Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced temporary measures to facilitate Ukrainian nationals and their families in extending their stay in Canada, including obtaining work and study permits that they may not have been eligible for previously.

These measures specifically target Ukrainian nationals, their spouses, and dependent family members who have applied for permanent residency through a temporary public policy designed for certain Ukrainian nationals with family ties in Canada.

To be eligible for work or study permits under this policy, individuals must meet specific criteria:

Scenario one

• Be in Canada with valid temporary resident status or have applied for restoration of status within 90 days.

Scenario two

• Have had valid temporary resident status when applying for permanent residency and subsequently lost that status, or had valid status within 90 days before applying for permanent residency.
• Apply within Canada on or before March 31, 2026.

Individuals falling under scenario two are exempt from certain inadmissibility criteria related to unauthorized work or study in Canada and are not bound by the usual restoration of status requirements.

Both scenarios exempt foreign nationals from the standard procedures for applying for work or study permits from within Canada.

This temporary public policy came into effect on January 16, 2026, and will be in place until March 31, 2027, subject to change or revocation at any time.

Ukrainian nationals can apply for work or study permits even without an acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) for their permanent residency application. If applying without valid temporary resident status, they must also request restoration of status along with their permit applications.

IRCC usually requires individuals without an existing permit to apply for a restoration of status along with their work or study permit applications.