In an update published 27 October 2025, IRCC prolonged special immigration measures for people affected by Canada’s record-breaking 2025 wildfire season. Temporary residents, permanent residents and citizens who lost status documents or missed deadlines because of fire-related disruptions now have until 30 November 2025 to apply for replacements or restorations at no cost.
Key provisions include fee-free renewals of work, study and visitor permits, fee-waived replacements for PR cards and passports, and discretionary urgent processing. Applicants need only submit a signed attestation explaining how the fires impacted them; they do not have to reside in the burned areas.
The move recognises that evacuations, mail delays and the destruction of personal records have continued well past the peak fire months. For employers, the extension prevents skilled workers from falling out of status, avoiding payroll disruptions and the administrative burden of new applications. Educational institutions likewise welcomed the measure, noting that dozens of international students risked losing study-permit validity after being displaced from campus housing.
IRCC’s approach mirrors the flexible policies introduced after the 2023 hurricane season and Ukraine crisis and is consistent with its “disruption playbook” for natural disasters. Immigration lawyers advise affected clients to gather proof—such as evacuation orders, insurance claims or employer letters—to support attestations and to file before the new deadline to secure fee waivers.
Although meteorological agencies expect lower fire activity next year due to El Niño conditions, IRCC is reviewing whether to formalise a standing disaster-response framework that could automatically trigger status-protection measures when provinces declare states of emergency.
Key provisions include fee-free renewals of work, study and visitor permits, fee-waived replacements for PR cards and passports, and discretionary urgent processing. Applicants need only submit a signed attestation explaining how the fires impacted them; they do not have to reside in the burned areas.
The move recognises that evacuations, mail delays and the destruction of personal records have continued well past the peak fire months. For employers, the extension prevents skilled workers from falling out of status, avoiding payroll disruptions and the administrative burden of new applications. Educational institutions likewise welcomed the measure, noting that dozens of international students risked losing study-permit validity after being displaced from campus housing.
IRCC’s approach mirrors the flexible policies introduced after the 2023 hurricane season and Ukraine crisis and is consistent with its “disruption playbook” for natural disasters. Immigration lawyers advise affected clients to gather proof—such as evacuation orders, insurance claims or employer letters—to support attestations and to file before the new deadline to secure fee waivers.
Although meteorological agencies expect lower fire activity next year due to El Niño conditions, IRCC is reviewing whether to formalise a standing disaster-response framework that could automatically trigger status-protection measures when provinces declare states of emergency.
