Canada extends work permit measures for Ukrainians
The Government of Canada has implemented new measures for Ukrainian nationals who arrived in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related policies.
Under the new temporary public policy in effect as of April 1, 2026, eligible Ukrainian nationals with open work permits under qualifying temporary public policies will have until March 31, 2027, to extend their existing work permits.
The measures in place prior to the announcement expired on March 31, 2026.
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Two groups of Ukrainians and their family members are eligible:
Group 1: Those who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024.
Group 2: Those who arrived in Canada between April 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
To qualify under the new policy—Temporary public policy to facilitate extensions of open work permits for foreign nationals in Canada who were facilitated under previous public policies for Ukrainians and their family members—, a foreign national must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status at the time they apply and at the time their application is finalized.
Only one work permit extension is permitted under these new measures—meaning eligible individuals can utilize this policy just once for a permit that can be issued for up to three years.
Qualifying public policies differ for group one and group two:
Group one: Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who applied under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures and whose applications were pending as of February 4, 2024 (the initial policy and its extension).
Group two:
Temporary public policy to exempt Ukrainian nationals from various immigration requirements in support of the Canada–Ukraine authorization of emergency travel;
Temporary public policy to renew the Canada–Ukraine Authorization of Emergency Travel from April 1, 2023;
Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who applied under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures and for new temporary resident applicants; and
Temporary public policy to facilitate continued access to open work permits and study permits for foreign nationals in Canada who arrived under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel measures (the initial policy and its extension).
To apply under this new policy, follow the instructions on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) webpage, after selecting which group you fall under.
Like all temporary public policies, this one can be revoked at any time without notice.
The federal government implemented the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), on March 17, 2022, to provide a safe haven to Ukrainians and their family members displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Around 300,000 Ukrainians and their family members have come to Canada under CUAET.
On January 16, 2026, Canada implemented a new public policy, Temporary public policy to facilitate access to temporary residence for certain Ukrainians and their family members who have applied under the temporary public policy to grant permanent residence to certain Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada, which allows allowing for the granting of work permits and study permits to Ukrainians and their family members who had applied for permanent residence through the Temporary public policy to grant permanent residence to certain Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada.
Canada’s immigration department frequently sets in place temporary public policies with humanitarian aims in response to geopolitical events.
Other recent temporary policies include those aimed at providing relief to people affected by conflicts in Iran, Sudan, Gaza, and Haiti.
