Canada's immigration authority has announced a 60-day extension of travel restrictions affecting residents of three countries, including two in Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan are covered under the renewed suspension of immigration processing. Even applicants who already hold approved visas or permits are affected, with no final decisions to be issued while the ban remains active. The restrictions were initially put in place due to concerns about the spread of Ebola.
The extension, announced on September 28, 2026, adds another 60 days to the existing measures, which are now set to remain in place until November 27, 2026. The Canadian government stated it remains "deeply concerned" about the active Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the possibility of the virus spreading to neighbouring countries. This concern is cited as the primary reason for continuing the ban.
Under the extended measures, individuals whose last country of residence at the time of their application was the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan are barred from travelling to Canada. The suspension covers immigration processing across all three nations. Prior approval offers no guarantee of travel, and individuals who already hold a valid visa, permit, or electronic travel authorisation are equally subject to the ban.
The restrictions affect not only new applicants but also those with pending applications. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that it will continue reviewing both new and existing applications linked to the affected countries. However, no final decision will be issued on any such application until the restrictions are lifted or formally revised.
This leaves many applicants in a period of uncertainty, with their cases progressing through review but stalling short of a conclusion for as long as the ban holds. The Canadian government has not provided a timeline for lifting the restrictions, leaving open the possibility of another extension if the public health situation in the region does not improve before the November 27 deadline.
The travel restrictions are part of Canada's efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola. The country has been monitoring the situation in the affected countries and has taken measures to ensure public safety. The restrictions are being enforced across all ports of entry, including airports and land borders.
The extension of the travel ban has significant implications for individuals from the affected countries who had planned to travel to Canada. They will need to wait until the restrictions are lifted or find alternative travel arrangements. The Canadian government will continue to review the situation and update its policies as necessary to ensure public safety.
Key points
- Canada extends travel ban on residents of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan due to Ebola concerns.
- The restrictions are now set to remain in place until November 27, 2026.
- Even applicants with approved visas or permits are affected by the ban.
