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None of the following information constitutes official legal advice. Please consult a legal professional for case-specific advice

Are Ukrainians coming to Canada considered refugees?

Ukrainians are coming to Canada under a special visa program created by the Government of Canada - the **Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET).** This means that they are not being resettled in Canada under the regular refugee pathways.

However, Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine are still refugees. So, think of Ukrainians coming Canada under CUAET as refugees coming to Canada under a temporary non-refugee visa.

Read more about this visa program here, but in general, what you need to know is that CUAET visa holders can live in Canada for three years, can legally work, and enjoy other benefits.

Can Ukrainian refugees stay in Canada for more than three years?

We don’t know. The Government of Canada will decide on this matter in the future.

For now, it does appear that Ukrainian refugees, in Canada under the CUAET program, will be able to explore paths to receiving their permanent resident (PR) status. You can read more about the different pathways to receiving PR status here.

Advice that we received from an immigration lawyer: Most Ukrainians should aim for PR status eligibility under the Canadian Experience Class. For this program, Ukrainian refugees will need to (1) improve their English and (2) have skilled Canadian work experience.