Status and Travel

If your work permit expires and you do not have maintained status, you are out of status in Canada. There is a 90-day restoration window. As of Sept 2026, restoration fees are approximately $246.25 (restoration) + $155 (work permit) = $401.25, plus the $100 open work permit holder fee if you are restoring to an open work permit ($501.25) and biometrics if required. Note: restoration does not make you eligible for the 2026 Ukraine extension, because that policy requires a valid open work permit and valid status when you apply. You cannot work during the restoration period. After 90 days without status, you may receive a removal order from CBSA. Overstaying can affect future immigration applications. If you have lost your status, act immediately — every day counts. Consult an immigration lawyer or RCIC as soon as possible. Source: IRCC fee list, Sept 2026.

If you applied for a work permit extension BEFORE your current permit expired, you have "maintained status" (formerly called implied status). You can legally continue to work under the same conditions as your previous permit while IRCC processes your application. CRITICAL: if you leave Canada while on maintained status, you LOSE that status and cannot return until your new permit is issued. Do NOT travel while awaiting a renewal decision.

As a temporary resident, you can travel, but be aware of the risks. Leaving Canada while on maintained status breaks it. If your permit expires while you are abroad, you cannot re-enter without a valid permit or an approval letter. Re-entry requirements: a valid passport, a valid work or study permit (or an approval letter), and a valid visitor visa (temporary resident visa) in your passport. Ukrainian citizens are NOT visa-exempt and cannot use an eTA, so a work permit alone does not let you board a flight to Canada. Check that your visa is valid before you leave Canada.

Men aged 25 to 60 travelling to Ukraine risk conscription under current Ukrainian martial law. This is not a Canadian immigration issue, but it has serious practical immigration consequences: a person conscripted into the Ukrainian military cannot return to Canada to maintain status or pursue PR. Ukrainian passport services were temporarily suspended on April 23, 2024 and have since partially resumed, but men in the 25–60 draft age range must first update their military registration (TCC data) before passports are issued. Consular rules change frequently — check directly with the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa. Consult an immigration lawyer before any travel to Ukraine. This is general information only.

Ukrainian nationals are technically eligible to file refugee claims in Canada (protected person determination). However, filing a refugee claim affects the status of your existing CUAET permit. New ineligibility rules — introduced in Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act) and enacted through Bill C-12 (Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, in force since March 26, 2026) — bar most refugee claims made more than one year after your first entry to Canada (counting entries on or after June 24, 2020), and bar claims by people who crossed into Canada irregularly from the United States between official ports of entry if they file 14 or more days after entering. People found ineligible may still apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). Refugee status offers a different immigration pathway with different rights and obligations. Consult an immigration lawyer before pursuing this route. This is general information only.

To re-enter Canada, you need: a valid passport, a valid work/study permit or visitor record (or an IRCC approval letter), and a valid visitor visa (TRV). Ukrainian citizens need a visa, not an eTA, to travel to Canada. CBSA officers at the port of entry may question you about the purpose of your trip, your work in Canada, and your immigration status. Keep copies of your IRCC correspondence, employment records, and lease. If your permit expired while abroad, consult an immigration lawyer before attempting to return. This is general information only.