Foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the last 21 days will be denied entry to Canada beginning 11:59 p.m. on July 20 2026. The restriction, enforced through an interim order under the Aeronautics Act, applies to all passengers on private and commercial flights to Canada, which must refuse boarding to anyone affected.
Scope and Duration
- Effective date: July 20 2026, 11:59 p.m.
- End date: August 29 2026 (the ban remains in force until this date).
- Eligibility: All foreign nationals who have been in the DRC during the 21 days preceding their intended arrival in Canada.
Related Measures
- Omnibus entry restrictions (since May 30 2026): Travelers from the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan must undergo a mandatory 21‑day quarantine after arrival in Canada.
- Immigration document suspension: Canada’s immigration department has halted the issuance of immigration documents to residents of the three regions and paused processing of immigration applications.
- Both the quarantine requirement and the immigration freeze are also set to expire on August 29 2026.
Public Health Context
- Ebola outbreak: The ban responds to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC. As of July 15 2026, the World Health Organization reported 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths in the DRC (data released July 17).
- Comparative figures: Uganda reported 20 cases and 2 deaths (as of July 2), while South Sudan reported no cases.
- Risk assessment: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) states that the health risk to Canadians from Ebola is “considered low,” and no travel‑related Ebola cases have been reported in Canada to date.
Legal Basis
- The measures invoke the sweeping executive powers granted to the Canadian government on March 26 2026 under amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act introduced by Bill C‑12. This represents the first use of those powers for an Ebola‑related public‑health response.
Practical Implications
- Travelers planning to enter Canada who have recently been in the DRC should anticipate denial of boarding and must postpone travel until the 21‑day window has elapsed.
- Individuals with pending immigration applications or who hold immigration documents issued for the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan should expect continued processing delays until at least August 29 2026.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada press release (July 19 2026); World Health Organization data (July 17 2026).
Source article: www.cicnews.com
