Canada says Ukrainian emergency visa holders are expected to return after the war
Canada’s immigration department says it still expects many Ukrainians who arrived under the emergency visa measures to return home once the war ends and it is safe to do so. This clarification is important because some temporary residents may believe that humanitarian entry programs automatically lead to permanent residence. In most cases, they do not.
According to reporting by The Canadian Press, the federal government maintains that the emergency program was designed as a temporary response to the war. Nearly 300,000 Ukrainians came to Canada through special work and study visa measures after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Immigration Minister Lena Diab has acknowledged that many Ukrainians have built lives in Canada and may wish to stay. However, the official position remains that the program itself does not guarantee permanent residency.
What this means for Ukrainians currently in Canada
If you are in Canada under temporary status (work permit, study permit, or visitor record), your priority should be maintaining valid status.
IRCC continues to publish updates on Ukraine-specific measures here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures.html
Some applicants may still be eligible to apply for open work permits under special Ukraine measures, depending on when they arrived. Details are available here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/ukraine-open-work-permit-march-31.html
It is important to check document expiry dates and apply for extensions before status expires.
Is there a special permanent residence pathway?
At the moment, there is no confirmed dedicated permanent residence stream specifically for all CUAET holders.
Ukrainians who wish to stay permanently must generally qualify through existing immigration programs, such as:
Express Entry:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html
Processing times can be checked using IRCC’s official tool:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html
Reality check
This announcement is a policy reminder, not a case-by-case decision. Temporary status does not automatically convert into permanent residence. If your long-term goal is to remain in Canada, you should review current eligibility criteria under regular immigration programs and plan accordingly.
As always, rely on official IRCC updates rather than assumptions or unofficial social media claims.
