The order ran through September 28, 2026
A notice published in the Canada Gazette on September 5, 2026 set out an amendment extending Canada's Ebola-related immigration order on applications and documents. The amendment was made on August 23, came into force at 10:00 p.m. EDT on August 28, and the order was to end at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on September 28, 2026. The measures began on May 27, 2026.
The order depends on the country of residence stated on the application, not on citizenship. It applies to foreign nationals who are outside Canada and who stated the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda or South Sudan as their country of residence.
Affected applications may be processed but not finalized
While the order is in force, IRCC may continue to process affected applications but cannot finalize applications for permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, study permits or temporary resident permits.
The order also keeps permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, eTAs and temporary resident permits that were already issued to affected foreign nationals suspended. The explanatory note in the Gazette notice says the documents will be reinstated and travel may resume once the order stops having effect, although public health measures may still apply.
People in Canada are outside the order
The measures do not apply to people already in Canada, including people applying to extend a work permit or study permit. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and accredited foreign representatives and their family members are also outside the order as described in the official notice.
The Minister may grant an individual exemption after considering public-health risk and mitigation measures, urgent need for protection, or humanitarian and compassionate factors. An exemption is not automatic and is assessed case by case.
Separate border and flight measures may still apply
The immigration-document order operates separately from public-health and air-travel measures. A separate interim order of the Deputy Minister of Transport, issued on August 21, 2026, prevents foreign nationals who have been in the DRC from boarding a flight to Canada unless they have been outside the DRC for 21 consecutive days immediately before the flight, subject to its stated exception. That order was due to cease to have effect at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on September 28, 2026, unless renewed.
An exemption under one order does not create an exemption under another. Anyone affected should read the current official orders and any IRCC notice on their file before making travel plans or submitting urgent documents.