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Ukrainian emergency visa holders expected to return after war: immigration department
Nearly 300,000 Ukrainians entered Canada on emergency visas since 2022, but only about 2,500 have obtained permanent residency amid long wait times and reduced intake.
- On Feb. 16, 2026, Canada's immigration department in Ottawa said it still expects Ukrainians who fled the war with Russia to return once the conflict ends.
- The emergency work-and-study visa program launched after Russia's full-scale invasion almost four years ago brought nearly 300,000 people to Canada.
- IRCC data shows about 2,500 visa-holders have received permanent residency, while humanitarian and compassionate permanent-residency cases face waits over 10 years.
- Immigration Minister Lena Diab recently acknowledged many temporary visa-holders are here to stay, while the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is pushing for a dedicated permanent-residency stream.
- Canada is reducing permanent-resident admissions compared to recent years, creating pressure on visa-holders amid an extensive list of applications and waits over 10 years for humanitarian and compassionate cases.
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The Canadian Department of Immigration states that it still expects Ukrainians who have fled the war with Russia to return to their home country once the conflict has ended.
·Montreal, Canada
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Ottawa expects Ukrainian emergency visa holders to return after war ends
By David Baxter The Canadian Press Posted February 16, 2026 12:37 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canada’s immigration department says it still expects Ukrainians who fled the war with Russia to return to their home country once the conflict ends. That’s in spite of comments from Immigration Minister Lena Diab, who recently acknowledged that many Ukrainians who came to C…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources30
Leaning Left21Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution88% Left
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources lean Left
88% Left
L 88%
12%
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