Canada launches special measures for temporary residents hit by natural disasters

Canada has introduced special temporary immigration measures to support international students, foreign workers and visitors affected by natural disasters within the country, expanding the time available to restore or extend their status.

The measures, which took effect on April 1, 2026, will remain in place until November 30, 2028, and apply to those impacted by events such as wildfires, floods, storms, hurricanes and earthquakes.

Six-month window to restore status

Under the new policy, eligible temporary residents will have up to six months from the date they were directly affected by a natural disaster to restore their work or study permit status. Earlier, foreign nationals were allowed 90 days to apply for restoration.


Applicants can also replace lost or damaged immigration documents and apply to extend their stay in Canada.

Those who apply to extend their status before their current permit expires will continue to benefit from maintained status, allowing them to keep working or studying while their application is processed.

Eligibility and application process

To qualify, individuals must have held valid temporary resident status as a student, worker or visitor at the time they were affected, and the impact must have occurred in Canada between April 1, 2026, and November 30, 2028.

Applicants must submit an application through the appropriate category, preferably online, along with a signed attestation letter explaining how the natural disaster affected them. They are also required to include the code “NaturalDisaster2026” and provide proof of residence in the affected area.

Supporting documents may include employer details for workers or confirmation of institutional closure for students.

Urgent processing and support for emergency workers

Those seeking urgent processing can request priority through the official webform by citing “NaturalDisaster2026” and explaining their situation.

Canada has also announced fee exemptions for foreign emergency services personnel arriving from visa-required countries to assist during disasters. These workers will be exempt from application and biometric fees to enable faster entry into the country.

The government said the measures aim to support affected residents and ensure continuity in work and study during emergencies.