Ebola disease: Temporary measures

Although the risk to Canada is low, because of the high risk of an Ebola outbreak in these countries, we put temporary measures in place for foreign nationals living in

• the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
• South Sudan
• Uganda

On this page

• What measures are in place for Ebola
• How to know if your document is suspended
• What happens if your document is suspended
• If you were in Canada when the measures were put in place
• If you were in transit to Canada when the measures were put in place
• If you’re a citizen of any of the affected countries, but you don’t live there
• Canadian citizens and permanent residents
• If you’re affected by the Ebola response situation and need to contact us

What measures are in place for Ebola

The following temporary measures are in place for foreign nationals currently living in the DRC, South Sudan or Uganda:

• We’re temporarily suspending the immigration documents of foreign nationals living in these countries.
  • This means they can’t travel to Canada right now, even with a previously approved visa, permit or electronic travel authorization.
• We’ll continue processing new and existing applications from those living in these countries, but we won’t finalize any applications at this time.

Once the measures end or are repealed, valid documents will no longer be suspended and we’ll begin making final decisions on applications again.

These measures are in place as of 23:59:59 ET on May 27, 2026, and will end at 23:59:59 ET on August 28, 2026.

How to know if your document is suspended

We’ll notify you by email if your document is suspended. Please make sure the contact information in your account is up to date.

Immigration documents that are suspended by these measures include

• temporary resident visas
• electronic travel authorizations
• temporary resident permit counterfoils
• permanent resident visas

What happens if your document is suspended

If your document is suspended, it means it’s temporarily not valid. You can’t use it to board a plane or travel to Canada.

When the measures end, we’ll automatically reactivate your document, and you can use it again. You don’t need to do anything to reactivate your document.

If your document will expire soon

The suspension does not extend the expiry date. You need to apply for another document if you want to travel to Canada in the future.

If you were in Canada when the measures were put in place

Your status in Canada is not affected by these measures, and you can stay in Canada for the period you’ve been authorized to stay.

If you were in transit to Canada when the measures were put in place

Your document is not suspended if you were in transit, with Canada as your final destination, and you were

• on an airplane or
• at an airport waiting for your connecting flight to Canada

If you’re in transit and need urgent assistance, contact us using our crisis web form.

If you’ve been in a country where the Ebola risk is considered high or very high within the last 21 days, when you arrive in Canada, you need to

• do a medical screening
• follow all public health measures

More about health and border measures for Ebola

If you’re a citizen of any of the affected countries, but you don’t live there

If you were living outside of the affected countries when you applied for your visa, permit or other immigration document, you’re not affected by these measures.

These measures are being applied based on the last country of residence in your application, not your citizenship.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been in areas with Ebola disease within the last 21 days can return to Canada but will need to

• do a medical screening when they arrive
• follow all public health measures

More about health and border measures for Ebola

If you’re affected by the Ebola response situation and need to contact us

Use IRCC’s crisis web form(opens in a new tab)  in these cases:

• If you are in-transit when the measures take effect and need urgent assistance, you must
  • include the keyword TRANSIT2026 in the enquiry textbox, and
  • include details of your travel itinerary in the “Upload file(s) that support your situation” box or in the enquiry textbox.
    • This includes travel dates, transit dates, departure and arrival locations, and connections.
• For all other enquiries about the Ebola response situation or if you believe your documents have been suspended by mistake, you can submit a webform via the Crisis webform (no keyword is needed).