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What Canada announced on January 16, 2026
Canada announced that Ukrainians who applied under the Ukrainian family reunification pathway to permanent residence, and their family members, will have extended access to temporary status in Canada while waiting for a PR decision. This measure responds to the ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion and aims to help families stay together safely in Canada.
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Who is eligible for these new options?
- Ukrainian nationals who have already applied for permanent residence under the family reunification pathway launched in October 2023.
- Eligible family members included in those applications who are in Canada or can apply from inside Canada.
- This does not open the PR pathway to new applicants; it only supports people who already filed their PR application before the pathway closed.
New deadline: apply until March 31, 2027
The key change is an extended time window:
- Eligible Ukrainians now have until March 31, 2027 to apply from within Canada for certain temporary residence documents.
- This extended deadline gives families more time to maintain legal status while IRCC processes their permanent residence applications.
What you can apply for from inside Canada
Even if you have not yet received an AOR (acknowledgement of receipt) for your PR application, you can apply in Canada for:
- A new open work permit
- An extension of an existing work permit
- A new study permit
- An extension or restoration of temporary resident status (visitor, worker, or student)
Standard IRCC fees still apply to these work and study applications and to most status requests.
Why this matters for Ukrainian families in Canada
- Helps prevent gaps in legal status while PR files are in process, reducing stress and risk for families.
- Allows adults to keep working and children or students to continue studying, supporting financial stability and integration.
- Gives more predictability to employers, schools, and communities that rely on Ukrainian workers and students during the PR waiting period.
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