In Canada, Ukrainians are forced to prove that they are not tax evaders – media
Фото: REUTERS
Ukrainian men who have applied for permanent residence in Canada are receiving official letters from the Department of Immigration demanding that they provide military discharge certificates, a practice that raises concerns about possible deportations.
This is reported by “Ukrainian Canada” .
It is noted that the immigration department sends so-called Procedural fairness letters, which directly require confirmation of the absence of obligations for military service in Ukraine. Men are asked to provide official documents issued by Ukrainian military commissariats confirming exemption from service or other legal status.
The public note that even after providing a certificate of discharge and a written explanation of the absence of service, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) officers do not consider this information sufficient. In one of the published cases, the applicant was re-sent a request asking him to provide “a certified copy of the document on exemption from military service or a copy of military documents issued by the relevant Ukrainian authority.”
The letters explain that Ukraine has mandatory military service for men from the age of 25. Although conscription was abolished in 2012, it was reinstated in 2014, and after the start of a full-scale war in 2022, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to register with the military. Therefore, immigration officers believe that any Ukrainian who has lived in Ukraine during this period should have documents confirming their military status.
Candidates are given only 7 days to collect and submit the necessary documents, which creates additional difficulties for applicants who are unable to quickly obtain certificates from Ukraine.
Social media is actively discussing the new requirement of Canadian authorities. Some users consider it a formal verification procedure, while others fear that it could be the first step towards deporting men of military age back to Ukraine.
Experts note that there is currently no official information about any agreements between Kyiv and Ottawa regarding the return of evaders, but increased attention to the military topic may indicate new approaches in Canada’s immigration policy towards Ukrainians.
Earlier, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the law on providing social assistance and free medical care to Ukrainian citizens staying in the country.
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