Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced temporary special immigration measures designed to support foreign workers, international students, and visitors whose legal status in the country has been disrupted by natural disasters.
The relief policy, which takes effect retroactively from April 1, 2026, through November 30, 2028, doubles the grace period for eligible temporary residents to restore lost immigration status from the standard 90 days to up to six months.
According to an update published on IRCC’s official X platform, the policy applies to foreign nationals who held valid temporary resident status as a student, worker, or visitor on the day they were directly impacted by severe environmental events within Canada. Qualifying disasters include wildfires, severe storms, flash floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Application requirements and procedure
To qualify for status restoration under these special provisions, eligible workers and students must submit an application accompanied by a signed attestation detailing how and when the disaster impacted their living or working conditions.
Applicants are required to include the special promotional code “NaturalDisaster2026” in their documentation, alongside verifiable evidence such as utility bills, hotel receipts, or government-issued identification establishing their presence in the affected zone.
For temporary workers, additional documentation may be required—including the employer’s registered name, address, and proof that business operations ceased due to the disaster.
Similarly, international students must provide details of their Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
In instances where an institution is forced to close because of a natural disaster, affected students may submit supporting notices, official school emails, or news releases confirming the shutdown.
IRCC confirmed that students enrolled at institutions closed due to disasters will be deemed to be on authorised leave, allowing them to temporarily pause their academic program without immigration penalties while continuing off-campus work where permitted by their study permit terms.
Processing details and fees
While standard application processing fees remain mandatory, IRCC outlined a priority pathway for applicants facing urgent circumstances. Affected individuals can submit an IRCC web form selecting “Request Priority Processing for my existing application” and citing the “NaturalDisaster2026” code alongside an explanation of their emergency.
The immigration authority clarified that foreign nationals holding a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) are excluded from the restoration process and must instead apply for a new TRP to extend their stay in the country.
The policy aims to offer relief and administrative flexibility to foreign nationals as they navigate recovery and regularise their immigration status in Canada during natural crises.
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