CUAET — short for Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel — is a special humanitarian program launched by the Canadian government in March 2022 as an urgent response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis. This is not a standard immigration program, but a rapid emergency solution designed to provide legal status, protection, and residency to Ukrainians and their family members who are forced to seek safety outside Ukraine during the armed conflict.
Unlike the complex procedures that characterize most standard Canadian immigration programs, the CUAET was designed to be as simple as possible and to minimize bureaucratic obstacles. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) understood that in the context of active military conflict, people do not have time to wait months for their documents to be processed. That is why the system was designed to minimize processing time, simplify requirements, and minimize financial and administrative barriers for program participants.
It is important to understand that the CUAET was by no means designed as a path to permanent residence. The Canadian government explicitly and repeatedly emphasized that this was a temporary measure designed for the period of crisis caused by Russian aggression. The program stipulated that when the situation in Ukraine normalized and it was safe to return, program participants would have to return to their country. At the same time, Canada understood the reality of the situation: some people would not be able to return, and some would decide to stay and start a new life in the safety of Canada. For such individuals, the program created a platform from which they could subsequently move toward permanent residence through other Canadian immigration channels.
Historical context of the program's creation
When Russia launched a full-scale military aggression against Ukraine on the morning of February 24, 2022, it triggered a large-scale humanitarian displacement of the population. Millions of Ukrainians knew that they had to ensure the safety and shelter of their children, family members, and themselves as quickly as possible. However, the international community faced a problem: how to develop procedures for receiving refugees and displaced persons, which traditionally take months or years, in a matter of days or weeks?
On March 17, 2022, three weeks after the invasion began, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser officially announced the launch of CUAET. This decision was unprecedented in its deregulation and speed: instead of filling the program with standard requirements, the Canadian government created the most flexible tool possible, aimed at giving status and opportunities to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
At the time of the program's implementation, other special measures to support Ukrainians already existed — for example, special budget allocations to meet the needs of displaced persons, reduced processing times for refugee status applications for persons from Ukraine, and so on. However, CUAET became the most ambitious and accessible mechanism because it was designed without strict selection criteria and without upper limits on the number of people who could take advantage of this opportunity.
Program mechanics: how CUAET worked
From a legal standpoint, CUAET gave Ukrainians a special Canadian temporary resident (TRV) permit. This permit was valid for up to ten years or until the applicant's foreign passport expired, whichever came first. Upon entering Canada with this permit, a person had the right to remain in the country for three years without re-entering, which was significantly longer than the typical six-month term of a standard visitor visa.
But the real revolution in the program was not just the length of the permit, but the set of rights that came with this status. Along with the approval of the CUAET visitor visa, work and study permits were often approved, issued in writing or included in the letter of approval at the airport upon arrival. The work permit was open-ended (open work permit) rather than restricted to a specific employer or job, giving people maximum flexibility in finding and changing jobs.
The CUAET application was completed online on the IRCC website, and the process was greatly simplified compared to standard guest visas. Applicants did not need to provide a large number of supporting documents — scans of envelopes, powers of attorney, bank statements in a specific format, invitations from relatives. Instead, they had to provide the minimum necessary proof of identity, the application forms themselves, and that was it. The fact that a person was a citizen of Ukraine or a family member of a citizen of Ukraine was considered sufficient grounds for approval.
Crucially, all fees and commissions were waived. Submitting an application cost zero dollars. Submitting biometric data — fingerprints and photographs, which normally costs about $112 — was free. All document processing, visa issuance, and work permit issuance were complimentary, as they say. For people fleeing war and often with limited financial resources, this was critically important.
Processing times were also significantly reduced. A standard visitor visa to Canada takes four to eight weeks or longer to process. Under CUAET, the system was set up to review straightforward applications within fourteen days of submitting biometric data. Although some applications required additional time due to complexity (for example, if additional security checks were needed), it was still much faster than the usual process.
