
📍 IRCC (online)💳 Depends on the pathway - 2
For CUAET holders: extension/transition
Check your arrival group and qualifying permit policies on the IRCC page. For the special extension use IMM 5710: Open Work Permit, Job title — UKRAINE 2022. Do not wait for the programme deadline if your own document expires sooner.
📍 IRCC⏰ Before your own permit expires; special-measures deadline: 31 March 2027💳 CAD 155 + CAD 100; biometrics, if required, cost extra - 3
Work, healthcare, education
Work rights depend on a valid permit and its conditions. Check healthcare coverage and access to education under your province’s rules.
📍 Province💳 Depends on the province
Documents
Foreign passport
requiredChild’s birth certificate
requiredProof of CUAET status (if any)
if availableUkrainian Embassies and Consulates
Map
Document samples and how to fill them
Name in LATIN letters as in the passport.
Format YYYY-MM-DD.
Your unique client ID from the IRCC document.
Current permit number (CUAET).
❌ CUAET is closed to new — don’t confuse with a new application ❌ Missing UCI
As in the passport.
Client ID from the IRCC document.
Employer and offer details (for an employer-specific permit).
❌ Without a job offer (for employer-specific) ❌ Missing UCI
Benefits
Work permit
People with a valid work permit or another lawful basis to work.
How to apply: IRCC
Healthcare (provincial)
Provincial residents.
How to apply: Provincial registration
Wise — transfers without hidden fees
A multi-currency account and transfers between Ukraine and Europe at the real exchange rate. Handy for receiving salary and sending money to family.
Open a Wise accountThe price for you does not change; the commission supports our free guides.
Where to apply
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
What happens after protection ends
CUAET closed to new. Transition: work visa (with a job offer), PNP (provincial programmes), family sponsorship, asylum. Permanent residence via Express Entry or PNP.
What happens when protection ends
These are options for the future — you will need to choose ONE, and not now.
These routes are available outside temporary protection — work, study, family, business, etc.
The description below is a general scheme, similar across countries. Check exact requirements, fees and timelines via the official link in each card — they differ by country and change over time.
💼 IRCC work/PR streams
Those with a valid employment contract in this country.
Passport; employment contract; proof of residence. Authority: IRCC (Immigration Canada).
- Foreign passport
- Employment contract
- Proof of residence
- Health insurance (optional)
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
The employer or the applicant files; the immigration authority decides.
Before the current status or permit expires.
- Collect the card/decision
- Register address and social number
Renewable together with the contract.
CUAET closed to new applications; consider work and PR streams.
🎓 Study — Canada
Enrolment at an accredited institution.
Acceptance letter; proof of funds; housing; insurance.
- Foreign passport
- Acceptance letter
- Proof of funds
- Health insurance (optional)
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
Apply via the institution or the immigration authority.
Before the semester starts.
- Register at the institution and locally
Yearly with continued studies.
CUAET closed to new applications; consider work and PR streams.
👨👩👧👦 Family reunification — Canada
Spouse, children or relatives of a resident or citizen.
Marriage/birth certificates; housing; sponsor income.
- Foreign passport
- Marriage/birth certificate
- Sponsor income proof
- Proof of residence
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
The sponsor or family files; documents need apostille and translation.
Before the current status expires.
- Collect the family member card
Renewable; a path to permanent residence.
CUAET closed to new applications; consider work and PR streams.
🏢 Self-employment/business — Canada
Company or self-employment registration; business plan or contracts.
Registration documents; tax number; funds; housing.
- Foreign passport
- Company/self-employment registration
- Business plan or contracts (optional)
- Proof of residence
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
Register the business, then apply for residence as an entrepreneur.
Before the current status expires.
- Tax registration and bank account
Tied to the company activity.
CUAET closed to new applications; consider work and PR streams.
🏠 Permanent residence — Canada
Usually after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Stable income; housing; integration/language per national rules.
- Foreign passport
- Income proof
- Proof of residence
- Language/integration certificate (optional)
IRCC (Immigration Canada)
Apply once the required residence period is met.
After the required residence period is met.
- Obtain permanent resident status
Permanent status; card replaced periodically.
Temporary protection time often counts towards the period (per national rules).
Opportunities: housing, jobs, grants
5 verified programmes: housing support, job portals, business grants, free courses — with direct official links and verification dates. Available with Varta.
Forms & samples (PDF)
FAQ
Do I need to do anything to keep my protection after the current period?
Canada does not have EU-directive temporary protection. It runs its own IRCC measures for Ukrainians and their family members. To keep your right to work and stay, the key is to apply for an extension while your current permit is still valid. IF YOU HOLD AN OPEN WORK PERMIT ISSUED UNDER A UKRAINE PUBLIC POLICY From April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 an IRCC public policy lets you extend that permit for up to 3 years. Deadline to apply: March 31, 2027. You must meet all of these: — you arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024 (a separate group covers those who arrived between April 1 and December 31, 2024 inclusive, whose permit was issued under the later Ukraine public policies); — you have valid temporary resident status in Canada. Temporary resident permit (TRP) holders apply for another TRP through the regular process and may submit an open work permit extension with that application. — you hold a valid open work permit issued under a public policy for Ukrainians and eligible family members of Ukrainians; — you are in Canada both when you apply and when a decision is made; — this is your FIRST extension under these new special measures. You can use them only once. How to apply: online through your secure IRCC account, form IMM 5710 (Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker). Permit type — Open Work Permit; job title — UKRAINE 2022; description — Ukraine 2022 public policy—open work permit. IRCC provides an alternative format for applicants with a disability or technical barriers. Fees per the IRCC page: CAD 155 work permit processing, CAD 100 open work permit holder fee, biometrics CAD 85 (up to CAD 170 per family). WHAT MATTERS MOST ABOUT TIMING Apply while your current permit is still VALID. Then, even if it expires before a decision, you have maintained status: you may legally stay in Canada until the decision and must continue to meet the conditions of the expiring document. IRCC advises applying at least 30 calendar days before the expiry date. That is advice, not a condition: if you have less time than that, apply immediately. What counts is that your application is filed BEFORE the expiry date. IF YOUR PERMIT HAS ALREADY EXPIRED AND YOU DID NOT APPLY From the expiry date you must stop working. Within 90 days of losing status you may apply to restore your status together with a new work permit. You cannot work while that application is processed — only once the new permit is issued. Approval is not guaranteed. IF YOU HOLD A STUDY PERMIT, A VISITOR RECORD OR ANOTHER WORK PERMIT Extend your stay through IRCC's regular process for your category. These special measures do not apply to you. Source: IRCC, canada.ca — "Immigration measures for Ukrainians and family members: Extend your open work permit in Canada" and the text of the public policy effective April 1, 2026. Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/open-work-permit-extension.html (checked 03.09.2026).
Does CUAET accept new applicants?
Overseas CUAET applications closed on 15 July 2023. An existing document remains subject to its own conditions. Current IRCC measures: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures.html
What are the alternatives to CUAET?
Work visa (with a job offer), family sponsorship, provincial programmes (PNP), asylum, Express Entry for the skilled.
Can I work on CUAET?
A CUAET visa alone is not enough: check your work permit and its conditions. The programme deadline of 31 March 2027 does not automatically extend your document.
This information is for reference only and is not legal advice.