The program provides temporary status to Ukrainian nationals and their family members, allowing visa holders to travel, study, and work within Canada for up to three years.
During the first session of the 44th Canadian Parliament, in direct response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration submitted a report that recommended implementing visa-free travel from Ukraine to Canada by use of electronic travel authorization (eTA).
[8] Those approved would be permitted to stay in Canada for up to three years, as opposed to the six months of typical visitor visas,[7] and are legally considered temporary residents rather than refugees.
[9] Provincial governments that provide social support include British Columbia and Ontario, providing Medical Services Plan (MSP) and Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), respectively, upon arrival.
[12] Aidan Strickland, press secretary for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, clarified that CUAET visa holders were granted temporary residency, not refugee status, based on the Ukrainian community's preference for a temporary solution.