Canada has extended temporary Ebola-related border and immigration measures until September 28, 2026. The extension affects travellers and immigration applicants connected with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, but the rules are not identical for every country or every traveller.
The Public Health Agency of Canada announced the 30-day extension on August 28. Canada reports no domestic Ebola cases and describes the current risk to people in Canada as low, while IRCC confirms that certain immigration documents remain temporarily suspended for foreign nationals whose last country of residence on their application was one of the affected countries.
First Question: Which Country Are You Coming From?
The practical effect depends heavily on travel history and country of residence.
| Situation | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Foreign national who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the previous 21 days | Cannot travel to Canada under the current temporary entry restriction |
| Traveller from an affected area with Ebola symptoms | Isolation at a medical facility upon arrival where entry is permitted |
| Traveller from an affected area without symptoms | Health assessment and 21-day quarantine on arrival where entry is permitted |
| Resident of DRC, Uganda or South Sudan whose immigration document is suspended | Cannot currently use the suspended document to travel to Canada |
| Application from an affected resident | IRCC can continue processing but will not finalize it while the measures remain in place |
The Democratic Republic of the Congo Has the Strictest Travel Restriction
As of July 20, 2026, foreign nationals cannot board a flight to Canada if they have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for any period during the previous 21 days.
The Public Health Agency’s August 28 statement confirms that this restriction remains in effect during the extension.
This is different from the rules for some travellers who have been in Uganda or South Sudan, where entry may still be possible with valid travel documents and compliance with health measures.
Uganda and South Sudan Travellers Need to Check Document Status
IRCC says a foreign national who has been in South Sudan or Uganda within the previous 21 days and is not otherwise affected by the document-suspension measure can return to Canada if they have a valid temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization and a valid travel document.
They will still need medical screening and must follow applicable public health measures.
Canada Is Using the Last Country of Residence, Not Citizenship Alone
The immigration document suspension is based on the last country of residence listed in the immigration application, not simply the applicant’s citizenship.
That distinction can produce different outcomes for two people with the same passport. A citizen of an affected country who was living elsewhere when they applied may not be caught by the same document suspension.
What a Suspended Immigration Document Means
IRCC identifies four document types that can be suspended under these measures:
- temporary resident visas;
- electronic travel authorizations;
- temporary resident permit counterfoils; and
- permanent resident visas.
A suspended document is temporarily invalid for travel even if it was approved earlier. IRCC continues processing affected new and existing applications but does not finalize them while the measures remain in force. When the measures end, documents that are still valid are automatically reactivated.
The suspension does not extend the original expiry date. If the document expires during the suspension, a new document may be required for future travel.
Do Not Send a Passport to a VAC if IRCC Says You Are Affected
IRCC gives a specific warning to affected applicants who receive a passport request letter: do not send the passport to a visa application centre while the measures are in place.
VACs cannot currently use those passport submissions to finalize affected visa applications and will not keep the passport. A passport sent unnecessarily may be returned, potentially creating additional costs and delays.
What Happens at the Canadian Border?
The public health response depends on symptoms and travel history.
Travellers with symptoms
People entering Canada who have been in affected areas during the previous 21 days and have symptoms of Ebola disease will be isolated at a medical facility upon arrival.
Travellers without symptoms
People who are allowed to enter and do not have symptoms will receive a health assessment and may be required to quarantine for 21 days.
These health measures are separate from the immigration document rules. A traveller can have valid immigration status but still be subject to public-health screening and quarantine.
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents Can Return
IRCC says Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been in areas with Ebola within the previous 21 days can return to Canada. They must complete medical screening and follow the public-health measures that apply.
The entry prohibition targeting foreign nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo does not remove the right of Canadian citizens to enter Canada.
People Already in Canada Keep Their Authorized Status
If a person was already in Canada when the measures were put in place, IRCC says their status in Canada is not affected by the border measures. They can remain for the period they were authorized to stay.
That does not automatically extend expiring status. Anyone approaching the end of an authorized stay should follow the normal extension rules that apply to their situation. Likewise, a valid study or work permit does not override a separate border restriction or suspended travel document. Related permit updates are organized in Canadanship’s International Students and Work sections.
Exemptions Can Be Requested Case by Case
IRCC allows affected people to request an exemption through its crisis web form. The applicant needs to explain why an exemption should be granted, provide supporting evidence and show that they do not pose an unacceptable public-health risk.
IRCC says officers can consider:
- the public-health risk;
- steps taken to reduce that risk;
- urgent protection needs for certain refugee applicants;
- humanitarian or compassionate circumstances; and
- evidence that the person was outside affected countries for the relevant period.
September 28 Is the Current End Date, Not a Guarantee
The measures are currently scheduled to end at 23:59:59 Eastern Time on September 28, 2026. Canada says it will continue monitoring the international situation and can adjust the measures as scientific evidence and epidemiological conditions change.
Travellers should therefore re-check official sources immediately before travel, even if they have already reviewed the rules earlier in September.
Travel Decision Guide
- Check whether you lived in DRC, Uganda or South Sudan when you submitted your immigration application.
- Check whether you have been in an affected area during the last 21 days.
- Check your email for an IRCC suspension notice.
- If you were in DRC within 21 days and are a foreign national, review the current entry prohibition before booking.
- If you are affected but have urgent circumstances, review the exemption process.
- Check travel.gc.ca and IRCC again immediately before departure.
Primary Government Sources
| Source | Information confirmed |
|---|---|
| Public Health Agency of Canada – August 28 extension | September 28 extension, 21-day health measures, DRC foreign-national entry restriction, document suspension and application-finalization pause. |
| IRCC – Ebola temporary immigration measures | Document types suspended, residence-based rules, exemption process, passport instructions and treatment of people already in Canada. |
Verified August 30, 2026. Ebola-related travel and immigration measures can change with little notice.