Canada unveils new permanent residency program for refugees from Ukraine

MOSCOW. July 17 (Interfax) - The Canadian government will launch a new immigration program for Ukrainian refugees that will allow them to reunite with their families and obtain the permanent residency status, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said, as Ukrainian media reported, citing CBCNews.

"We continue to extend unwavering support and a lifeline to families separated by this conflict, including through this family reunification pathway that will help Ukrainian families stay together as they rebuild their lives in their new communities in Canada," the minister said.

Ukrainians living in Canada with temporary status and having one or more family members in Canada will be eligible for reunification.

As reported, more details will be released closer to when the program launches on October 23, 2023. The program will be free and will run for one year.

The government's initial emergency immigration program expired on July 15 of this year, CBCNews reported.

Under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET), which was launched in March 2022, Ukrainians could travel to Canada, live and work there for three years. A number of measures for them were taken to speed up the visa process, including prioritized processing and waived fees.

About 166,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada through the special visa program, CBCNews reported.