Ebola immigration measures in Canada have been extended until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 27, 2026.
The extension was established by Order No. 2 Amending the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to Ebola Disease in Canada Order (Immigration Applications and Documents), which came into force on September 28, 2026, and was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on October 10, 2026.
The amended order applies to certain foreign nationals outside Canada whose last country of residence, as stated in their immigration application, was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan or Uganda.
These measures continue to suspend certain immigration documents and prevent affected applications from being finalized while the order remains in force.
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What Canada’s Ebola Immigration Measures Do
The measures were first introduced effective May 27, 2026, in response to the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the related cross-border risk involving Uganda and South Sudan. The official explanation states that Uganda’s Ebola outbreak had ended on August 27, 2026, but that the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to pose a risk of reintroduction and cross-border spread.
Under the extended order, IRCC may continue processing applications from affected individuals, but it will not finalize certain applications during the suspension period.
The affected application categories include applications for permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, work permits, study permits and temporary resident permits.
The order also suspends certain permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations and temporary resident permit counterfoils that have already been issued to affected foreign nationals.
A suspended immigration document cannot be used to board a flight or travel to Canada while the suspension is active.
IRCC says valid suspended documents will be automatically reactivated when the measures end, although the suspension does not extend the document’s expiry date.
Who Is Affected By The Extension
The Ebola immigration measures are based on the last country of residence stated in the immigration application rather than the applicant’s citizenship.
This means a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan or Uganda who was living outside the three affected countries when applying may not be affected by the order.
Conversely, a person of another nationality who stated that they were residing in one of the three countries may be affected.
The order applies to foreign nationals outside Canada and does not apply to people who were already in Canada when the measures were introduced, including individuals applying to extend a work permit or study permit from inside Canada.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people registered under the Indian Act are not subject to these immigration-document suspensions.
The order also identifies exemptions for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, accredited foreign representatives and eligible family members because they do not require, or are exempt from, the relevant Canadian visa requirement.
Applications Will Remain In Process But Not Finalized
The Ebola immigration measures do not mean that every affected application is refused.
Instead, IRCC may continue processing applications, but final decisions and the issuance of certain travel documents remain suspended while the order is in force.
Once the order expires or is repealed, applications will no longer be affected by this particular suspension and finalization may resume.
The Canada Gazette says IRCC will undertake efforts to expedite processing after the public health risk subsides.
Applicants affected by the Ebola immigration measures should continue monitoring communications from IRCC and should not assume that an application will be finalized before November 27, 2026.
Previously Issued Visas And Electronic Travel Authorizations
These Ebola immigration measures identify temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident permit counterfoils and permanent resident visas among the documents that may be suspended.
When a document is suspended, the holder cannot use it to board a plane or travel to Canada during the suspension period.
IRCC’s public guidance states that affected airlines may receive a no-board message through existing systems connected with the Canada Border Services Agency.
People who receive a passport request while affected by the measures should not send their passport to a visa application centre until the measures have ended, unless IRCC provides further instructions.
IRCC warns that visa application centres cannot process passport submissions to finalize affected applications and that a submitted passport will be returned, potentially with additional fees.
Applicants should also remember that automatic reactivation after the measures end does not extend the expiry date of a visa or other immigration document.
Case-By-Case Exemptions Remain Available
The Ebola immigration measures allow the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to exempt an individual from the order on a case-by-case basis.
An exemption is discretionary and is not automatically granted because an applicant has an approved application, a job offer, a study admission letter or a family member in Canada.
IRCC says exemption requests should explain why the individual should be exempt and provide evidence that the person does not pose a risk to public health.
Decision-makers may consider the level of public health risk, measures taken to reduce that risk, whether the individual urgently needs protection and other humanitarian and compassionate considerations.
Applicants seeking an exemption can use IRCC’s crisis web form and should include supporting information relevant to their circumstances.
Possible supporting evidence may include proof that the applicant was outside the affected countries for at least 21 days before the measures began, documentation of quarantine or self-isolation arrangements, medical information and reasons the application should be processed before the measures end.
