gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Tourism & short stayEffectiveHigh impactVerified

Canada Extends Temporary Border Measures and Immigration Document Suspensions in Response to Ebola Outbreak

🇨🇦 CanadaEntry Rules2 recorded versionsLast change 28 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The existing temporary border measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak have been extended for another 30 days, until 28 September 2026. This means that immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan remain suspended. Decisions on new and existing applications from these countries will continue to be processed but not finalised while the measures are in place. Foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days continue to be prohibited from entering Canada. Travellers entering Canada who have been in these areas within the previous 21 days and have symptoms of Ebola disease will be isolated at a medical facility. Those without symptoms will receive a health assessment and must quarantine for 21 days.

Overview

The Government of Canada, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced new special measures effective from 1 April 2026, to 30 November 2028, to support those affected by domestic natural disasters. These measures offer flexibility for temporary residents to manage their immigration status and provide fee exemptions for foreign emergency services personnel responding to such events. This initiative aims to streamline support for communities and emergency responders facing climate change impacts.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Foreign nationals who listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as their last country of residence in their Canadian immigration application
  • Holders of affected temporary resident visas
  • Holders of affected permanent resident visas
  • Holders of affected eTAs
  • Applicants whose affected immigration applications are still being processed
  • Foreign nationals subject to the separate Ebola-related border restrictions because they recently travelled to an affected country

What changed in the latest version

Before

Temporary border measures were in place until 29 August 2026.

After

The temporary border measures for the Ebola disease outbreak have been extended for another 30 days. They will now last until 28 September 2026. This means immigration documents for people who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan are still on hold. The government will still process decisions on new and existing applications from these countries. However, it will not finalise them while the measures are in place. Foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 21 days still cannot enter Canada. Travellers entering Canada who have been in these areas in the last 21 days and have symptoms of Ebola disease will be isolated at a medical facility. Those without symptoms will have a health check and must quarantine for 21 days.

This extension means affected people must continue to delay or change their travel plans to Canada for another month. People with approved visas or electronic travel authorisations (eTAs) cannot use them. This applies if they live in the specified countries or have recently visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Immigration applications from these countries will remain pending. They will be processed but not finalised until the measures are lifted. Airlines must still stop foreign nationals from boarding flights to Canada. This applies if they have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 21 days.

Explained simply

Imagine if a serious bug is spreading in some countries, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. To keep people in Canada safe, the government is being extra careful. If you've been in these places recently, or if your official papers for coming to Canada say you live there, you might not be allowed to fly to Canada right now, even if you had permission before. If you do manage to come to Canada from these areas, you'll need to stay by yourself for 21 days to make sure you don't have the bug, or go to a hospital if you feel ill. These rules are extended until 28 September 2026, to help prevent the bug from entering Canada.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v3Effective 28 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    Canada Extends Temporary Border Measures and Immigration Document Suspensions in Response to Ebola Outbreak

    Follows v4 · Canada Suspends Immigration Document Processing and Validity for Nationals Residing in Ebola-Affected Countries

    Canada has extended its temporary border measures for the Ebola disease outbreak. These measures will now last until 28 September 2026. This means that immigration documents for people who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan are still on hold. Foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 21 days cannot enter Canada. Travellers from these affected areas will still have health checks. They must quarantine for 21 days if they have no symptoms. They must isolate if they have symptoms when they arrive in Canada.

  2. v4Effective 27 May 2026EffectiveCritical impact
    Canada Suspends Immigration Document Processing and Validity for Nationals Residing in Ebola-Affected Countries

    Canada has introduced the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to Ebola Disease in Canada Order (Immigration Applications and Documents). This order temporarily stops processing certain immigration applications and temporarily stops certain issued immigration documents from being valid. This rule applies to people from other countries — legally called foreign nationals — who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda. It started on 27 May 2026 and ends on 28 August 2026. The suspension covers applications for: * permanent resident visas * temporary resident visas * electronic travel authorisations * work permits * study permits * temporary resident permits Also suspended are these documents if they have already been issued: * permanent resident visas * temporary resident visas * electronic travel authorisations * temporary resident permits

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    29 Aug 2026

    The existing temporary border measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak have been extended for another 30 days, until 28 September 2026. This means that immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan remain suspended. Decisions on new and existing applications from these countries will continue to be processed but not finalised while t

  2. Announced

    28 Aug 2026

    The Government of Canada has extended its temporary border measures concerning the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. These measures, in effect until 28 September 2026, continue to prohibit foreign nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from entering Canada. Additionally, immigration documents for residents of

Other routes in this country

1 / 6