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OTTAWA – The federal government is moving to accelerate permanent residence applications for thousands of Ukrainians already living in Canada, with plans to clear a longstanding backlog by the end of 2027.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says a new temporary measure proposed in Budget 2026 would provide additional permanent residence spaces for up to 18,800 Ukrainians who applied through the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
The initiative is part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan and is intended to reduce processing delays while fulfilling humanitarian commitments made to Ukrainians who sought stability in Canada.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab met with Ukrainian community leaders on Nov. 7 to discuss the changes, which were announced publicly on Nov. 10.
The government says the additional admission spaces would allow immigration officials to process all remaining applications under the family reunification program by the end of 2027.
The program was introduced on Oct. 23, 2023, to help Ukrainian nationals already in Canada obtain permanent residence if they had immediate or extended family members who were Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Applications closed on Oct. 22, 2024, but thousands of applicants have continued waiting for decisions.
Ottawa says the new measure does not reopen the program or create a new immigration pathway. Instead, it provides additional processing capacity for people who have already applied.
Applicants do not need to submit new documents or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to benefit from the initiative.
The government also emphasized that the affected Ukrainians are already living and working in Canada, meaning the additional permanent residence admissions would not represent new arrivals to the country.
“Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while honouring the commitments we made to those in need,” Metlege Diab said.
“The time-limited measure announced with our levels plan will allow us to deliver faster on our promises to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, giving them certainty as they continue to build their lives and contribute to our country.”
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress welcomed the announcement, saying the measures address a significant concern for Ukrainian families who have been waiting for permanent immigration status.
“The Ukrainian Canadian community welcomes the new measures announced by the government that will address the backlog of Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway applications by the end of 2027,” said Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Chyczij also thanked the minister for meeting with community representatives and hearing their concerns, including questions about permanent residence opportunities for Ukrainians currently living in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program.
That program, commonly known as CUAET, allowed Ukrainians fleeing the war to enter Canada under temporary immigration measures.
The government’s announcement specifically addresses applications already submitted through the family reunification pathway and does not establish a new permanent residence program for all CUAET participants.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress says it looks forward to continuing discussions with Ottawa about immigration options for Ukrainians living in Canada under temporary status.
The federal government says the new measure is part of a broader effort to reduce immigration processing times while maintaining existing humanitarian commitments.
The additional admissions would be separate from the humanitarian and compassionate immigration targets already included in the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan.
Ottawa says the approach will not reduce spaces available to other vulnerable populations, including refugees selected for resettlement.
The government expects the changes to provide greater certainty for Ukrainian families who have established homes, jobs and community connections in Canada while waiting for permanent residence decisions.
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