Canada Extends Ebola Travel Restrictions as Nearly 25,000 Immigration Documents Suspended

Residents of the three affected countries will have their Canadian immigration documents suspended temporarily.

The restrictions, initially introduced on May 27, 2026, have now been extended until November 27, 2026. The latest 60-day extension took effect on September 28.

New figures published in the Canada Gazette on October 10 reveal that 24,945 Canadian immigration documents were suspended as of September 15, 2026.

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 final decisions on immigration applications for these documents from residents of these countries. As of September 15, 33,795 immigration applications were affected by restrictions preventing their finalization.

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 restrictions are currently scheduled to end on November 27, the government can extend them again if public health concerns persist. It also has the authority to lift or modify the measures before that date.

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.

Nearly 25,000 Canadian Immigration Documents Suspended Over Ebola

According to the latest government figures, 24,945 immigration documents had been suspended as of September 15, 2026.

These figures refer to immigration documents that had already been issued but were temporarily suspended under the government’s emergency measures.

The vast majority were temporary residence documents, including 20,035 documents in the visitor category and 2,975 in the student category.

Another 405 documents were suspended in the worker category, while 1,530 permanent residence documents were affected.

The DRC accounted for the largest number of suspended documents, at 13,160, followed by Uganda with 11,320 and South Sudan with 460.

Affected individuals cannot use these documents to travel to Canada while the restrictions remain in effect.

IRCC says suspended documents will be automatically reactivated once the measures end, provided they have not expired. The suspension does not extend a document’s original expiry date.

More Than 33,000 Canadian Immigration Applications Also Affected

The Canada Gazette also reveals that 33,795 immigration applications were also suspended due to restrictions as of September 15.

These included 21,295 permanent residence applications and 12,500 temporary residence applications.

Among the permanent residence applications, 18,890 were in the protected persons category, which includes resettled refugees, protected persons in Canada and their dependants abroad. This represents nearly 89 percent of all affected permanent residence applications.

IRCC can continue processing these applications but cannot finalize them while the restrictions apply.

The government says it will make efforts to expedite affected applications once the public health risk subsides.

The figures for suspended documents and affected applications may include overlapping cases.

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.

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. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” warning that it could last months.

According to the latest Canada Gazette notice, the outbreak has continued to intensify in the DRC. As of September 13, it had spread to seven provinces and 62 health zones. The Canadian government says South Sudan remains highly vulnerable to the introduction of Ebola, with limitations in its health care system increasing the risk that cases could go undetected.

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.

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.

What Can You Do If Your Canadian Visa or Immigration Application Is Affected?

If you live in one of the three affected countries and your Canadian immigration document has been suspended, IRCC says it will notify you by email.

You cannot use a suspended document to board a flight to Canada. However, you do not need to submit a new application simply because your existing document has been suspended.

If your application is still being processed, IRCC can continue assessing it, but a final decision will be delayed until the restrictions are lifted.

If you receive a passport request while the restrictions are in place, IRCC advises against sending your passport to a visa application centre until the measures end.

The government has also provided for exemptions in certain circumstances. The immigration minister can consider individual requests based on public health risks, urgent protection needs, or humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you can submit a request through IRCC’s crisis web form, including supporting documents explaining your circumstances.

An exemption from the immigration restrictions does not automatically exempt you from separate public health or border measures.

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 travel restrictions, Canada’s government cited concerns about the severity of Ebola and the evolving international situation.

In extending the measures, the government cited the continued spread of the outbreak, the severity of the disease, and the potential consequences of delayed detection.

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.