Nova Scotia greeted around 300 Ukrainian refugees with open arms on Thursday night.
The last of three chartered flights from Warsaw, Poland in Halifax just around 7 p.m.
A group welcomes Ukrainian refugees at Halifax airport.
Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has said that those arriving will receive support in finding housing, though he expects some will not stay in the province.
Passengers aboard the flight had to apply for a ticket, and in order to be eligible, they required a visa approved through the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization (CUETA) program.
Help desk guides newcomers and helps answer questions
The visas offered by CUETA are designed to be less restrictive than typical visas in an effort to make the transition to life in Canada easier for the refugees.
Benefits from the program according to the federal government include;
- Can apply for a free visitor visa and may be allowed to stay in Canada for 3 years, as opposed to the standard 6-month authorized stay for regular visitors
- Have the option to apply, free of charge, for an open work permit with their visa application, enabling them to find work as quickly as possible
- Will have their electronic visa application processed within 14 days of receipt of a complete application, for standard, non-complex cases
- Are exempt from Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements, but must meet all other public health requirements for travel, such as quarantine and testing. With limited exceptions, all travelers to Canada, including anyone arriving under the CUAET, must also use ArriveCAN
- Are exempt from completing an immigration medical exam (IME) overseas, if applicable, but may be required to complete and pay for a medical diagnostic test within 90 days of arrival in Canada to screen for reportable communicable diseases (chest x-ray or suitable alternative and blood test)
The two chartered flights that already arrived in Montreal and Winnipeg were met by large groups of Canadians at the respective airports.
Nova Scotia welcome packages
Premier Tim Houston and Skills and Immigration Minister Jill Balser were part of the delegation at the airport to welcome all those arriving.
Others included MP’s Darrell Sampson and Sean Fraser.
With files from Evan Taylor and Steve MacArthur
