Ukrainians in Canada Still in Limbo More Than Three Years On

More than three years after the first emergency arrivals, many Ukrainians in Canada say their lives are stuck between hope and worry. Ottawa has extended temporary residence and work measures for those who came under the CUAET program until March 31, 2026, but expiring documents, long waits, and difficult paths to permanent residence keep thousands in limbo.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the CUAET in March 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion. The program opened Canada’s doors with three-year, open work and study options for Ukrainians and their families. IRCC received more than 1.18 million applications, approving about 80%, and nearly 300,000 people arrived with three-year temporary visas to live and work.

IRCC has now extended “facilitated processing” and the chance to apply for extensions of status for Ukrainians who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024. Those who qualify can seek to extend work permits, study permits, or visitor status until March 31, 2026. People who arrived after March 31, 2024 must use regular immigration channels and pay normal fees, losing CUAET’s special supports.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this split creates two very different tracks: one still backed by emergency measures and another that must meet standard rules despite the war’s ongoing impact.

Immediate practical problems

While the extra time offers relief, the window may not feel wide enough. More than 100,000 Ukrainians in Canada face the expiration of their temporary resident documents in 2025. Many report stress from processing delays and new hurdles when trying to renew status.

One of the biggest pain points is passports: to extend a Canadian visa or permit, applicants usually need a valid passport. But the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada is overwhelmed, with appointments fully booked for six months. Embassy staff can help in urgent cases through diplomatic missions, but the backlog leaves many stuck — unsure if they can keep working, studying, or even staying lawfully.

Families juggle work, school, and trauma from the war while tracking deadlines and document needs. Missed appointments or rejected passport applications can derail housing, jobs, and school plans. For sole caregivers or those without strong English or French skills, each extra step can feel like a wall.

Advocacy groups say automatic visa renewals would remove some of the fear. They argue that when government systems are under strain, people who fled war should not be punished by bureaucracy.

IRCC has not adopted automatic renewals. Instead, people must file extension requests and meet document rules. The department says it is keeping special support for those who arrived by March 31, 2024 and that the extended timeline to 2026 aims to reduce pressure. The official guidance for Ukrainians, including active measures and deadlines, appears on IRCC’s Ukraine measures page.

Policy extensions and deadlines (key points)

• The CUAET program began in March 2022, offering three-year temporary visas with work and study options.
• IRCC extended facilitated processing and status extensions for arrivals on or before March 31, 2024.
• The new deadline to apply for extensions under CUAET is March 31, 2026.
• Arrivals after March 31, 2024 must use normal immigration processes and pay standard fees; they no longer have CUAET special supports.
• Over 100,000 Ukrainians face document expirations in 2025, increasing the risk of gaps in status and lost employment.
• Ukrainians with close family members in Canada may apply for permanent residence under a special program if they file before October 22, 2024 and keep valid temporary status. Others must rely on regular programs (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), or humanitarian options).
• Planned lower quotas and stricter rules in 2025 could make permanent residency pathways more competitive.

Impact on applicants and next steps

For many, the central question is how to move from temporary residence to a stable future in Canada. The main options fall into two categories:

1. Family-linked permanent residence
   • Applicants with immediate family in Canada can use a special pathway if they apply by October 22, 2024 and maintain valid temporary status.
   • This route is a clearer bridge to settlement but still requires detailed forms, proof, and careful timing.
2. Standard pathways
   • Those without family ties must pursue regular routes such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), or humanitarian grounds.
   • These paths carry stricter qualifications and, with lower planned numbers in 2025, will likely mean tougher competition.

Immediate practical steps for people with expiring documents:

• File the correct extension application before status lapses.
• Ensure you have a valid passport where required — this is often the most difficult barrier.
• Book Embassy appointments as early as possible; ask about urgent channels if your situation meets priority criteria (e.g., sole caregiver, essential worker, child in school).
• Keep thorough records of applications, receipts, and correspondence to demonstrate continuous efforts to stay legal.

Employers and institutions are affected too. A worker unable to renew status may have to stop working, creating staffing risks in sectors like construction, health support, and food processing, where many CUAET arrivals are employed. Schools face pressure when student permits are tied to parents’ status. Every delay ripples through families and communities.

Uneven treatment and long-term uncertainty

People who arrived after March 31, 2024 face the steepest climb: they must pay standard fees and meet normal requirements without CUAET supports. Some may qualify through education, language gains, or provincial nominations, but others — especially older workers or those with limited language ability — may struggle.

VisaVerge.com describes a “limbo effect” as the war continues without a clear end. Many fear making long-term choices — buying a home, starting a business, retraining — while their status is time-limited.

Advocacy groups’ common asks:

• Simplify the extension process
• Cut processing times
• Remove passport barriers where possible
• Create clearer, faster routes to permanent residence for those who have established lives in Canada

Critical deadlines and final takeaway

• Arrivals on or before March 31, 2024: can keep applying to extend status under CUAET until March 31, 2026.
• Family-linked permanent residence applicants: must file by October 22, 2024 and maintain valid temporary status throughout.
• Everyone else: review regular programs and prepare strong applications early, given tighter 2025 planning levels.

The broader picture is simple but stark: Canada promised safety and time to rebuild — and it has offered both, but only to a point. Time runs fast when permits expire, passports are hard to renew, and permanent residence remains out of reach. Whether Ottawa opts for more automatic extensions or new pathways will largely determine whether tens of thousands can move from survival to stability.