Who was eligible for CUAET
The program was designed to be very broad and accessible. All Ukrainian citizens were eligible for CUAET, regardless of age, status, profession, or other factors. There were no requirements for education, work experience, knowledge of English or French, money in the bank, or sponsorship from anyone in Canada.
In addition to Ukrainian citizens, the program also covered their family members. Spouses and civil partners, both officially registered and unregistered (with proof of cohabitation), were eligible to participate. Dependent children, including foster children and children from previous relationships, were also eligible to be included in the application. Importantly, third- and fourth-degree relatives and more distant persons were not covered by the program, but an exception was made for children and grandchildren in cases where the guardian was a Ukrainian citizen.
Family members who were not themselves Ukrainian citizens — for example, foreign spouses of Ukrainians or friends living with a Ukrainian — were also allowed to apply as dependent family members under the CUAET if they could document their relationship with a Ukrainian citizen.
Prerequisites and requirements for applying
Despite the overall simplification, some basic requirements still remained. The applicant had to have a valid foreign passport or be able to obtain a special travel document from the Canadian side. In cases where the passport was blocked, expired, or lost, the person could request a special travel document for a single trip from IRCC — this required additional processing, but was possible.
Health, law enforcement, and security requirements also remained. The person must not have any serious infectious diseases that could pose a risk to Canadian citizens. The person must not have committed any serious crimes or be the subject of a wanted notice. All applicants had to undergo standard security and background checks through the Interpol member state wanted databases.
However, the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, which traditionally applied to all persons entering Canada, was waived for CUaet participants. This was in recognition of the fact that people fleeing war may not have access to timely vaccination information or have current proof of vaccination, and that an administrative requirement for vaccination should not impede their evacuation.
Benefits and rights under CUAET status
Obtaining CUAET status gave people an extremely wide range of rights that far exceeded what is available to ordinary tourists or visitors. First and foremost was the ability to work legally in Canada. Anyone who arrived under CUAET (or applied while already in Canada under a different status) was entitled to a free open work permit for three years.
This permit meant that a person could leave one job and find another without having to obtain a new work permit. They could work in fishing, construction, technology, trade, education, healthcare — anywhere. This was a necessary freedom for people trying to adapt to a new society and find a profession that suited them well and was needed by their families.
The right to education was the next key component. Children who came with their parents under the CUAET had the right to attend public schools free of charge, without having to pay extra for work or tuition, just like regular Canadian children. Adults had the right to apply to Canadian colleges and universities; although they might have paid tuition as international students (depending on the province), they were eligible for admission and were eligible to apply for pure scholarships and grants open to non-residents.
Settlement Services and Financial Support
One of the most generous components of the CUAET program was that participants were not left to fend for themselves after arriving in Canada. They had access to comprehensive settlement services normally reserved for permanent residents, Canadian citizens, and certain categories of refugees.
The federal and provincial governments established financial assistance for newcomers under the CUAET. Each adult received a one-time payment of three thousand Canadian dollars, and each dependent child received five thousand dollars. While this may seem modest in absolute terms, in the context of a crisis where people were fleeing with virtually nothing, it was a significant help in covering the initial costs of housing, food, and basic necessities.
In addition, the Canadian government guaranteed free accommodation for the first two weeks after arrival in Canada. This was a critical component because people who arrived often did not have time to look for housing from home or the ability to provide a deposit and first month's rent if they were not even in the country. The state took on this burden by providing temporary accommodation in hotels, youth hostels, or specially organized reception centers.
Settlement services included free English and French language courses organized at the federal and provincial levels. These language programs were critical to integration, as language skills are essential not only for professional development but also for everyday functioning in Canadian society.
Employment and career counseling services were also available. Immigration service specialists helped people understand the Canadian labor market, transfer foreign qualifications to the Canadian context, write resumes according to Canadian standards, and prepare for interviews with employers.
