Resettling in Canada

For the most up-to-date information on Canadian vaccination requirements, visit: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Ukrainian Nationals and their family members may be exempt from vaccination requirements. Learn more at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/vaccination-exemption.html

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The best way to get around Toronto is by public transportation. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs three modes of transportation – subway, streetcar, and bus – which operate extensive routes throughout the city and suburbs. You will need a token or a pass to travel on TTC; day and week passes allow for unlimited rides on all three forms of public transport. The subway also connects the city to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), as do taxis.

You can find more information about road conditions, driver's licenses, vehicle registration, Drive Clean, and commercial vehicles on The Ministry of Transportation’s website.

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Temporary housing

If you need help finding a place to live, you can get support from the province or territory of your destination. Visit this link and select the province or territory you wish to reside in to learn more about temporary housing assistance in that area.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is Canada’s national housing agency. Their website has information about buying a house and renting an apartment in Canada. 

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LEARN ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN CANADA

In Canada, it is the law that children get an education. It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure children get enrolled in and attend school. Depending on where you live, there are many schooling options to choose from. There are also different ways to get involved in those communities. This is because each province and territory run its own school system.

Each system is similar, but there are some important differences. The difference reflects the priorities of that provincial or territorial government.

UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANADIAN SCHOOLING

There are 3 types of schooling in Canada

• Primary (elementary)
• Secondary
• Post-secondary

Primary (or elementary) school

Primary education is generally for kids 5 to 12 years old. This usually includes

• Preschool (optional)
• Kindergarten
• Grade 1 to 6

Secondary (or high) school

Secondary education is generally for kids 12 to 18 years old. This group usually includes Grades 7 to 12.

Post-secondary

With the right educational credentials, anyone can apply to attend a post-secondary school.

ENROLL IN OR APPLY TO A SCHOOL

The general documents you need for enrolment are listed below. Please check with your school to see if you will need any additional documents:

• Birth certificate
• Proof of guardianship or custody
• Proof of residency
• Record of immunizations (to prove that your child’s vaccines are up to date)

Language testing

• If English or French is not your first language, you may need to take a language test. The school will give you a list of tests that it accepts and the score you need to get in order to enroll.

TIP: If there is more than one school to choose from in your region, enroll well before the school year begins to make sure you get a spot in the school you prefer.

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CREDIT CARDS

You can use a credit card to make several different types of transactions to pay for goods or services including:

• At a cash register or checkout, that is, a point of sale
• Over the phone
• Online

Keep receipts for all your credit card purchases. Check your receipts against your credit card statement to make sure there are no mistakes. If you find a mistake, immediately contact the other financial institution that issued your credit card.

To learn more about credit cards, visit the following:

• Credit cards: rights and responsibilities
• How credit cards work
• Using your credit card responsibly
• Improving your credit score
• Credit Card Comparison Tool

DEBIT CARDS

A debit card is a plastic card that you can use to pay for goods and services or withdraw money directly from your bank account. You may have to pay a fee when you use your debit card. Financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, usually give you a debit card when you sign up for an account. Learn more about debit cards here.

MORTGAGES

Learn more about mortgages including choosing a mortgage, renewing your mortgage, paying off your mortgage faster and more here. 

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A WORK PERMIT:

• Allows a person to legally work in Canada for a temporary period (usually 1-3 years)
• Can be extended.

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

A permanent resident is someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents are citizens of other countries. A person in Canada temporarily, like a student or foreign worker, is not a permanent resident.

As a permanent resident, you have the right to:

• Get most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including health care coverage
• Live, work or study anywhere in Canada
• Apply for Canadian citizenship
• Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• You must pay taxes and respect all Canadian laws at the federal, provincial and municipal levels
  
  

EXTEND YOUR STAY IN CANADA

If you’re a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national and you have valid status as a visitor in Canada or you hold a study or work permit, you can extend your stay in Canada for up to 3 years. Your application will be prioritized, and you’ll be exempt from paying some of the fees for your application.

EXTEND YOUR STAY AS A VISITOR

If you are a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national currently in Canada with valid temporary resident status, you can apply to extend your stay with these steps:

1. Apply online for a visitor record:

You must apply for the visitor record before your current status expires.

• If you’re not sure when your status expires, find the expiry date by looking on your passport or visitor record.
• If you have lost your status, you need to restore your previous status and pay the restoration fee (CAN$200).

You will be exempt from paying the $100 processing fee for a visitor record.

• When you complete the online application, answer “yes” to the fee exemption question.
• You are not exempt from paying the restoration fee if you need to restore your status.

2. Identity as a “priority applicant”:

In the IMM 5708 form, under Details of visit to Canada, enter both of the following:

• Select “other” as the purpose of visit (box 1).
• Write “UKRAINE 2022” in the “other” field.

Learn about how to apply for a visitor record to extend your stay here.

EXTEND YOUR STAY AS A WORKER

If you already have a work permit and you are a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national in Canada, you can apply to extend it to maintain your status as a worker in Canada.

If you currently have an employer-specific work permit, you can only work for the employer on your employer-specific work permit until your open work permit is approved.

You are exempt from paying the work permit processing fee (CAN$155), however, you must prove that you are eligible when you apply. To do this, fill out the work permit application form as follows:

• In the details of intended work in Canada section, select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit you are applying for
• Enter “UKRAINE 2022” as the Job title
• Enter “Ukraine 2022 public policy—open work permit” in the Brief description of duties field

Learn more about extending your work permit here.

If you do not have a work permit and you are a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national in Canada, you can extend your stay as a worker if one of the following applies:

• You have valid status as a visitor or hold a valid study permit
• You applied to extend your status before it expired (“maintained status”)
• You are eligible to restore your status

When you apply for the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) in Canada, you are exempt from paying the following fees:

• Work permit processing fee (CAN$155)
• Open work permit holder fee (CAN$100)

However, if you have lost your status, you need to:

• Restore your previous status
• Pay the restoration fee (CAN$200)

You are not exempt from paying the restoration fee.

EXTEND YOUR STAY AS A STUDENT

If you are a Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national in Canada, you can extend your stay as a student in Canada if one of the following applies:

• You have valid status as a visitor or hold a valid study or work permit or
• You applied to extend your status before it expired (“maintained status”) or
• You are eligible to restore your status

When you apply for the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel in Canada, you’re exempt from paying the

•  Study permit processing fee (CAN$150)

However, if you have lost your status, you need to

• Restore your previous status
•  Pay the restoration fee (CAN$200)

You are not exempt from paying the restoration fee.

To prove that you qualify for priority processing and the fee exemption, select the following options in the tuition payment section of your application:

• “Other” for expenses paid.
• “UKRAINE 2022” for other description.

Find out how to extend your stay in Canada as an international student here.

OBTAINING CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must meet all conditions, including:

• Permanent Resident status
• Time you have lived in Canada
• Income tax filing
• Language skills
• How well you know Canada
• Prohibitions (criminal activity in/out of Canada)

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