Work Permit Extension

The April 2026 public policy (in effect April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027) has two eligibility groups. Group 1: you arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024 and hold a valid open work permit issued under one of these Ukraine public policies: March 2022 (original CUAET), March 2023, July 2023, August 2024, or February 2025 (extension). Group 2: you arrived in Canada on or before December 31, 2024 and hold a valid open work permit issued under the March 2024 policy for applicants whose CUAET applications were pending on February 4, 2024, or its July 2024 extension. In both groups you must have valid temporary resident status (temporary resident permit holders are excluded) and a valid open work permit when you apply. You must also be in Canada both when you apply and when IRCC makes its decision, and you can receive only one extension under these measures. Fees: $155 work permit processing fee + $100 open work permit holder fee + biometrics if required ($85 per person, or a $170 maximum for a family applying together). Children under 14 do not give biometrics.

To find your group, look at your arrival date and the public policy named on your current open work permit. Group 1 is for people who arrived on or before March 31, 2024 and hold a permit issued under the 2022 CUAET policy or the 2023, August 2024 or February 2025 Ukraine policies. Group 2 is for people who arrived on or before December 31, 2024 and hold a permit issued under the March 2024 or July 2024 policies for applicants whose CUAET applications were pending on February 4, 2024. Both groups allow one extension of up to 3 years. IRCC cannot issue a permit that goes past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics. If you are unsure which policy your permit was issued under, check the remarks on your permit or your IRCC approval letter.

In the Details of intended work section, select "Open Work Permit", enter "UKRAINE 2022" as the Job title, and enter "Ukraine 2022 public policy—open work permit" as the Brief description of duties. Answer "Yes" to "I am applying for an open work permit under an active public policy or pilot program announced by IRCC." Upload your passport, a copy of your current Ukraine-policy work permit, and a letter stating that you are applying under the 2026 Ukraine special measures (both in the "Client Information" section). Processing is prioritized but not instant — apply well before your current permit expires.

Unlike the original 2022 CUAET measures, the 2026 extension is NOT fee-exempt. Budget for at minimum: the $155 work permit processing fee, the $100 open work permit holder fee, and the $85 biometrics fee, totalling at least $340 per adult applicant (fees are set by IRCC and may change, and each family member pays their own). Plan your budget before starting your application. Payment is made online at the end of the process through the IRCC portal, by credit card.

If you submit your extension application BEFORE your current work permit expires, you receive "maintained status" (formerly called implied status). You can then continue to legally live and work in Canada under the same conditions as your expiring permit while IRCC processes your application — even if processing takes several months. If you apply AFTER your permit expires, you lose maintained status and, with it, the legal right to work. You may still be able to restore your status within 90 days by paying additional restoration fees, but you cannot work during the restoration period. The single most important action you can take is to apply early — well before your expiry date.

IRCC cannot issue a work permit that goes past the expiry of your passport or your biometrics. If either expires within 3 years, renew it before you apply if you can. If you cannot renew your Ukrainian passport in time because of embassy backlogs, you can still apply: IRCC assesses these cases individually. If you receive your new passport while your application is in processing, send a copy through the IRCC web form (add the keyword "Ukraine2022"). You can only extend once under the 2026 measures, so do not plan on a second Ukraine-specific application.

The 2026 public policy allowing CUAET holders to extend their open work permit is currently set to expire on MARCH 31, 2027. To take advantage of this extension pathway, you must submit a complete application (with all documents, forms, and fees) by this date at the latest. After March 31, 2027, unless the federal government introduces a new measure, CUAET holders will no longer have a Ukraine-specific extension pathway and will need to qualify under regular Canadian work permit rules. This is the single most important date for all CUAET holders in Canada — mark it on your calendar and plan to apply well in advance, ideally 3 to 6 months ahead, to allow time to renew your passport, gather documents, and process your application.

Ukrainian passport services for men were suspended on April 23, 2024 and have since partially resumed. Consular services are available for most Ukrainians, but men aged 25–60 must first update their military registration (TCC — Territorial Recruitment Centre) data before passport services will be provided to them. Conscription risk remains real for men in this age group. Men who cannot renew their passport face a hard cap on work permit duration matching their passport expiry. Do not travel to Ukraine without consulting an immigration lawyer. Conscription rules and consular service conditions change frequently — verify current status through official Ukrainian government sources or your consulate. This is general information only — consult an immigration lawyer or RCIC.

If your work permit has already expired and you did not apply for an extension before it expired, you may still be able to restore your status within 90 days. 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. During the restoration period, you cannot legally work. Submit your application immediately — the 90-day window is strict. After 90 days without status, you risk a removal order. If your permit expired recently, this is your top priority. Consult an immigration lawyer or RCIC if you need help. Source: IRCC fee list, Sept 2026.