Canada Extends Ebola Border Measures Until September 28, 2026

The Government of Canada has extended temporary border measures tied to the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan, keeping them in effect until September 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Canadian authorities say the risk to people in Canada remains low but describe the measures as a precaution given the severity of Ebola disease and the evolving international situation.

The rules vary by traveller. Foreign nationals who listed the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan as their last country of residence on an immigration application may have previously approved temporary resident visas, permanent resident visas, and electronic travel authorizations suspended for travel to Canada during the suspension period, though IRCC will continue processing new and existing applications. Foreign nationals who have been in the DRC within the previous 21 days are prohibited from entering Canada, boarding a flight to Canada, or transiting through Canada regardless of residency status. Those who have been in Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days may still travel to Canada if they meet immigration requirements, but must generally undergo a 21-day quarantine unless exempted.

Travellers subject to quarantine must have a plan allowing 21 days of isolation, avoidance of direct contact with others, and access to food, water, medication, and local public health services; those unable to sustain quarantine financially may be denied entry. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people registered under the Indian Act who have recently been in the affected countries may still enter but may face health screening and the same 21-day quarantine unless exempted. Exemptions may apply to certain airline, ship, or train crew, diplomatic or consular personnel, official international-organisation staff, visiting-force members, those transporting essential medical care or equipment, and individuals whose entry is deemed in Canada's national interest and who do not pose a public health risk; some foreign nationals may need an exemption letter before departing.

Border measures tied to a rolling 21-day travel-history window rather than a fixed date range put an ongoing compliance burden on any operator moving passengers or crew who may have touched the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, since eligibility resets with every leg of an itinerary. This is how public-health-driven entry controls typically function once in place: they run on individual travel history rather than blanket bans, which pushes the verification work onto whoever books or crews the trip.

For charter and fractional operators, that means itinerary and crew-roster checks against the 21-day rule become part of routine trip planning for any flying that touches the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, alongside confirmation of whether a passenger's immigration documents remain valid for travel to Canada. Exemption letters, where required, add a step that must be resolved before departure rather than at the border.

The measure is set to lapse on September 28, 2026, and Canada has flagged that requirements may change with little notice, so the next thing to watch is whether the government issues a further extension, a modification, or lets the deadline stand as the outbreak situation in the three countries evolves.