Stand With Ukraine

Action Hub – Kamloops & Region

For Ukrainian Nationals:
How to Get to Canada

The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) & family sponsorship

Sponsor a Family

Learn about private sponsorship of refugees

How You Can Help

Sign up to volunteer your time or make a financial donation.

For Ukrainian Nationals:
Why Choose Kamloops?

As a growing mid-size city, Kamloops & area welcomes you.

Over 10 million people have left their homes in Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. The Government of Canada has put extraordinary temporary measures into place to ensure Ukrainians can find a safe haven in Canada.

Kamloops Immigrant Services and its community partners stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We are dedicated to supporting incoming Ukrainians in whatever ways are possible.

This website provides guidance for Ukrainian nationals on how to get to Canada and settling in Kamloops, as well as information on what Kamloops-area residents and organizations can do to help.

For Ukrainian Nationals: How to Get to Canada

Coming to Canada

Immigration is the responsibility of the federal government of Canada. You must follow federal guidance to enter Canada. For immigration and visa questions, call 1-613-321-4243

Option 1: Apply for the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) – APPLY HERE

  • The Federal CUAET program is the fastest way for Ukrainians to get to Canada. It means that Ukrainians do not arrive as refugees.
  • CUAET offers a free visitor visa, valid for 3 years, with the possibility of extension and application for Permanent Residency.
  • Complete electronic CUAET applications will be processed within 14 days of receipt in most cases.
  • All applicants, including seniors, should also apply for an open work permit with your CUAET application, as it ensures you will receive medical benefits (Medical Services Plan) upon arrival.
  • You are exempt from Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements but must meet all other public health requirements for travel and must use ArriveCAN. COVID-19 guidance for Ukrainian nationals and family members
  • Elementary and high school students can register for and start attending school as soon as they arrive in Canada, and anyone looking to study at the post-secondary level can apply for a study permit once on Canadian soil.
  • Are you a Ukrainian worker, student or visitor / family member who is already in Canada? You may either apply to extend your visitor status or work permit for 3 years, apply for a new work or study permit, or extend your existing permit. Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will waive all extension and work or study permit application fees.
  • Apply for the CUAET here.


Option 2: Get Sponsored by a Family Member –
CALL 613-321-4243 (collect calls accepted) or CONTACT IRCC

A family member already in Canada may apply to sponsor the following relatives to come to Canada:

  • Spouse
  • Common-law or conjugal partner
  • Dependent child (under 22 years with no spouse)
  • Parents
  • Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild
  • Any other living relative, only if they do not have a living relative from the above list that could be sponsored instead.

Learn more about Family Sponsorship here. A family sponsor must be 18 years of age or older and a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or registered under the Canadian Indian Act. There is a dedicated service channel for Ukraine enquiries that will be available for clients both in Canada and abroad at 613-321-4243, with collect calls accepted. In addition, clients can now add the keyword “Ukraine2022” to the IRCC Web form with their inquiry and their email will be prioritized.

Q FREE & DISCOUNTED FLIGHTS FOR UKRAINIANS – Ukrainian Diaspora Support Canada Q

Resources for Ukrainians arriving in British Columbia

Cell Phone Assistance for Ukrainian Refugees in need arriving in Kamloops:

  • Offer of a free TELUS sim card and a $100 prepaid voucher
  • The newcomer can choose a prepaid rate plan that best suits their needs (talk, text and data) when they activate the sim card.
  • Cards will be available at Kamloops Immigrant Services: contact 778-470-6101  or [email protected]


Social Supports and Services to help you get settled when you arrive in Canada:

Health Care Resources

If you have a work permit valid for 6 months or longer, you can:

You need a PHN to access health care in B.C.

Employment

Canadian businesses want to hire you. Apply through the Job Bank.

To work in B.C., you need a work permit. Ukrainian nationals and their family members can apply for an open work
permit, valid for up to 3 years.

Graduate students and researchers may be eligible for funding to continue their research in Canada. You must have already received funding from a Canadian research agency.

Education and Child Care

Learn how to access child care in B.C.

If you have children aged 5 to 18, register them in a local school when you arrive.

Need Help? If you need help with government services, call Service BC at 1-800-663-7867.

Available 7:30 am to 5 pm PT. Translators are available in Ukrainian, Russian and 140 other languages.

If you need additional help with information on the options above, you can contact United Way BC’s bc211 by dialing 2-1-1. Ukrainian and Russian interpretation is available. You can also text 2-11, chat or email bc211.

