Coming to Ontario from Ukraine
Learn about immigration measures and settlement support for people affected by the war in Ukraine, including people who are in Ontario under an emergency authorization.
Overview
Ukrainians coming to Ontario will receive support from:
- the Canadian government
- the Ontario government
- business and community organizations
We are working hard to make sure people arriving have access to programs and services they’ll need to continue their lives in Ontario.
We’ll add more information to this page as the situation changes.
Immigrating from Ukraine
If you wish to come to Canada or have arrived in Canada after fleeing the war in Ukraine contact the Government of Canada for information about:
- how Ukrainian nationals and their family members can apply for emergency travel, immigrate, or extend their stay in Canada
- how Canadian citizens and residents can return to Canada or bring family members to Canada
Resources and supports for Ukrainian newcomers
If you are new to Ontario, you can get settlement and orientation services to help you get settled. You can find information about, and get access to:
- health care, housing and education
- language training
- employment supports
Get help with the immigration process
Visit the Government of Canada website to find information on immigration processes, apply for a permanent resident card or Canadian citizenship and find out about how to start your life in Canada.
Find local providers that deliver free federal supports and services to newcomers.
Getting settled in Ontario
Here is a collection of resources to help you get settled in Ontario.
- Learn more about moving to and settling in Ontario.
- Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society provides settlement and orientation services in Ukrainian, including supportive counseling to new arrivals, mobilizing volunteers and coordinating donations and offers of support.
- Settlement.org provides newly arrived immigrants with information and resources to help settle in Ontario.
- Orientation to Ontario provides information, resources and workshops to newcomers in multiple languages, including Ukrainian.
- COSTI Immigrant Services can match hosts and families in the Greater Toronto Area, and help with employment and crisis counselling.
- Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence offers services for children who need support or are arriving unaccompanied.
- 519 Community Centre supports members of the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) community and their allies.
Emergency income supports
Ukrainians in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel are eligible to apply for Emergency Assistance which provides temporary financial support for basic needs and shelter in crisis situations.
If you do not have enough money for things like food, medications and housing, you may qualify for Emergency Assistance.
To apply:
- if you have a Canadian social insurance number (SIN), you can apply online
- if you do not have a social insurance number, contact your local Ontario Works office
Temporary housing
For information about temporary or emergency housing, contact:
- COSTI’s Housing Host Program by email at Housinghost@costi.org or call 416-244-0480
- your local service manager
Learn more about emergency and short-term housing options.
Health care
Health insurance coverage
In Ontario, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays for many health services you may need. Ukrainians who have come to Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) are eligible for coverage under OHIP.
Learn how to apply for OHIP, including what documents are needed, or call ServiceOntario INFOline at
Health services
Call the Refugee Health Line at
Medications
In Canada, you need a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner (special class of nurse) to get some types of medication at a pharmacy. The Ontario Drug Benefit Program can help with costs for many medications. Find out what drugs are covered.
If you are receiving Emergency Assistance, you and your children will be enrolled in the Ontario Drug Benefit Program.
If you do not qualify for this income support, there are other ways to access the Ontario Drug Benefit Program:
- Children and youth ages 0–24 years who are enrolled in OHIP may be covered through OHIP+.
- Adults ages 25–64 years who are enrolled in OHIP can apply to the Trillium Drug Program.
- Seniors ages 65 years and over who are enrolled in OHIP are automatically enrolled. The Seniors Co-Payment Program can provide further support with costs for seniors with very low income
For information on these programs, please call
Assistive devices
If you have a long-term physical disability, you can get help paying for equipment and supplies through the Assistive Devices Program.
Health care resources
This newcomer health care guide is designed to help you navigate Ontario’s health care system. It will help you find health care services from the moment you arrive in Ontario.
School
Elementary or secondary school students who have been approved to come to or remain in Canada for humanitarian reasons can attend publicly funded schools without paying fees. This includes children who are in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
Learn more about enrolling your children in school.
College and university students
International Student Connect provides information online and in-person to support international students in Ontario.
Child care
If you are a parent or guardian interested in accessing child care in Ontario, you can contact a child care operator in your area to get more details.
For eligible families, the cost of licensed child care may be supported through fee subsidy. Contact the child care service system manager in your area for more information about fee subsidy.
Language classes
Find and register for free language classes at the beginner, intermediate or advanced levels:
Employment supports
We are working to provide targeted services to help Ukrainian newcomers connect with employers in the community.
If you need help finding employment in Ontario, or if you are an employer interested in hiring a Ukrainian newcomer, call
Employment Ontario
Employment Ontario can help you find work or training. You can make a free appointment to speak with an employment counsellor that can help you:
- find grants and other services to find work
- find training to build your skills and start a new career
- find a job
- prepare for an interview
- develop career goals
- start a job when the time is right
Ontario Job Bank
The Ontario Job Bank is an employment service for people looking for a job and employers looking for workers. If you are looking for a job, you can use the job bank to search for jobs near you.
Employers who wish to support Ukrainians with offers of employment can register on Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage.
Employment rights
The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the rights and duties of workers, employers and all other parties in the workplace, including procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and enforcemen.
The Employment Standards Act sets out the minimum standards for basic conditions of employment in Ontario including, but not limited to:
- leaves of absence
- work hours
- overtime
- rest periods
- vacation
- termination notice
- pay
The acts help employers understand their obligations to their employees, and help employees know their rights.
Most of the following resources are available in Ukrainian and Russian.
Health and safety
Download the Health & Safety at Work poster that outlines the rights and responsibilities of workers, supervisors and employers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act:
Learn more about the rights and responsibilities of:
Employment standards
Download the Employment Standards in Ontario poster that describes rights and requirements under the Employment Standards Act:
You can also find important information about:
- hours of work and overtime pay (English PDF | Ukrainian PDF)
- working as a foreign national (English PDF | Ukrainian PDF)
- employment protection for foreign nationals (English PDF | Ukrainian PDF)
- working as a temporary help agency employee (English PDF | Ukrainian PDF)
How Ontarians can help
If you want to provide support to the Ukrainian humanitarian efforts, you can make financial or in-kind donations through the: