Canada Places Temporary Travel Restriction On DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Over Ebola
The Government of Canada has announced temporary travel and immigration restrictions on travellers from some African countries following the latest Ebola outbreak.
Papers News reports that the affected countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, which Canadian authorities described as places with high or very high risk linked to the outbreak.
In a statement released by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the government said immigration documents for residents of the affected countries would be suspended for 90 days, beginning from May 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
The measure covers people with previously approved temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorisations and permanent resident visas, meaning they will not be allowed to travel to Canada while the documents remain suspended.
Canadian authorities also said decisions on new applications for the same categories of travel documents from residents of the listed countries would be paused during the period.
According to the government, a second measure will take effect from May 30, 2026, and remain in place until August 29, 2026. Under the rule, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act and foreign nationals who have been in the affected areas within the previous 21 days and do not show symptoms must quarantine for 21 days on arrival.
Travellers who do not have a safe place to quarantine will be provided with an appropriate location, while those showing symptoms will be isolated at a hospital for further medical assessment.
The Canadian government said the measures are being implemented under the Quarantine Act as a precaution to reduce the risk of the virus entering and spreading within the country.
It further stated that people already in Canada are not affected by the new restriction and may continue to stay for their authorised period. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are also still allowed to return to the country, but will be screened at ports of entry.
Canada maintained that the risk to people in the country remains low, adding that there has never been an imported Ebola case in Canada and there are currently no cases of the disease in North America.
The latest outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, with the World Health Organisation declaring the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern earlier in May.
The WHO, however, has advised countries against closing borders or placing restrictions on international travel and trade, urging governments to focus on surveillance, contact tracing, testing, treatment and accurate public information.
Canadian officials said the temporary measures would be reviewed based on available evidence and the international epidemiological situation.
