Canada’s New Ebola Travel Restrictions Hit the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan

Residents of the three affected countries will have their Canadian immigration documents suspended for the next 90 days, beginning on May 27, 2026, at 23:59pm EDT. This means that even those with approved visitor visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), and permanent resident visas will not be allowed to travel to Canada until the suspension is lifted.

During the suspension period, Canada will also temporarily pause making decisions on immigration applications for these documents from residents of these countries.

Citizens and residents of these countries who are already in Canada are not impacted by these measures and may remain in Canada for their authorized period of stay.

Although the government has stated that the ban will last 90 days, travellers from these countries should consider that deadline flexible. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government would regularly revise suspension deadlines based on the evolution of the health crisis.

Currently, the travel restrictions only impact residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. However, if the outbreak spreads, it is possible that additional countries could face similar restrictions.

Quarantine Requirements for Returning Travellers

Any travellers returning to Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period upon return to Canada. This measure will impact Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who have been in any of the affected countries within the 21 days prior to their return.

The quarantine requirement will take effect as of May 30, 2026, at 23:59pm EDT. Returning travellers who do not have any symptoms of Ebola will still need to quarantine for 21 days.

If returning travellers have symptoms, they will be isolated at a hospital.

Current Status of the Ebola Outbreak

The Ebola virus outbreak is centred in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, on the borders of South Sudan and Uganda. As of May 27, more than 1077 cases and 238 deaths are suspected. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” warning that it could last months.

For countries like Canada, however, the WHO says the risk is low, noting that risk is “high at the national and regional levels, and low at the global level.”

This species of Ebola, the Bundibugyo species, does not have a vaccine or a specific treatment. Furthering difficulties, the outbreak is taking place in a challenging region: remote, densely populated, and experiencing a humanitarian crisis unrelated to the outbreak. This makes disease management incredibly challenging to coordinate.

As of May 27, the vast majority of cases have been identified in DRC, with only a handful in Uganda. South Sudan has yet to report a single case, but the country’s proximity to the DRC outbreak has put it at significant epidemiological risk.

Ebola is spread by direct person-to-person contact. It requires direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick. The virus is only transmissible when a person is symptomatic.

Why Is Canada Implementing Ebola Travel Restrictions?

Although the WHO has cautioned that the outbreak poses low risks at the international level, Canada is taking active measures to prevent the virus from being imported into the country. In introducing the new travel restrictions, Canada’s government cited concerns about the severity of Ebola, the evolving international situations, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 ™.

The WHO cautioned that “neither the suspension of flights” nor “denial of entry to travellers” from the affected countries are recommended. Despite this, both Canada and the United States have implemented travel restrictions.

There has never been a case of Ebola imported into Canada and there are currently no cases of Ebola disease in North America.

Travel restrictions can be updated at any time. If there are changes to these restrictions, this page will be updated. Always check with the appropriate authorities before planning your travel.