IRCC extends help for people affected by Canada’s wildfires. Newcomers including temporary residents (visitors, workers, and students), permanent residents, and Canadian citizens can continue to benefit from fee waivers and extended deadlines until November 30, 2025.
These measures allow people to restore or extend their immigration status without paying extra fees or facing penalties for delays caused by the wildfires.
Even if you are not living in the directly affected area, you can still apply for these measures by providing a written statement (attestation) explaining how the wildfires impacted you.
IRCC’s Special Measures And Their Purpose
The special measures introduced by IRCC aim to make things easier for people who lost documents, missed application deadlines, or could not complete requirements because of wildfire disruptions.
These measures include:
- Free replacement of lost or damaged immigration, citizenship, and passport documents
- Waived fees for extensions, restorations, and document replacements
- Extra time to apply or restore status
- Urgent processing in some cases, depending on the situation
Overview Of Measures
| Group | Applicable Special Measures | Effective Window |
| Temporary residents (visitors, workers, students, TRP holders) | – Fee waivers (extensions/restoration, document replacements, WP/SP fees, OWP privilege fee, biometrics). – More time to extend/restore if affected. – Ability to replace lost/damaged documents (TRV counterfoil, visitor record, work/study permit, TRP). | July 2 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| Permanent residents | – Fee-free replacement of lost/damaged PR cards issued in the last 5 years. – Verification of status (VOS) document replacements when needed. – Biometrics fee waived if required for replacement. | Apr 1 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| Canadian citizens | – Fee-free replacement of citizenship certificates. – Passport/travel document fee waivers (including urgent, express, or consular fees) for lost/damaged documents. – Replacement passports carry the same expiry date as originals. | Apr 1 – Nov 30, 2025 |
Note that the TRPs (Temporary Resident Permits) are special permits for individuals who may otherwise be inadmissible to Canada.
Who Can Apply?
IRCC offers special wildfire measures to all people in Canada, including temporary residents, permanent residents, and citizens affected by the wildfires.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Self-identify as affected by a wildfire in Canada (you don’t need to live in the burned area)
- Provide a signed attestation letter explaining how the wildfire affected you
- Submit supporting documents if available
- Apply under these measures by November 30, 2025
Measures That Apply To Everyone
As IRCC extends help for people affected by Canada’s wildfires, let us look at the measures that apply to everyone.
If Your Application Is Incomplete Or You Can’t Be Reached
If the wildfires make it hard for you to get the documents you need, IRCC officers may give you extra time to provide them.
From July 2 to November 30, 2025, IRCC officers will not refuse your application just because you didn’t reply to a request during this time. Instead, they will put your file on hold until you can be contacted again or until these special rules end – whichever comes first.
Immigration Medical Exams
You don’t need a new immigration medical exam to replace documents that were lost or damaged because of the wildfires. You only need to do a medical exam if it is normally required to finish your application.
Temporary Residents: Who Qualifies And What’s Covered?
As IRCC extends help for people affected by Canada’s wildfires, let us discuss who qualifies and what is covered for temporary residents.
1) Fee Waivers
Temporary residents can get free applications for:
- Status extensions and restorations
- Replacements for:
- Visitor records
- Work permits
- Study permits
- Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs)
- Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs)
- Work permit fees
- Open work permit holder fees
- Study permit fees
- Biometrics fees
2) Extra Time To Extend Or Restore Status
If you had valid status on July 2, 2025, you may have more time to renew or restore it:
- If your status expired before September 2, 2025, you have until November 30, 2025, to apply.
- If your status expires on or after September 2, 2025, the usual 90-day restoration period still applies.
Applications must be submitted by November 30, 2025, to qualify.
Recommended Proof For Your Application
When applying under these special measures, it helps to provide evidence showing how the wildfires affected you.
| Type Of Application | Recommended Evidence |
| Visitors and TRP holders | – Proof of residence or stay in an affected area (ID, utility bill, hotel receipt). |
| Workers | – Proof of residence/stay in affected area – Proof that your workplace was impacted (signed employer letter, media report, or company notice). |
| Students | – Designated Learning Institution (DLI) name and address – Proof of closure or class suspension (school letter, media report, mass email, or institution’s website notice). |
Conditions Of The Special Measures
For Work Permit Holders
- If you extend your employer-specific work permit, you can keep working under maintained status with the same conditions.
- Holders of open work permits can also extend or restore their status without paying fees.
For Students
- Students must maintain valid study status to return when classes resume.
- If you’re extending a study permit, include a registrar’s letter confirming your student status.
For TRP Holders
- TRP holders do not have maintained status.
- You cannot work or study if your TRP expires.
- Apply for a new TRP on paper if needed.
- To be eligible for a work or study permit, your TRP must be valid for at least six months.
Special Measures For Permanent Residents
Permanent residents can also benefit from fee waivers for document replacements.
If your PR card (issued within the past 5 years) was lost, stolen, or damaged due to the wildfires, you can request a free replacement.
When applying, follow the regular PR card replacement steps and include the Solemn Declaration form (IMM 5451) explaining what happened to your original card.
If you need to give biometrics for your replacement, IRCC will waive the biometric fee.
Moreover, if you need proof of your landing or status (like IMM 1000, IMM 5292, or IMM 5688 forms), and these cannot be reprinted, you can request a Verification of Status (VOS) document, which is free under these measures.
Special Measures For Canadian Citizens
Let us now discuss special measures for Canadian citizens as IRCC extends help for people affected by Canada’s wildfires.
Well, Canadian citizens can get free replacements for citizenship certificates, passports, and travel documents damaged or lost in the fires.
If you already paid the replacement fee online, IRCC may refund the amount after confirming eligibility.
Fee waivers also apply for:
- Replacement of citizenship certificates
- Expedited, urgent, or express passport services
- Pick-up and consular fees
- Transfers between passport offices
All replacement passports will carry the same expiry date as the original one.
How To Apply And Flag Your Application?
Applicants must submit their applications as usual, either online or on paper, depending on the service.
How To Flag Your Application?
- Online Applications: Include the code “WFF2025” in your submission text. IRCC does not specify where the phrase should appear in an online application.
- Paper Applications: Write “WILDFIRES25” on both the envelope and the first page of your application.
This allows IRCC officers to recognize your application as part of the special wildfire measures and process it accordingly.
Application Processing Time
Applications will usually follow standard processing times, unless your case qualifies for urgent processing.
If you need urgent attention, you can submit a request through the IRCC web form explaining why your situation needs quick handling.
IRCC staff may mark the file as urgent or send it to the appropriate office for faster review.
Final Thoughts
IRCC’s extended wildfire measures show Canada’s commitment to helping people recover from disasters without losing their immigration or citizenship status.
Whether you are a student, worker, visitor, permanent resident, or citizen, these measures ensure that you have enough time and support to replace lost documents or restore your legal status.
If the wildfires affected you, apply before November 30, 2025, use the correct wildfire code, and attach all required documents.
For guidance or to avoid mistakes, reach out to a qualified immigration representative who can assist you in preparing your application correctly and on time.
Explore your pathway to move to Canada with Immigtoronto. Our team of skilled RCICs offers customized immigration solutions, ensuring a trustworthy and professional process. Contact us at [email protected].
