Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced special temporary measures to assist individuals impacted by the ongoing wildfire crisis in 2025. The emergency policies are designed to support Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents—including visitors, international students, and foreign workers—whose immigration documents were lost, damaged, or whose legal status was disrupted due to wildfire-related displacement.
Effective immediately and in place until November 30, 2025, these measures waive fees and extend key deadlines, making it easier for affected individuals to replace essential documents and restore valid status. IRCC is implementing these measures under Section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate they were directly impacted by the 2025 wildfires. This includes those who lost documents due to fire damage or evacuation, regardless of whether they were physically in a wildfire zone. Applicants must provide an attestation letter detailing how they were affected and apply on or before the November 30 deadline.
Temporary residents—including those on work permits, study permits, visitor visas, or temporary resident permits—benefit from waived fees for document replacement, work and study permit renewals, and biometrics. Those whose legal status expired before September 2, 2025, can now apply for restoration until the November deadline. In the interim, applicants who renew their permits under these measures can continue working or studying legally in Canada.
Canadian citizens can replace passports and citizenship certificates at no cost, and may qualify for waived fees on expedited or consular services. Permanent residents are eligible for free replacement PR cards if theirs were damaged or lost due to the wildfires, provided they submit a Solemn Declaration with their application.
Additionally, IRCC is offering free replacement of immigration documents such as work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and verification of status (VOS) documents. Applicants should clearly label submissions with “WILDFIRES25” for paper forms or “WFF2025” for digital applications to signal eligibility for emergency support and potentially receive priority processing.
IRCC officers have been directed to show flexibility and compassion when reviewing wildfire-related applications. Cases with missing documentation may be given additional time for completion, and files will remain open even if applicants cannot be contacted due to displacement.
Importantly, no one will be penalized for delays or non-responses between July 2 and November 30, 2025. While new immigration medical exams are not generally required unless normally mandated, those applying for permanent residence or specific visas may still need to meet standard health requirements.
The 2025 wildfire season has been one of the most disruptive in recent years, and IRCC’s prompt response aims to reduce the administrative and financial strain on those already facing hardship. Maple News urges anyone impacted to act quickly to take advantage of these temporary relief options before the deadline.