Canada extends Ebola-related immigration measures to November 27

The measures now remain in force until November 27

IRCC announced on September 28 that the temporary immigration measures linked to the Ebola outbreak have been extended for 60 days, until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27, 2026. The affected countries remain the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

The rules are based on the last country of residence recorded in the immigration application, not citizenship. A citizen of an affected country who was living elsewhere when they applied is not covered solely because of nationality.

Which documents remain suspended

Temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident permit counterfoils and permanent resident visas remain temporarily invalid for affected foreign nationals. They cannot be used to board a flight or travel to Canada, even if the document was approved before the measures began.

IRCC says a suspended document will be reactivated automatically when the measures end or are repealed. The suspension does not extend the document's expiry date, so a person whose document expires may need to apply for a new one before future travel.

Applications may be processed but not finalized

IRCC will continue processing new and existing applications covered by the measures, but will not make a final decision while the order remains in force. People who receive a passport request should not send their passport to a visa application centre until the measures end; IRCC warns that a submitted passport will be returned and additional fees may be required later.

The extension does not cancel an application and does not change the authorized status of a person who was already in Canada when the measures took effect.

Case-by-case exemptions remain available

An affected person may request an exemption through IRCC's crisis web form. The request must explain why an exemption is needed and provide evidence that the person would not pose a public-health risk.

IRCC considers public-health risk and mitigation, urgent protection needs for eligible refugees, and other humanitarian or compassionate factors. An exemption is discretionary and is not granted automatically.

What affected applicants should do

• Check the country of residence listed in the application and the expiry date of every issued immigration document.
• Do not make travel arrangements based only on a previously approved visa, permit or eTA if IRCC has notified you that the document is suspended.
• Keep contact details current so IRCC can deliver notices about a suspended document or application.
• Use the crisis web form for an exemption request and attach evidence addressing urgency and public-health risk.
• Check current federal public-health and air-travel rules separately before travelling, because those requirements operate alongside immigration-document measures.