Canadian orientation programs covered information about the health care system, education, Canadian laws and regulations, cultural values and expectations, etiquette, and social norms. These services, while seemingly basic, were essential for people arriving in a completely different cultural and social environment.
Program timeline and critical dates
CUAET has a clear timeline, which has been significantly shortened and changed over time, something that anyone considering this program or who has already taken advantage of it should be aware of. The pilot project proposal was launched in March 2022, and applications were accepted for several months. However, in July 2023, the Canadian government closed the door to new applications for CUAET. This meant that as of July 15, 2023, new individuals who had not already applied were unable to submit a new application to participate in the program through this channel.
However, even though new applications were no longer being accepted, those whose applications had already been approved could still enter Canada and take advantage of the program. But there was a deadline for this as well: March 31, 2024. This was a critical date. People who arrived in Canada on or before that date received the full range of program benefits, including two weeks of free accommodation, one-time financial assistance, free processing of work and study permits, and free access to settlement services.
People who did not arrive by March 31, 2024, but had an approved application, found themselves in different situations. Some had until June 30, 2024, to arrive and were still eligible for certain benefits. However, the benefits package was narrowed, and people who arrived after the official March deadline were not eligible for special payments and free accommodation.
Furthermore, for those who entered Canada before March 31, 2024, under CUAET or other temporary status, a new set of services became available: they were eligible to apply for an extension of their temporary status, work permits, study permits — all free of charge and with expedited processing. The deadline for submitting such applications was initially set for March 31, 2025, but was then extended to March 31, 2026, due to recognized difficulties and delays in processing (such as people with expired passports who were unable to obtain new ones).
People who arrived in Canada after March 31, 2024, or will arrive in the future, have already encountered the normal procedure. They can remain in Canada under their existing permits, but if they wish to extend their stay or apply for work permits, they must pay the standard fees and go through the normal processing times, which often take several months.
Program scale and impact: numbers and statistics
The scale of the CUAET program was unprecedented in modern Canadian immigration history. From March 2022 to April 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada received approximately 1.19 million applications to participate in the program. Of these applications, approximately 960,000 were approved and entry permits were issued.
However, the number of actual arrivals is extremely interesting and speaks to the complexity of the program: approximately 300,000 Ukrainians. In other words, out of approximately one million approved permits, about 300,000 people came to Canada. The gap between approvals and actual arrivals can be explained by several factors. First, some people applied as a backup option — they were non-Europeans, and if the program was extended, they would want to take advantage of it, but when the situation stabilized a bit, or they found an opportunity to evacuate to another European country, they did not adjust their plans to go to Canada.
Second, geopolitical and logistical challenges also explain this. People who have permits to enter Canada may have problems leaving Ukraine (for example, men aged 18 to 60 were formally banned or severely restricted from leaving during this period), may struggle to transit through neighboring countries, or may experience delays in obtaining entry permits to transit countries.
The distribution of CUAET migrants across Canada was interesting from a socio-economic perspective. Ontario, especially the Greater Toronto Area, received the largest influx, which is logical since Toronto already had the largest Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and ethnic networks that helped newcomers find jobs and housing. However, Alberta, especially the Edmonton and Calgary regions, became the second largest destination for CUAET. As of early 2024, about 50,000 Ukrainians had registered for health care in Alberta, and many of them had arrived specifically under CUAET.
The reasons for this distribution are well known. Alberta offers a lower cost of living compared to Ontario, especially in terms of rent and home ownership. In addition, employers in Alberta have been actively recruiting Ukrainians in sectors with labor shortages: construction, plumbing, HVAC, maintenance, healthcare (including nurses and nursing assistants), agriculture, and food processing. In addition, the existing Ukrainian community in Alberta has created mutual aid networks, cultural organizations, and information channels that have helped newcomers adapt and integrate.
How CUAET differs from refugee status and permanent residence
One of the most common misconceptions about CUAET is that people perceive it as a refugee resettlement program or as equivalent to refugee status. This is a completely incorrect understanding, and it is important to distinguish between these concepts.
