The government of Canada is urgently mobilizing to support communities and the people who live in them as the country experiences an unprecedented wildfire season. This includes providing assistance to Canadians and individuals who are essential to the rebuilding effort.
Special measures were announced today by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, the Honourable Sean Fraser, for affected individuals who need to replace essential documents or extend or restore their status in Canada.
For Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents who have been directly impacted by the wildfires, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue free replacement documents. These include Canadian passports, permanent resident cards, certificates of citizenship, and other travel documents that are lost, damaged, destroyed, or inaccessible as a result of wildfires.
Free of charge, international students, temporary foreign workers, and other visitors whose status will expire on September 30, 2023, and who have been directly impacted by the wildfires, can apply to restore or extend their status in Canada. This indicates that temporary workers will be able to extend their status and remain until their workplace reopens for those who are unable to work as a result of the fires. In addition, international students can finish their studies without being penalized by extending their study permits in the event that their classes are postponed or canceled.
The duration of these special measures is until September 30, 2023. They give Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents time to sort out paperwork or issues with their temporary status, allowing them to concentrate on the most pressing issues at hand: their households, homes, and communities.
