Ukrainians in Canada face uncertainty as deadline for visa extension looms

It’s a fearfulness that astir 17-year-olds would ne'er adjacent imagine, but for Maksym Makavchuk, it’s a nightmare he’s warring desperately to avoid.

Makavchuk and his younger sister are facing the heartbreaking world of returning to Ukraine aft fleeing the warfare 2 years agone and moving to Kelowna, B.C.

Like galore Ukrainian refugees, Makavchuk’s household arrived successful Canada connected a three-year exigency visa but with those visas acceptable to expire, refugees person until March 31 to use for an hold — though immoderate are struggling to get one.

“I request to permission the state connected Feb. 22, 2026. I can’t adjacent use for a enactment licence due to the fact that my passport is expiring,” said Makavchuk.

Without a valid passport, helium says helium can’t get a enactment permit, but adjacent worse, getting a Ukrainian passport renewal successful Canada volition instrumentality years.

“Here successful Canada, implicit 2 years, but successful Germany it should beryllium quicker, truthful we person 1 accidental to spell to Germany but the occupation is it’s truthful expensive,” said Makavchuk.

Makavchuk turns 18 years aged adjacent year, but what should beryllium a milestone solemnisation could rapidly crook into a nightmare if he’s forced to instrumentality to Ukraine.

“We person rules successful Ukraine if you’re older than 18 (you can’t permission the country) due to the fact that they deliberation you are capable to beryllium successful the war, and a batch of guys my property are successful the war. They marque the subject property 18,” said Makavchuk.

In a akin concern is Sergii Mazur. Both of his daughters’ passports and visas expire successful July, which means a licence hold is unlikely.

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“They spoke to the Ukrainian embassy and consulate and radical and they don’t spot a mode however to resoluteness it,” said Mazur’s translator.

In a statement, the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said, “While it powerfully encourages adjacent those with expired documents, to inactive use to widen their status, those with alleged ‘maintained’ presumption are not taxable to removal backmost to Ukraine portion the administrative deferral of removals is successful place.”