Canada has officially introduced new special measures for people affected by natural disasters within the country. This primarily concerns temporary residents—visitors, international students, and temporary workers—who, due to fires, floods, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, are unable to maintain their immigration status in a timely manner. The new rules were announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The key clarification is that this is not a general “waiver” or universal assistance for everyone, but rather special immigration relief measures for those who have been directly affected by a natural disaster in Canada. These measures are in effect from April 1, 2026, to November 30, 2028.
What exactly has changed
The most important change is the extension of the deadline for restoring status. Typically, after losing temporary status, a person has only 90 days to apply for its restoration. Under the new special rules, this deadline has been extended to 6 months for those affected by a natural disaster in Canada.
In addition, affected temporary residents can replace their immigration documents, apply to extend or renew their status, and renew their work or study permits, even if they have already exceeded the standard 90-day period. At the same time, IRCC specifically notes that standard government fees remain in effect.
Who is eligible for these measures
Those who meet several conditions simultaneously are eligible to apply. The person must be in Canada, have been directly affected by the natural disaster, and, on the date the disaster occurred, have held valid temporary status as a visitor, student, or worker. If a person was in Canada on a temporary resident permit (TRP), they must submit a separate application for a new TRP to extend their stay, rather than using this mechanism as a regular visitor, worker, or student.
The policy separately explains what “directly affected” means. This may involve more than just physical injury or evacuation. Such cases also include loss of property or documents, damage to means of livelihood, as well as prolonged disruptions to electricity, communications, or other infrastructure that prevented the person from applying for or extending their status in a timely manner.
How to Apply
IRCC asks that you apply following the standard procedure for your category: separately for visitors, workers, or students. You must include a signed attestation letter with your application package, explaining exactly when and how the natural disaster affected your situation, and be sure to include the code “NaturalDisaster2026”.
You must also provide proof that you were residing or temporarily staying in the affected area. IRCC provides examples such as an identification document, a utility bill with an address in the disaster zone, or a hotel receipt. For workers, the employer’s name and address may also be required, as well as proof that the workplace is closed, such as a letter from the employer, a notice on the company’s website, or a media publication.
Students must provide details of their educational institution and, if applicable, confirm that the institution is temporarily closed.
If the application is submitted online, documents must be uploaded to the Client Information section. If submitting a paper application, the code NaturalDisaster2026 must be written on both the envelope and the first page of the document package.
What’s Important for Students
There is a separate important clarification for students. If an educational institution is temporarily closed due to a natural disaster, IRCC considers such a break to be authorized leave. This means that a student can suspend their studies without penalty, and if their study permit allows them to work off-campus, they retain that right. IRCC also notes that such a break does not preclude the right to apply for a post-graduation work permit in the future, provided other conditions are met.
Can you request priority processing?
Yes. After submitting your application, you can request priority processing via the IRCC web form. To do this, select “Request Priority Processing for my existing application” on the form, enter “NaturalDisaster2026” in the description field, and explain why your application should be processed more quickly.
Special provisions for foreign emergency responders
In addition to supporting temporary residents, Canada has introduced another special measure—for foreign emergency service personnel from countries whose citizens require a visa. If such specialists have been officially selected to participate in disaster response efforts in Canada, their temporary visa fee and biometrics fee may be waived. This rule is also in effect from April 1, 2026, to November 30, 2028.
IRCC explains that the goal of this decision is to expedite the entry of rescue workers and avoid delays in the response during critical moments. In 2025, according to the ministry, approximately 1,595 foreign emergency service workers arrived in Canada to help fight wildfires.
What this means in practice
The new policy is particularly important for those who, due to a fire, flood, or other disaster, lost their documents, were evacuated, had no access to communication, or were unable to submit immigration documents on time. Now, these individuals have more time and a clear process for explaining their situation to IRCC. However, this does not exempt them from the standard application process or waive the standard fees for temporary residents.