Canada suspends Visas from 3 Nations amid Ebola fears
Babushahi Bureau
Ottawa (Canada), May 27, 2026: The Government of Canada has announced strict temporary immigration and travel restrictions for citizens of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan following concerns over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa.
According to a statement issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, immigration documents and visas linked to citizens of the three high-risk countries will be suspended for 90 days starting from 11:59 PM EDT on May 27, 2026.
The suspension will also apply to travellers holding already approved Temporary Resident Visas (TRV), Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA) and Permanent Resident (PR) visas. New immigration and travel applications from the affected countries will also remain on hold during the restriction period.
Canadian authorities further announced that from May 30, 2026, any Canadian citizen, permanent resident, registered person under the Indian Act or foreign national who has travelled to Ebola-affected regions within the previous 21 days will be required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 21 days, even if they show no symptoms.
Officials stated that travellers without access to a safe isolation facility would be provided accommodation by the government, while individuals displaying symptoms would be immediately isolated in hospitals.
The emergency measures are expected to remain in effect until August 29, 2026.
The Canadian government clarified that individuals already residing in Canada will not be impacted by the new restrictions and may continue staying in the country under their approved status.
Authorities said the current Ebola risk within Canada remains very low and no confirmed cases have been reported so far. However, officials described the move as a precautionary step ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
Canada’s Health Minister Marjorie Michel said protecting the health and safety of Canadians remains the government’s top priority, while Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the measures were necessary to strengthen border protection against public health risks.