Official Data Shows Thousands Of Documents And Applications Affected
The measures affected the operational figures reported in the Canada Gazette as of September 15, 2026.
The figures are rounded and may change as documents expire, applicants arrive in Canada or applications are finalized.
| Category | Democratic Republic of the Congo | South Sudan | Uganda | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspended immigration documents | 13,160 | 460 | 11,320 | 24,945 |
| Suspended permanent resident applications | 1,275 | 450 | 19,565 | 21,295 |
| Suspended temporary resident applications | 9,345 | 60 | 3,095 | 12,500 |
Among the suspended documents, the largest groups were visitor documents and student documents.
The table lists 20,035 suspended visitor documents, 2,975 student documents and 405 worker documents across the three countries.
The permanent resident application inventory includes economic, family class, humanitarian and compassionate, public policy, permit holders and protected persons categories.
The largest permanent resident application total was in the protected persons category, with 18,890 applications identified across the three countries.
Why Canada Extended The Measures
Canada extended these Ebola immigration measures to reduce the risk of Ebola being imported into Canada and to preserve public health response capacity, according to the Canadian government.
The order cites the continued spread of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ongoing cross-border risks involving Uganda and South Sudan.
According to the official explanation, the outbreak had expanded to seven provinces and 62 health zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of September 13, 2026.
The government also cited the World Health Organization’s assessment of very high risk within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and high risk for neighbouring countries, including Uganda and South Sudan.
The immigration measures operate alongside separate border, quarantine and aviation measures.
Meeting the requirements of one measure does not automatically provide an exemption from another measure.
Separate Travel And Public Health Restrictions May Apply
These Ebola immigration measures operate alongside separate measures that may require health assessments, 21-day quarantine for asymptomatic travellers and isolation for travellers with Ebola symptoms.
Other measures prohibit certain foreign nationals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from entering Canada or boarding a flight to Canada.
As of July 20, 2026, foreign nationals cannot board a flight to Canada if they have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at any time during the previous 21 days.
Foreign nationals who have been in South Sudan or Uganda during the previous 21 days may be allowed to travel but must have the required valid travel documents and comply with applicable public health measures.
Travellers should check the current official border and health guidance before making travel arrangements because the immigration-document order and public health measures are separate rules.
What Affected Applicants Should Do Now
- Check whether the last country of residence stated in the application was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan or Uganda.
- Monitor email and IRCC account messages for notices about document suspension or exemption requests.
- Do not send a passport to a visa application centre solely because a passport request was issued before the suspension.
- Keep evidence supporting any request for an exemption, including proof of residence, travel history and public health precautions.
- Confirm that a document will remain valid after November 27, 2026, because the suspension does not extend its expiry date.
- Review separate Canadian border and health requirements before planning travel.
The current Ebola immigration measures are scheduled to remain in force until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 27, 2026, unless they are repealed or amended earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have Canada’s Ebola immigration measures been extended?
The measures have been extended until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 27, 2026, unless they are repealed or amended earlier.
Who is affected by Canada’s Ebola immigration measures?
The measures generally affect certain foreign nationals outside Canada who listed the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan or Uganda as their country of residence in an immigration application.
Can affected applicants still submit or process an application?
IRCC may continue processing affected applications, but certain applications will not be finalized while the order remains in force.
Can a suspended Canadian immigration document be used to travel?
No. A suspended visa, electronic travel authorization or other affected document cannot be used to board a flight or travel to Canada during the suspension.
Can someone request an exemption from the Ebola immigration measures?
Yes. Exemption requests may be submitted through IRCC’s crisis web form, but decisions are discretionary and made on a case-by-case basis.
Does the suspension extend the expiry date of a Canadian visa?
No. IRCC states that the suspension does not extend the document’s expiry date.
Fact-Checked: Verified against the Canada Gazette order published October 10, 2026, IRCC guidance updated September 28, 2026, and the WHO Ebola situation report published October 8, 2026. ([gazette.gc.ca](https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2026/2026-10-10/html/notice-avis-eng.html))
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not replace instructions or decisions from IRCC, CBSA or other Canadian authorities.
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