Canada Announces Special Immigration Measures for Natural Disaster Victims
The Government of Canada has introduced new special measures to support individuals and communities affected by domestic natural disasters, effective from April 1, 2026, through November 30, 2028.
On April 2, 2026, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a set of new special measures designed to support people impacted by domestic natural disasters in Canada. These measures are effective from April 1, 2026, until November 30, 2028.
Under the new guidelines, temporary residents directly affected by a domestic natural disaster will have greater flexibility regarding their immigration status. They can replace their status documents and apply to restore or extend their status, or renew work and study permits, even if they are beyond the standard 90-day restoration period.
Additionally, the measures aim to facilitate rapid deployment of international aid. Foreign emergency services personnel from visa-required countries travelling to Canada to respond to natural disasters are exempt from standard application or biometric collection fees. This exemption is intended to help these personnel enter Canada more quickly by removing fee barriers.
The government noted that in 2025, approximately 1,595 foreign emergency services personnel came to Canada to help fight wildfires. The new measures are part of efforts to strengthen Canada's emergency management system by supporting communities through disruption, response, and recovery.