Canada allows Ukrainians who applied under the family‑reunification pathway (and their in‑Canada family members) to apply for open work permits, study permits, and extensions/restorations of temporary resident status until March 31, 2027—even without an AOR; standard fees apply. This preserves work/study/status while PR applications are processed and applies only to existing family‑reunification applicants.
Soheil Hosseini
January 19, 2026
Jurisdiction
Federal
Week
Week 4
Impact
Moderate
Programs Affected
Canada extends work, study and temporary-residence application access for Ukrainians in family-reunification pathway to March 31, 2027
Summary: Canada has extended in-Canada application access for Ukrainians who applied under the family reunification pathway, allowing them and their family members to seek open work permits, study permits, and temporary resident status extensions or restorations until March 31, 2027 while they await permanent residence decisions. January 16, 2026 — Ottawa — Canada has expanded interim measures to support Ukrainians with family ties in Canada who have applied under the family reunification pathway to permanent residence (launched in October 2023). Effective immediately, eligible applicants and their family members in Canada may apply to extend their stay and maintain legal status while their permanent residence applications are processed. Key measures:
- In-Canada applications permitted until March 31, 2027 for:
- New open work permits
- Extensions of existing work permits
- New study permits
- Extensions or restorations of temporary resident status
- May apply even without an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for the permanent residence application.
- Standard fees apply. Program context and implications:
- The update targets Ukrainians who have already applied under the family reunification pathway and their accompanying family members. It does not expand eligibility to new permanent residence applicants outside that pathway.
- By preserving work and study authorization and avoiding lapses of status, the measure is likely to reduce disruption for families, help employers retain workers, and support educational continuity.
- Potential constraints include ongoing processing timelines and the continued cost burden (standard fees). Individuals outside the pathway remain ineligible for these specific in-Canada extensions under this measure.
Date of update: 2026-01-19 Source: News Article
Programs affected: Work Permit; Study Permit; Temporary Resident Status (TRV); Family Reunification/Sponsorship pathway
Tags: Canada immigration, Ukrainian family reunification, open work permit, study permit, temporary resident status, status restoration, permanent residence, policy update, IRCC, 2027 deadline This extension strengthens interim protections for Ukrainian families in Canada, offering a clearer bridge to permanency while applications are finalized.
Categories
Share This Post
Stay Updated with Immigration News
Get the latest updates on Express Entry draws, OINP invitations, policy changes, and more delivered to your inbox.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Related Articles
NOC 33102 Institutional Only
OINP confirms NOC 33102 applies only to nurse-aide roles primarily performed in institutional settings (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-care and other health establishments); home-based care must be classified as NOC 44101. Employers and applicants should update job offers, contracts and postings to the correct NOC to avoid application delays or refusals.
FMCSP Renewal Rules
On 2026-09-24 IRCC updated the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, adding financial requirements for study‑permit renewals and explicitly accepting valid LOAs or other proof of continued enrolment. The guidance also clarifies extension rules for accompanying family members and confirms participants retain FMCSP designation while meeting eligibility.
90-Day Grace Period
IRCC extends concurrent processing grace period for eligible in‑Canada LMIA‑dependent work‑permit extension applications from 60 to 90 days, holding applications without decision to allow a pending LMIA (and CAQ, if required) to be issued. A new client flagging process (use tracking code CPTS2026 in the intended occupation) identifies files for concurrent processing; eligibility hinges on permit expiry window, timely LMIA filing, and LMIA validity.
IRCC A70 Guidance
IRCC standardized and reorganized R207 – A70 guidance for in‑Canada PR applicants under the International Mobility Program—new landing page, clarified instructions and consistent format. Affects protected persons, family members and H&C applicants; procedural/formatting update only, no substantive eligibility changes.