Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced temporary special measures to support Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents directly affected by the 2025 wildfires across the country. These measures, effective until November 30, 2025, aim to help those who lost important immigration or identity documents or whose immigration status was disrupted by the disaster.
On this page you will find
- Overview and eligibility of wildfire relief measures
- Key deadlines and how to apply under these policies
- Fee waivers and document replacement options
- Steps for temporary residents, citizens, and permanent residents
- Frequently asked questions
Background
Each year, wildfires threaten communities across Canada. The 2024 and 2025 fire seasons have been especially severe, leaving many people displaced and without essential documents. IRCC has activated special measures under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to make it easier for affected people to replace lost documents and maintain or restore their legal status in Canada.
These measures apply to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents – including visitors, students, and workers – who have been directly affected by wildfire damage or disruption.
Eligibility and Timeframe
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be directly affected by the 2025 wildfires in Canada.
- Submit applications for replacement documents or restoration/extension of status on or before November 30, 2025.
- Provide a signed attestation letter explaining how the wildfires have affected them.
Eligibility is assessed case by case. Officers may consult the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) database to confirm whether an applicant’s area was affected. Importantly, a person does not need to live in the burned area – travellers or those whose documents were destroyed elsewhere can also qualify.
How to Identify Your Application
- Paper applications: Write “WILDFIRES25” on the envelope and the first page.
- Online applications: Include the keyword “WFF2025” when submitting through an IRCC account.
- Webform requests: Mention that the application is wildfire-related to request urgent processing.
Applications may receive priority handling if they meet IRCC’s urgent processing criteria.
Temporary Residents
The special measures apply to visitors, workers, students, and temporary resident permit (TRP) holders who had valid status on July 2, 2025.
Key benefits include:
- Fee waivers for:
- Extending or restoring temporary resident status
- Replacing immigration documents
- Work or study permit fees
- Biometrics fees
- Extended restoration period: People whose status expired before September 2, 2025, have until November 30, 2025 to apply for restoration.
- Maintained status: Those who apply to renew their work or study permit under these measures can continue working or studying under the same conditions until a decision is made.
TRP holders can apply for a new permit if their previous one was valid for six months or longer, but they must wait for approval before resuming work or study.
Citizens and Permanent Residents
Canadian citizens affected by the wildfires can request:
- Replacement of citizenship certificates and Canadian passports without paying the standard fees.
- Waivers for services such as expedited processing, urgent pickup, or consular fees.
- Fee refunds where fees were paid online before eligibility was confirmed.
Permanent residents can request replacement PR cards free of charge if the card was lost, damaged, or destroyed due to the wildfires.
- Applications should include a Solemn Declaration form describing the loss or damage.
- These measures do not apply to PR card renewals or new permanent residence applications.
Immigration Document Replacement
Affected people can request free replacements for:
- Work, study, or visitor permits
- Temporary resident permits
- Temporary resident visas
- Verification of status (VOS) documents for lost records of landing or confirmations of permanent residence
Applicants must include an attestation and proof of residence or stay in an affected area (e.g., ID, utility bill, or hotel receipt).
Processing and Incomplete Applications
IRCC officers are instructed to apply flexibility and compassion.
- Applications missing some documentation can receive extensions to allow applicants to gather proof.
- If people cannot be reached due to displacement, files should remain open until contact is re-established or the measures expire.
Applicants are not penalised for failing to respond to requests between July 2 and November 30, 2025.
Immigration Medical Examinations
New medical exams are not required solely due to the wildfires. Standard rules apply – only applicants for permits or permanent residence who normally need an IME must complete one through a panel physician.
Act Quickly to Submit Application
The 2025 wildfire season has deeply affected communities across Canada. IRCC’s special measures provide vital relief to help affected residents and foreign nationals recover their legal documents and status without unnecessary costs or penalties. Anyone impacted should act quickly to submit their applications before November 30, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for IRCC’s 2025 wildfire measures?
Any Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary resident directly affected by the wildfires – for example, if documents were lost or destroyed – can apply under these measures.
What is the deadline to apply for special processing?
Applications must be received or postmarked by November 30, 2025. This applies to both online and paper submissions.
What documents can be replaced for free?
Eligible applicants can replace passports, citizenship certificates, PR cards, work and study permits, temporary resident permits or visas, and verification of status documents.
How can I flag my application as wildfire-related?
Write “WILDFIRES25” on paper applications or include “WFF2025” in online submissions to help IRCC identify you as an affected person for priority or fee-waived processing.
Do I need to live in a wildfire zone to qualify?
Not necessarily. Applicants must show they were directly affected, even if they were travelling or temporarily outside their residence when their documents were lost or destroyed.