Sponsor a Family

How You Can Help

For Ukrainian Nationals: Why Choose Kamloops?

Sponsor a Family

Because Ukrainian people fleeing the crisis are not considered refugees by the Government of Canada, private sponsorship is currently the only way to sponsor a family to the Kamloops area.

If you would to take it upon yourself to bring a family to Kamloops (and you don’t have family in Ukraine), you would need to raise funds for the family’s plane tickets, lodging, food and other basic necessities.

Please contact KIS and let us know if you plan to do this. Tell us your city or town, your proximity to community services and schools, how many people you are able to financially sponsor, and for how long. KIS will try to match you with a family in need. Email: [email protected] | Phone: (778) 470-6101 ext. 101

For Ukrainian Nationals: How to Get to Canada

How You Can Help

For Ukrainian Nationals: Why Choose Kamloops?

How You Can Help

Kamloops is a welcoming community. Help for Ukraine nationals coming to the Kamloops area is needed now in three main ways:

  • Sign up to Volunteer – KIS is pleased to be working with United Way BC on volunteer coordination. Click here to go to United Way’s volunteer portal, iVolunteer, and create an account. Volunteers are needed to mentor, tutor, provide childcare, help with transportation, interpreting and translation, and much more.
  • Donate –  Goods: Bring goods to the following Kamloops Thrift Stores where Ukrainian families and individuals can get what they need for FREE!   United Church Thrift Store, 421 St. Paul Street,  Second Chances Thrift Store, 1211 8th Street, St. Vincent de Paul Society, 168 Briar Avenue.

    Financial Support:  KIS and community partners have set up a special account, the Ukraine Crisis Community Fund – Action Hub Kamloops and area. Specify what your donation is for, and we will ensure it goes into this fund to help Ukrainians settling in the Kamloops area. Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt.

Other ways you can help:

  • Contact KIS if you know a Ukrainian family expected to arrive in Kamloops.
  • Promote empowerment, inclusion and social cohesiveness. Work on bringing host and newcomer communities together. It is “we”, not “them and us”. Avoiding unintended microaggression comments (i.e.“you are so lucky, you have better X,Y,Z than the locals.” Instead, promote feelings of belonging.
  • Being curious and open to learning about our new neighbours’ values and beliefs.

For Ukrainian Nationals: How to Get to Canada

Sponsor a Family

For Ukrainian Nationals: Why Choose Kamloops?

For Ukrainian Nationals: Why Choose Kamloops?

Kamloops and area welcomes you.

With a population of just over 100,000, Kamloops is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Our community is culturally diverse. Kamloops has been welcoming people from around the globe for decades. It’s clear that immigrants have helped make our region a vibrant, dynamic place where everyone can prosper.

Kamloops and nearby towns, including MerrittSun PeaksAshcroftCache Creek, and Clearwater, offer a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Kamloops is situated at the intersection of the Thompson and North Thompson rivers.

Employment opportunities include healthcare, tourism, education, transportation and natural resources. Thompson Rivers University hosts many international students.

The climate is sunny and dry, with temperatures ranging from as low as −20°C in winter to up to 45°C in summer.

Kamloops Immigrant Services can help you settle into Canadian life. We offer a wide range of resources, including one-on-one employment counselling, settlement counselling, English language classes, childminding, help navigating the school system, community connections, mentoring and tutoring, and much more.

List of Faith Communities

 

Tourism Kamloops

Special recreational activities for Ukrainians arriving in Kamloops

  • Soccer Quest, in conjunction with Kamloops Immigrant Services, are offering FREE soccer to the children of the Ukraine families who have joined our community. Contact Soccer Quest at 250-554-4625 or [email protected]
  • Kamloops Sunrays Synchronized Swim Club offers artistic swimming lessons free of charge for children of Ukrainian families who have arrived in the community.
  • Kamloops Ball Hockey Association offers FREE ball hockey for children (7-14 years old) of Ukrainian families who have joined our community. They would also be happy to find some gear for them to use as well. Contact [email protected]
  • Sim’ya Ukrainian Society shares the Rich Ukrainian Culture with Kamloops and the surrounding areas. Our Mission statement is ‘to keep the Ukrainian Culture alive by sharing, teaching and helping / performing in Ukrainian traditions.

 

For Ukrainian Nationals: How to Get to Canada

Sponsor a Family

How You Can Help

Subscribe Now

Subscribe for free resources and news updates.

Translate Site