Ukrainians wishing to go to Canada in 2024 should familiarise themselves with the new immigration rules, as the government of this country has made adjustments in this matter. Find out how to get to Canada, what documents are needed and whether there are now programmes for Ukrainian citizens

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Canada, like many other countries around the world, helps Ukrainians fleeing the war. However, two years into the war in Canada, the rules for Ukrainians intending to move there have changed. So, here's what you need to pay attention to if you are considering Canada as a country to move to temporarily or permanently.

As you know, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Canadian government has created a special CUAET programme for Ukrainians, which allowed them to obtain a local visa. More than 1 million people applied for this programme, but only about 170,000 citizens took advantage of it.

In the summer of 2023, Canada closed the CUAET programme and it is no longer available. At the same time, people who have already received a visa under this programme will have to enter the country by 31 March 2024.

Rules for entering Canada

Before travelling to Canada, a Ukrainian must obtain an entry permit. According to the rules, such a permit is a visa: a tourist, visitor or business visa. 

A visitor visa is intended for those who have received an invitation from relatives or friends to visit. In the absence of such an invitation, a tourist visa is preferred.

For business cooperation with Canadian partners, a business visa is recommended.

This type of visa is ideal for travelling for the purpose of negotiations, signing contracts and other business activities. The process of obtaining a Canadian visa, regardless of its type, involves the preparation of a standard package of documents.

What documents are required for a visa to Canada?

The list of documents is quite extensive, so we recommend that you prepare them in advance, including copies. The list is as follows:

➡️Загранпаспорт and copies of all pages;

➡️украинский passport with copies;

➡️свидетельство marriage certificate (copies);

➡️копия divorce certificate (if any);

➡️в If you have children, you need to make copies of their birth certificates;

➡️взять salary certificate for six months;

➡️взять extract from the state register, tax return for the last year or quarter of the current year, receipt No. 2;

➡️также you need to take an account statement for the last six months;

➡️при if you have children, you need to take their passports and make copies of the pages with stamps. A birth certificate, parental permission to leave and a photo - 3.5 by 4.5 cm, in electronic form on a white background.

Immigration programme to Canada for Ukrainians

In October 2023, Canada introduced a new temporary programme to help Ukrainian families reunite in Canada. This programme allows Ukrainians and their family members to apply for permanent residence. The programme will run for one year.

Ukrainians with relatives in Canada are eligible to apply. In particular:

- family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

- spouse of a Ukrainian citizen who has a family in Canada.

According to the programme, family members include children, parents, grandparents, spouses, and siblings.

Important! You can apply for this programme only if you are physically present in Canada. You will also need to fill out and sign the IMM 0191 form. It should indicate family ties with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You can list family members, including children, in the application. This includes all your dependent children under the age of 22 who are not married.

Ukrainians who want to enter Canada must obtain an immigration permit and meet the requirements of immigration law (criminal, medical and security).

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Medical services

Healthcare in Canada is free if you have a Health Insurance Card. Refugees need to apply for it as soon as possible after arrival, as private healthcare in the country is paid. The card is issued in the province where you have settled. The Health Insurance Card includes:

- consultations with family doctors and specialised doctors;

- diagnostics

- inpatient treatment;

- ambulance service

- vaccinations;

- most surgeries (appendicitis, removal of cancerous tumours, etc;)

- Pregnancy and childbirth.

In Canada, without insurance, it may be impossible to see a doctor. Although medical care will be provided in an emergency even without insurance, you should expect to be charged a hefty bill for the services rendered.

However, you can protect yourself from unforeseen situations in advance by taking out global health insurance. It will allow you to be sure that in the event of any health situation, you will be able to count on medical care. You can take out such insurance here.

Finding accommodation

The first and one of the most important decisions you need to make when moving to Canada is to choose a region to live in. Canada is a large country with many interesting cities and towns. When choosing a province to move to, we recommend that you take into account the standard of living, rental costs, average salary and weather conditions. Do not overlook small towns, as the cost of living in a small town is much lower than in a metropolis. To find free temporary accommodation, visit the Icanhelp website, which contains ads from Canadians who are ready to help Ukrainians and provide temporary shelter.

Almost a third of families in Canada rent. Most of the ads are posted online. When choosing a place to live permanently, pay attention to the living environment, the availability of nearby shops, schools, and the level of public transport.

Where to find a job?

When you move to Canada, you will need to find a job to support yourself and your family. An open work permit allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada.

To find a job, we recommend using the free government job board Job Bank. This is where employers who want to offer jobs to Ukrainians are registered. You can also create your own CV and maybe a job will find you.

You can find tips on job search and CV preparation, as well as other useful information here.

If you still have questions about the basic rules of moving to Canada or want to learn more about the information, please visit the official website of the Government of Canada, which contains all the relevant information.

We remind you! The USA continues to accept Ukrainians and provide them with protection under the Uniting for Ukraine programme. At the same time, Ukrainians who are already in the country can extend the terms of previously issued humanitarian passwords. All about the current rules of entry and stay in the United States in 2024, tell us here.

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