Canada Natural Disaster Immigration Measures Announced for Affected Temporary Residents

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) headquarters..

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled new Canada natural disaster immigration measures designed to assist foreign workers, international students, and visitors whose lives and legal status have been impacted by major environmental crises across the country.

Under these Canada natural disaster immigration measures, running from April 1, 2026, to November 30, 2028, eligible temporary residents who lost their status due to emergency events like wildfires, floods, storms, or earthquakes are granted six months to apply for restoration—a significant increase from the standard 90-day window.

To qualify, applicants must have held valid temporary resident status on the date the disaster struck and provide a signed attestation detailing the impact on their stay. Applicants must include the promotional code "NaturalDisaster2026" on their submissions along with proof of residence in the affected zone. 

Affected workers may need to supply employer details demonstrating operational disruption, while students whose learning institutions closed will be placed on authorized leave, allowing them to pause studies without penalty and continue off-campus work where permitted. 

Standard processing fees remain applicable, though priority review can be requested through the IRCC web form.