Refugee status in international law and in the Canadian system is defined as a person who has a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. In addition, the person cannot return to their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution. The determination of refugee status, both under the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and under Canadian law, involves an individual assessment of each case, proof of specific circumstances of personal persecution, and, ultimately, a decision by the reviewing authority.
CUAET was never designed as a refugee status determination program. It is an administrative measure, not a judicial or formalized judgment. In creating the program, the Canadian government assumed that the existence of full-scale war in Ukraine and the general danger to the civilian population was sufficient justification for granting temporary protection without the need to prove individual persecution.
This has several advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the CUAET meant that people did not have to spend months or years waiting for their refugee claims to be processed, did not have to be involved in court or administrative hearings, and did not have to provide evidence of persecution, which is often psychologically traumatic for people fleeing conflict. They arrived, were screened for security, and entered the program.
On the downside, CUAET did not provide automatic transition to permanent resident status, as is often the case for individuals whose refugee claims or resettlement applications have been accepted. People under CUAET remained on temporary status, and if they wanted to stay in Canada permanently, they needed to apply through other established Canadian immigration programs.
Pathways to permanent residence for those who arrived under CUAET
For many people who arrived in Canada under CUAET and recognized the benefits, security, and opportunities that life in Canada offers, a natural question arose: how can I stay here permanently? The answer: there is no automatic route to do so, but there are currently several routes through which people can move from temporary to permanent status.
One of the most popular routes is the Express Entry program, a federal system that processes applications from skilled workers for permanent residence. The main streams of Express Entry are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. To receive an invitation to apply through Express Entry, a candidate must score a certain number of points based on adaptability factors: age, education level, work experience (especially Canadian experience), language proficiency, job offer in Canada, and other factors.
People under CUAET who have arrived and started working in Canada have a significant advantage: they can accumulate Canadian work experience, which those who applied for Express Entry from outside the border did not have. One year of Canadian work experience in a skilled job can give them an additional thirty-five to forty points in Express Entry, depending on their family status. In addition, language skills and Canadian experience significantly strengthen an individual's position for receiving an invitation to apply.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) may also be available to some individuals. Many provinces, including Alberta, actively nominated Ukrainians, especially those with jobs or skills that were in demand in the province. If an individual received a nomination from a province, they could apply for permanent residence at the federal level with the support of the province, which greatly improved their chances of approval.
For people with close relatives in Canada who were already citizens or permanent residents, the family sponsorship program was an option. In the interim, the Canadian government even introduced a special program for Ukrainians with family members in Canada, which had simplified and expedited processing, but this program closed in October 2024.
Finally, there is the possibility of applying on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds. These programs are designed to address situations that do not quite fit into the standard immigration categories, but where there are compelling reasons to consider temporary or permanent residence. For Ukrainians, the security situation in Ukraine, the presence of dependents in Canada, established family ties in Canadian society, and other factors could be considered grounds for accepting an H&C application. However, this is a long and unpredictable process that can take years, and the outcome is not guaranteed.
Conclusion
CUAET is the most notable example of an emergency humanitarian response program in modern Canadian immigration history. It demonstrates the country's ability to quickly mobilize, develop a solution that combines humanity with practicality, and implement a program on a scale that is not limited by the numbers of a humanitarian disaster. Thanks to this program, approximately 300,000 Ukrainians have found safety, the opportunity to work, study, and rebuild their lives in one of the safest and most developed countries in the world.
Although CUAET was designed as a temporary measure, for many people it has become a gateway to a new life, opportunities, and in the future, perhaps permanent residence and citizenship. For others, when the situation in Ukraine improves, it will be a mechanism for an organized and safe return home, a deferred opportunity to take a break from war and adapt to peaceful life. Regardless of how the story of each Ukrainian who has taken advantage of this program unfolds, CUAET will remain a historic moment when one country opened its doors to help another in its most critical hour.