Canada Extends Entry Ban for DRC, Uganda and South Sudan Residents

Canada extends Ebola-related travel and document suspensions for DRC, Uganda and South Sudan — what applicants need to know

Major update and why it matters now
Canada has extended Ebola-related border and immigration measures affecting residents and recent travellers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan. A federal notice published on September 28 says these restrictions will remain in effect until November 27, 2026. Measures include a suspension of immigration documents for residents of those three countries and a continued ban on foreign nationals who travelled to the DRC within the previous 21 days. Approved visas, permits or eTAs do not guarantee travel. Canadian citizens and permanent residents who recently visited these countries must also submit to arrival health assessments and quarantine requirements.

How the policy reached this point
The measures began in late May 2026. On May 27 the government announced a 90‑day suspension of immigration documents for residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. From May 30, anyone who had been in those countries within the previous 21 days — including Canadian citizens and permanent residents — was required to complete a health assessment and quarantine on arrival. That initial phase was set to end on August 29.

Since then the government has extended and adjusted the measures. A 30‑day extension moved the expiry to September 28, 2026, and a further extension announced on September 28 keeps the measures in place until November 27, 2026. On July 20 the government introduced an entry and transit ban for foreign nationals with DRC travel in the previous 21 days, and an interim order under the Aeronautics Act bars airlines from boarding affected travellers.

These steps are the first major use of expanded executive authorities brought into force by Bill C-12 in March 2026. On June 12 officials said the suspensions covered about 36,000 permanent residence applications.

What the extended measures require
The measures combine three operational elements with different consequences:

1) Document suspension for residents of DRC, Uganda and South Sudan
– Applicants who listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as their last country of residence cannot travel to Canada while the suspension is in effect.
– This restriction applies even if a visa, permit or eTA was previously issued.
– IRCC will continue to process affected applications but will not finalize them while the suspension remains.

2) Entry and transit ban tied to recent travel to the DRC
– Foreign nationals who travelled to the DRC within the 21 days before travel are barred from entering or transiting through Canada, with very limited exceptions.
– An interim order under the Aeronautics Act requires airlines not to board those travellers on flights to Canada.

3) Arrival health assessments and quarantine rules for recent travellers
– Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days may still enter Canada but must undergo a health assessment on arrival.
– Asymptomatic travellers must quarantine for 21 days; symptomatic travellers must isolate in a medical facility.
– Foreign nationals entering Canada after recent travel to Uganda or South Sudan must also undergo a health assessment and 21-day quarantine (the source does not describe an entry ban for these travellers as it does for the DRC).

Who is directly affected
– Residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan who listed those countries as their last residence on immigration applications — travel is suspended regardless of issued documents.
– Foreign nationals with any travel to the DRC in the last 21 days — barred from entry or transit to Canada (very limited exceptions).
– Canadian citizens and landed permanent residents returning from any of the three countries within 21 days — allowed entry but subject to mandatory arrival health assessment and quarantine.
– Foreign nationals arriving from Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days — subject to arrival health assessment and 21-day quarantine.
– Airlines — required under the Aeronautics Act interim order to refuse boarding for travellers banned under the DRC-related restriction.
– IRCC case-processing units — continuing to process but not finalize affected files, including the disclosed pool of about 36,000 permanent residence applications.

Practical consequences for applicants, sponsors and employers
– Approved travel documents may no longer guarantee boarding or entry if recent residence or past-21-day travel matches the restricted countries.
– Applicants who listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as their last residence face delays and uncertainty; decisions are paused while the suspension is active.
– Employers expecting temporary workers from these regions should prepare contingency plans; even approved work-permit holders may be prevented from boarding.
– Families and sponsors should expect longer processing timelines and prepare for extended separation.
– Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from the affected countries must plan for arrival health screening and a possible 21-day quarantine or medical isolation.

Key dates, numbers and references from government notices
– Notice published: September 28, 2026 (measures remain in effect until November 27, 2026).
– Initial document suspension announced: May 27, 2026 (90-day suspension).
– Arrival health and quarantine requirements first in effect from May 30, 2026 to August 29, 2026.
– June 12, 2026: government said suspensions included about 36,000 permanent residence applications.
– July 20, 2026: entry and transit ban for foreign nationals with past-21-day travel to the DRC introduced, with an interim Aeronautics Act order.
– Bill C-12 came into force in March 2026, enabling expanded executive authorities used for these suspensions.
– Epidemiological context cited: DRC reported 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths as of September 26, 2026; Uganda reported 20 confirmed cases and 2 deaths before its outbreak was declared over on August 27, 2026 after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case; no Ebola cases reported in South Sudan (per the government notice).

What applicants and travellers should watch and prepare for next
Document and eligibility checks
– If you listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as your last country of residence, do not assume a visa, permit or eTA guarantees travel. Check your application status with IRCC and be prepared for extended processing.

Travel planning and airline policies
– Airlines are bound by the Aeronautics Act interim order not to board travellers banned under the DRC-related rule. Before booking or attempting to board, verify your recent travel history and airline policies.

Quarantine and arrival logistics
– Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from any of the three countries within 21 days must be able to quarantine for 21 days if asymptomatic and accept medical isolation if symptomatic. Prepare accommodation, income and health arrangements for this period.

Keep updated on IRCC notices
– The measures have been adjusted several times. Expect further updates; the policy is time-limited and tied to public-health developments. Watch IRCC for any lifting, narrowing or extension of the measures.

Employer and sponsor communications
– Employers and sponsors with affected applicants should communicate realistic timelines and contingency plans. IRCC continues processing affected applications without finalizing them, so alternative staffing or family-support measures may be needed until the suspension is lifted.

How the measures fit into broader public-health and immigration authority
These measures combine public-health steps (arrival health assessments, quarantine, medical isolation) with immigration controls (document suspensions and entry/transit bans). The government has used powers enabled by Bill C-12 and an interim Aeronautics Act order to manage travel and boarding. The government’s stated rationale is the epidemiological situation, particularly the DRC outbreak statistics at the time of the notice.

Final practical reminders
– If you or family members listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as last residence, expect processing and travel delays until the suspension ends.
– Confirm travel histories carefully before attempting to board flights to Canada; past-21-day travel to the DRC carries a strict entry and transit ban for foreign nationals.
– Canadian citizens and permanent residents should plan for mandatory arrival health procedures and a 21-day quarantine if returning after recent travel to any of the three countries.
– Monitor IRCC communications for further changes.

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