Canada has extended its Ebola‑related immigration and travel restrictions until 27 November 2026. The measures continue to block entry for foreign nationals residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan, and for anyone who has been in the DRC within the previous 21 days.
Current restrictions
- Document suspension – Immigration documents (visas, work permits, study permits, electronic travel authorisations) for residents of the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan remain suspended. Applicants who listed any of these countries as their last country of residence are barred from travelling to Canada, even with a previously approved document.
- Recent‑travel ban – Foreign nationals who have been in the DRC within the last 21 days are prohibited from entering or transiting through Canada, with very limited exceptions. The same health‑assessment and 21‑day quarantine requirements apply to travelers from Uganda and South Sudan who have been there in the past 21 days.
- Exceptions for Canadians – Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been in the three countries within the past 21 days may still enter Canada, but must undergo a health assessment on arrival. Asymptomatic travellers are required to quarantine for 21 days; symptomatic individuals must isolate in a medical facility.
IRCC will continue to process new and existing applications affected by the measures, but no decisions will be finalised while the bans remain in force.
Timeline and legal basis
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 27 May 2026 | Initial 90‑day suspension of immigration documents for residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. |
| 30 May 2026 | Health‑assessment and 21‑day quarantine requirement for anyone who had been in those countries within the previous 21 days, applied to all travellers including Canadians. |
| 20 July 2026 | Entry ban added for foreign nationals who had been in the DRC within the previous 21 days; an interim order under the Aeronautics Act barred airlines from boarding such travellers. |
| 12 June 2026 | Government disclosed that the suspensions covered ≈ 36,000 permanent‑residence applications. |
| 28 September 2026 | Notice extending all measures to 27 November 2026 (30‑day extension of the original expiry on 29 August). |
| Legislation | The measures rely on expanded executive powers granted by Bill C‑12 (effective March 2026). |
Full notice from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: government extends border measures response to Ebola disease outbreak.
Ebola situation in the affected countries (as of 26 September 2026)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo – 8,067 confirmed cases; 3,901 deaths (National Institute of Public Health).
- Uganda – 20 confirmed cases; 2 deaths. The outbreak was declared over on 27 August after 42 consecutive days without a new case.
- South Sudan – No reported Ebola cases.
Practical implications for travellers and applicants
- Foreign nationals from the three countries should not schedule travel to Canada until the bans are lifted. Existing visas or eTAs cannot be used.
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from the affected regions must be prepared for a health assessment on arrival and a mandatory 21‑day quarantine if asymptomatic.
- Immigration applicants (e.g., permanent‑residence, work or study permits) should monitor the status of their files; processing will continue but final decisions are on hold.
These extensions reflect the Canadian government’s ongoing response to the Ebola outbreaks in Central Africa and its use of recent legislative powers to manage public‑health‑related immigration risks.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
