On This Page You Will Find
- Who is affected by Canada’s Ebola immigration restrictions
- What happens to previously approved visas and immigration documents
- How the restrictions affect pending permanent and temporary residence applications
- The difference between immigration restrictions and travel-history rules
- What happens when the measures end on November 27
- How affected applicants can request an exemption
Canada has extended immigration restrictions affecting people connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan for another 60 days as it responds to the continuing Ebola outbreak.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on September 28 that its temporary immigration measures will remain in place until November 27, 2026.
The restrictions have significant consequences for foreign nationals who lived in the three affected countries when they submitted their Canadian immigration applications.
Their immigration documents remain temporarily suspended, meaning they cannot use affected visas and other documents to travel to Canada.
IRCC will also continue processing applications from people affected by the restrictions, but it will not finalize those applications while the measures remain in force.
This means an application for temporary or permanent residence can continue moving through the immigration system without reaching a final decision until the restrictions are lifted.
Who Is Affected By Canada’s Ebola Immigration Restrictions?
The immigration restrictions apply according to the applicant’s last country of residence when they submitted their immigration application.
IRCC currently applies the measures to foreign nationals who listed one of the following as their last country of residence:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Uganda
- South Sudan
The rules are based on residence rather than citizenship.
For example, a citizen of the DRC who was living in another country when they submitted their immigration application would not automatically fall under these measures.
Conversely, a foreign national of another citizenship who listed the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan as their last country of residence could be affected.
IRCC introduced the temporary measures on May 27, 2026. They are now scheduled to remain in place until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27.
Previously Approved Immigration Documents Remain Suspended
One of the most important consequences for affected foreign nationals is that an immigration document that has already been approved may not currently be used to travel to Canada.
IRCC says suspended documents include:
- Temporary resident visas
- Electronic travel authorizations
- Temporary resident permit counterfoils
- Permanent resident visas
A suspended document is temporarily not valid for travel to Canada. A person cannot use it to board a flight or enter Canada while the suspension applies.
This means receiving immigration approval before the Ebola measures were introduced does not necessarily allow an affected foreign national to travel to Canada.
IRCC says it will notify affected people by email if their immigration document has been suspended.
Canada Is Still Processing Immigration Applications
The restrictions do not mean that IRCC has completely stopped processing immigration applications from people affected by the measures.
Instead, IRCC has drawn an important distinction between processing an application and finalizing it.
The department says it will continue processing both new and existing applications covered by the temporary measures. However, it will not make final decisions on those applications while the restrictions remain in place.
This can affect applicants seeking both temporary and permanent immigration status.
For example, IRCC could continue reviewing an application, conducting admissibility checks or requesting information while the restrictions remain in effect. But an affected case cannot move through the final decision stage while the temporary measures apply.
Applicants should therefore not assume their application has been refused or abandoned simply because it cannot currently be finalized.
What Should Applicants Do If They Receive A Passport Request?
IRCC has specifically warned affected applicants not to send their passports to a visa application centre while the measures remain in force.
Visa application centres cannot currently process passport submissions needed to finalize visa applications for people living in the affected countries.
They will also not retain passports until the restrictions end.
IRCC says a passport submitted during this period will be returned, potentially leaving the applicant responsible for additional costs if they later have to send it again.
What Happens When The Ebola Immigration Restrictions End?
Under the current schedule, the measures are due to end on November 27, 2026.
If the restrictions end without another extension, IRCC says valid suspended immigration documents will automatically become active again.
People will not need to apply to have their documents reactivated.
IRCC will also resume making final decisions on applications that were prevented from being finalized because of the restrictions.
However, suspension of an immigration document does not extend its original expiry date.
This means an applicant whose visa or other document expires during the suspension could still need to apply for another immigration document before travelling to Canada.
The November 27 date is also not guaranteed to be the final end of the restrictions. Canada has already extended the temporary measures several times, and the federal government could extend, change or repeal them depending on the public-health situation.
Immigration Restrictions Are Different From Canada’s Travel-History Rules
Applicants should distinguish the immigration document restrictions from separate Canadian border measures based on where a traveller has recently been.
The immigration measures primarily look at the last country of residence declared when a person submitted their immigration application.
The public-health border measures instead look at recent travel history.
Foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at any point during the previous 21 days generally cannot board a flight to Canada, enter Canada or transit through Canada, subject to limited exemptions.
Different rules apply to foreign nationals who have been in Uganda or South Sudan during the previous 21 days.
They may be allowed to travel to Canada if they otherwise meet Canada’s entry requirements, but they are generally required to undergo a health assessment and quarantine for 21 days after arrival.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people registered under the Indian Act can return to Canada after being in any of the three affected countries, but public-health requirements including screening and, in applicable cases, quarantine remain in place.
The distinction means a foreign national could potentially be affected by the immigration-document rules because of where they lived when they applied, the travel rules because of where they have recently been, or both.
Can Applicants Request An Exemption?
IRCC allows people affected by the immigration measures to request an exemption.
The department assesses requests individually.
Applicants must provide evidence explaining why they should receive an exemption and demonstrate that they do not present an unacceptable public-health risk.
IRCC says it may consider factors including the public-health risk involved, measures the person has taken to reduce that risk, an urgent need for refugee protection and humanitarian or compassionate circumstances.
Requests can be submitted through IRCC’s crisis web form along with supporting evidence.
What The Extension Means For Canada Immigration Applicants
The September 28 extension means affected applicants now face the possibility of another two months without a final immigration decision or the ability to use suspended immigration documents to travel to Canada.
However, the files themselves are not necessarily frozen.
IRCC can continue processing applications while the temporary restrictions remain in place. The barrier comes at the final decision stage.
Applicants should therefore continue responding to IRCC requests, keep their contact information updated and monitor communications from the department.
They should also check the restrictions again before making travel arrangements, particularly because Canada’s rules can differ depending on a person’s country of residence, immigration document and recent travel history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will Canada’s Ebola immigration restrictions remain in place?
Canada has extended the temporary immigration measures until November 27, 2026. The restrictions affect certain foreign nationals connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. The government could change, repeal or extend the measures again depending on the Ebola outbreak and public-health risks.
Can IRCC still process my application during the Ebola restrictions?
Yes. IRCC says it will continue processing new and existing applications affected by the measures. However, it will not finalize those applications while the restrictions remain in force. This means an application can continue progressing through the system without receiving a final approval or refusal during the restriction period.
Can I travel to Canada with a visa that was approved before the restrictions?
Not necessarily. If IRCC has suspended your immigration document because the measures apply to you, you cannot currently use it to travel to Canada. Suspended documents include temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations and permanent resident visas. IRCC says it will notify affected people by email.
Do the restrictions apply to everyone who is a citizen of the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan?
No. For the immigration measures, IRCC looks at the applicant’s last country of residence when they submitted their application rather than citizenship alone. Someone who is a citizen of an affected country but was living elsewhere when they applied may therefore not be covered by the immigration-document suspension.
What happens to suspended visas after November 27?
If the measures end as scheduled, IRCC says valid suspended documents will automatically become active again, and affected applicants will not need to request reactivation. However, the suspension does not extend a document’s expiry date. Anyone whose document expires may need to obtain a new one before travelling.