The government of Canada has announced special new measures to support people who are affected by the recent wildfires.
As Canada is facing an unprecedented wildfire season, the
government is extending its services to support those who need to replace their
important documents or to extend or restore their status in Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has
recently announced that it will issue free replacement documents for Canadians,
permanent residents, and temporary residents directly affected by the
wildfires. The documents that will be replaced free of charge include permanent
resident cards, Canadian citizenship certificates, Canadian passports and other
travel documents that are lost, damaged, destroyed, or inaccessible due to wildfires.
International students, Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) and visitors, whose
status will expire by September 30, 2023, will also be able to restore or
extend their status in Canada free of charge.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says, “These new measures will make it easier for Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents to replace lost documents. They will also help make sure temporary residents are not unduly penalized and are there to help rebuild our communities. To the first responders and firefighters across the country, thank you for your continued courage and hard work to protect our communities during this challenging time.”