2024 Wildfire Document Fee Remission

Summary#

The government has made the Certain Fees in Respect of the Issuance of Replacement Documents (2024 Wildfires) Remission Order. It cancels (remits) certain fees for people who lost or had travel and identity documents damaged, destroyed or made inaccessible because of the 2024 wildfire season between April 1, 2024 and November 30, 2024.

What it does#

• Remits fees for replacing travel and identity documents lost, damaged, destroyed or rendered inaccessible as a direct result of the 2024 wildfires during the period April 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024.
• Covers fees for items such as replacement passports, permanent resident cards, certificates of Canadian citizenship, certificates of identity and refugee travel documents, and certain consular service fees.
• Reimburses fees that were collected since April 1, 2024, if applicable.
• Sets basic conditions that applicants must meet, including:
  • they were in, or lived in, an area in Canada affected by a wildfire during the stated period;
  • the document was valid when it was lost, damaged, destroyed or made inaccessible because of the wildfire;
  • they (or someone acting for them) apply to replace the document on or before November 30, 2024 and include a declaration and proof or a declaration of being in the affected area; and
  • the fees have not already been remitted under other passport rules.
• Notes that fees such as biometrics and some temporary-resident status restoration fees are being handled separately under a public policy and are not part of this remission order.

Who's affected#

• Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Canada whose passports or other government-issued travel/identity documents were lost, damaged, destroyed or made inaccessible because of the 2024 wildfires.
• The federal departments handling the payments and reimbursements include Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
• The order applies only to people who meet the conditions above; the source does not list specific towns or fire zones, so whether someone qualifies will depend on whether their area is counted as an area “affected by a wildfire” during the period.

Why it matters#

• It removes the out-of-pocket fee barrier for replacing essential identity and travel documents after wildfire loss. That can help people access services, prove status, rebuild paperwork, or travel for work or family needs.
• The government estimates the cost to the public purse at $27,490 in foregone fees, split as $23,840 for IRCC and $3,650 for GAC.
• Reimbursements will be issued for fees already paid since April 1, 2024, and the measure follows the government’s approach used after other recent domestic disasters.