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Jun 12, 2023

Wildfires in Canada: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship measures

Updated: Mar 6


Who:

Those directly impacted by the wildfires (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, international students, visitors)

What:

  • replace citizenship, immigration or travel documents (including passports) that have been lost, damaged or destroyed

  • extend or restore your temporary resident status

In Force:

June 9, 2023

Ends:

September 30, 2023

IRCC has implemented special measures for those impacted by the 2023 wildfires across Canada.


These special measures will allow those impacted and eligible to:

  • Request a refund for certain submitted applications

  • Replace a citizenship certificate or citizenship card

  • Replace a valid Canadian passport

  • Replace a valid non-Canadian travel document (certificate or identity or refugee travel document)

  • Replace a permanent resident (PR) card

  • Replace an immigration document (visitor visa, visitor record, study permit, work permit, record of landing, confirmation of permanent residence)

  • Extend or restore your status as a visitor for free (if you were in status on May 6, 2023, and will expire before September 30, 2023)

  • Extend or restore your status as a worker for free (if you were in status on May 6, 2023, and will expire before September 30, 2023)

    • Extend or restore your status as a worker with the same employer

    • Apply for a new work permit with a new employer

  • Extend or restore your status as a student for free (if you were in status on May 6, 2023, and will expire before September 30, 2023)

Workers and students whose status expires before July 3, 2023, will have until September 30, 2023 to apply for restoration, even though that is more than the usual 90 days permitted for restoration.


Student's whose schools (Designated Learning Institutes) are closed as a result of the wildfires will be considered to have authorized leave. They will be permitted to pause their studies without penalty, work off-campus if permitted by their study permits, and apply for a post-graduation work permit if eligible.




A close up of a sea shell on a wooden surface in Canada.

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