Assistance for Canadians in Ukraine
Assistance for Canadians in UkraineOn February 24, 2022, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine, launching attacks on several cities. If you’re in Ukraine, you should shelter in place unless you are able to leave the country safely. Here are Canada’s Response To The Crises In Ukraine. If you need consular assistance, you should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) for 24/7 emergency consular assistance.
Find out about other measures in place to make it easier and faster for Canadian citizens and their immediate family members to return to Canada.
Permanent residents
If you are a permanent resident of Canada, this article on Canada’s Response To The Crises In Ukraine will be of great help. Especially if you don’t have a valid PR card, you can apply for a permanent resident travel document to travel back to Canada.
Find out about other immigration measures in place to support make it easier and faster for permanent residents of Canada and their immediate family members to return to Canada.
Leaving Ukraine
If you are in Ukraine, you should shelter in a safe place unless you are able to leave the country safely. If you plan to leave Ukraine by air or land, confirm your destination’s entry requirements prior to arrival.
Check Leaving Ukraine – Border restrictions for information about entering Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania or Slovakia from Ukraine.
If you are returning to Canada, check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for information about the health requirements for entering Canada.
Information about entry requirements for other destinations are available from the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories.
Assistance for Ukrainians in and outside Canada
New immigration measures have been put in place to help people affected by the ongoing situation in Ukraine, including:
- urgent and priority processing of documents and applications
- new ways to contact us
- other processes to help Ukrainian nationals in and outside Canada
We’ll be adding new measures as the situation changes as part of Canada’s Response To The Crises In Ukraine.
Find out about other immigration measures in place to support Ukrainians and people living in Ukraine.
Situation in Ukraine
Political situation
In 2014, Russia violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by illegally occupying Crimea and Sevastopol. Since then, Russia has continued its aggressive actions and attempts to destabilize Ukraine through disinformation campaigns, malicious hybrid and cyber operations, and through military build-ups in and around Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military attack against Ukraine and its people.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable attack of Ukraine violates international law, jeopardize stability in the entire region and puts countless innocent lives at risk. It also threatens the values and principles that underpin the rules-based international order, including a state’s right to sovereignty and self determination.
Canada is steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. Alongside our international partners and allies we unequivocally condemn Russia’s illegal and egregious actions.
Canada-Ukraine bilateral relations
On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Since then, Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed a close bilateral relationship that spans cooperation on security and defence, trade, and advancing Ukraine’s democratic and economic reform efforts.
Our bilateral relationship is strengthened by warm people-to-people ties, and an active Ukrainian-Canadian community of more than 1.4 million citizens.
Since 2014, Canada has provided Ukraine with more than $890 million in multifaceted assistance, including humanitarian assistance, development assistance and peace and stabilization. Supporting Ukraine’s security sector and defence reform remains a flagship area of our engagement.
Operations at the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine in Kyiv are temporarily suspended and have moved to a temporary office in Lviv. Operations at the embassy in Kyiv will resume as soon as the security situation in Ukraine allows for the adequate delivery of services and guarantee the security of staff.
Targeted sanctions
Since Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has been a leader in international support for the government of Ukraine and its people. In coordination with partners and allies, we have imposed sanctions against more than 440 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and entities, involved in violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Canada’s sanctions impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Canada is imposing new sanctions. The new sanctions include restrictions on 31 individuals who are key members of President Putin’s inner circle, close contacts and family members of some individuals already sanctioned by Canada, and 27 key financial institutions.
Export Controls
On February 24, 2022, Canada announced restrictions on exports to Russia. In line with Canada’s Response To The Crises In Ukraine, Canada stopped the issuance of new export permit applications and cancelled valid export permits for controlled goods and technology to Russia.
Permits are required for the export and brokering of goods and technology controlled under the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). Canada’s Export Control List (ECL) identifies specific goods and technology that are controlled for export from Canada to other countries, regardless of their means of delivery.
For the complete list of goods and technology controlled for export from Canada, you can consult A Guide to Canada’s Export Control List.
How Canada is helping in Response To The Crises In Ukraine
Development and humanitarian assistance
Recognizing the generosity of Canadians and their desire to assist those affected by the crisis, Canada launched a matching fund on February 25, 2022. Canada will match, dollar for dollar, donations made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross, between February 24 and March 18, 2022, for crisis relief in Ukraine up to a maximum of $10 million. To make a donation, visit the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal online or call 1-800-418-1111. With the matching fund contribution, the Red Cross will support preparedness, immediate and ongoing relief efforts, and other critical humanitarian activities as needs of people affected by the conflict in Ukraine arise, including support to populations that have been displaced.
Canada has offered a loan, as announced on February 14, 2022, of up to $500 million to the Government of Ukraine through the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act, in addition to a $120 million loan that was announced on January 21, 2022 through the Sovereign Loans Program (SLP) to support the country’s economic resilience and governance reforms. It has also offered a technical assistance grant of up to $6 million to support the loan’s implementation.
Canada announced an additional $35 million in development funding to partners in Ukraine that are well-placed to scale up programming. Also respond to evolving needs and that have the ability to deliver programming if the situation deteriorates. This will scale up support for peace and security initiatives and services for those affected by the conflict—particularly women and marginalized groups.
Canada announced $15 million in humanitarian funding in 2022 to support experienced partners on the ground respond to humanitarian needs in Ukraine. With this contribution, partners will provide protection assistance, emergency health services, water and sanitation, shelter and food assistance.
Canadian Armed Forces operations
In September 2015, we launched Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military training and capacity-building mission in Ukraine. The deployment usually consists of approximately 250 CAF personnel to Ukraine under Operation UNIFIER. This operation has been extended until the end of March 2025. Since the establishment of this mission, over 33,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained under Op UNIFIER.
Trade in Ukraine
Despite the challenging security situation, Ukraine remains an important political and economic partner to Canada. The Government of Canada is monitoring the situation and the potential impact on Canadian business and investment. This prompted this article on Canada’s Response To The Crises In Ukraine.
Canadians in Ukraine should shelter in place unless they are able to leave the country safely. Should you require trade and investment services. And be advised that access to Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in Ukraine is limited. Due to ongoing Russian aggression, the risk of armed conflict, and the closure of our embassy in Kyiv.
Canada continues to stand resolute in its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and is committed to strengthening relations with Ukraine on all fronts, including trade.
To mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Canada and Ukraine jointly launched negotiations for the modernisation of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.
Modernization of CUFTA will further deepen our bilateral relationship and benefit workers, businesses, and the long-term economic development of both Canada and Ukraine.
A further heightening of tensions could impact or delay many aspects of new or ongoing trade initiatives with Ukraine.
For more information, please visit doing business in Ukraine.
