Canada Suspends Immigration Documents for the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan: What the Ebola Border Measures Mean

What happens to applications that are already in progress?

Short answer: Your application is paused, not refused, and you keep your place in the queue. IRCC has said officers will keep processing applications during the 90 days but will not issue final decisions on PR visas, TRVs, eTAs, study permits, or work permits for residents of the three countries until the measure is lifted. Nothing is being cancelled, and you do not need to reapply. The practical risk is letting supporting documents lapse while the file sits. Keep your passport, immigration medical exam, police certificates, and language test results from expiring, because a paused file still needs valid documents when decisions resume. Respond promptly to any request from IRCC, since processing continues behind the scenes.

What are the new quarantine rules?

Short answer: Separate from the document suspension, a 21-day quarantine applies to anyone arriving in Canada who was recently in the affected areas. From May 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT until August 29, 2026, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, people registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who were in the affected areas within the previous 21 days must quarantine for 21 days after arriving. This is a public-health requirement that sits alongside the immigration measure and applies regardless of status. It is worth noting because it can affect citizens and permanent residents who would otherwise be exempt from the document suspension. You can read about the illness and its risk profile on the Government of Canada page on Ebola disease symptoms and treatment.

Why is Canada doing this, and how long will it last?

Short answer: The measures are a precaution against the spread of Ebola disease, driven by an active outbreak in the DRC and rising risk in Uganda and South Sudan. The Government of Canada has said the risk to people in Canada remains low, but it is acting carefully given how serious Ebola is and the high volume of international travel expected this year, including around major events. The document suspension is set for 90 days from May 27, 2026, and the quarantine runs to August 29, 2026. Both can be extended, amended, or lifted earlier depending on how the outbreak develops, so the dates above are the current plan rather than fixed end points. The official temporary border measures notice is the source to watch for updates.

What is not affected by these measures?

Short answer: The measures are narrow and temporary. They do not change Canada's underlying immigration programs or eligibility rules, they do not apply to residents of other countries, and they do not remove anyone's status. People who are already in Canada are not subject to the document suspension, and approved documents are paused rather than revoked. Once the outbreak is contained and the measures are lifted, suspended documents become usable again and paused applications move back into normal decision-making. In short, this is a public-health pause layered on top of the system, not a rewrite of it.

What should affected applicants and travellers do now?

Short answer: Do not travel on a suspended document, keep every supporting document valid, and watch the official notice for updates. The costly mistakes right now are booking travel on a document that will not be honoured at the gate, or letting a passport, medical exam, or police certificate expire while the file is paused. Stay ready and get advice before acting.

1. Do not book or take travel to Canada on a suspended TRV, eTA, or PR visa until the measure is lifted.
2. Keep your passport, immigration medical exam, police certificates, and language results valid, since a paused file still needs them.
3. Respond quickly to any request from IRCC; officers keep processing files during the pause.
4. Check the official Government of Canada notice regularly, because the measures can be extended, amended, or lifted early.
5. If you hold an approved document or face a time-sensitive deadline, get a professional review before you commit to travel or spending.

How can Go Far Global help during the suspension?

Short answer: Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto. If you or your family are affected, we explain exactly how the measure applies to your file, help protect your application while decisions are paused, keep your supporting documents valid, and plan your next move so you can act quickly when the suspension ends. We also track the official updates so you do not have to.

A temporary measure does not have to derail your plans. Book a consultation and we will review your situation and map a clear path forward. You can also follow our news page for updates as this develops.

This article is general information, not legal advice. This is a developing situation and the measures can change quickly. Confirm the current rules for your situation with a licensed representative or on the official Government of Canada website before you act.

Frequently asked questions

Is Canada cancelling visas for the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan?

No. Canada is temporarily suspending immigration documents for residents of these countries for 90 days from May 27, 2026, not cancelling or revoking them. An approved temporary resident visa, eTA, or permanent resident visa cannot be used to travel to Canada while it is suspended, but it remains valid and becomes usable again once the measure is lifted. The suspension is a precaution tied to the Ebola disease outbreak and may be extended, amended, or lifted earlier.

Will my Canadian immigration application be refused because of this?

No. IRCC will keep processing applications during the suspension but will not issue final decisions on permanent residence visas, temporary resident visas, eTAs, study permits, or work permits for residents of the three countries for about 90 days. Your file is paused, not refused, and you keep your place in line. The main thing to manage is keeping your passport, medical exam, police certificates, and other documents valid so your application is ready when decisions resume.

How long will the Canada immigration suspension last?

The document suspension is set for 90 days from May 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, and the related 21-day quarantine runs until August 29, 2026. The Government of Canada has said it may extend, amend, or lift the measures earlier depending on the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. Because it is a developing public-health situation, the most reliable step is to check the official Government of Canada notice regularly for the current status.

Do travellers from these countries have to quarantine in Canada?

Yes, under a separate public-health rule. From May 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT to August 29, 2026, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, people registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who were in the affected areas within the previous 21 days must quarantine for 21 days after arriving in Canada. This quarantine requirement applies regardless of immigration status and is separate from the document suspension.

Does this affect people who are already in Canada?

The document suspension targets travel to Canada and final decisions on applications, so it does not strip status from residents of these countries who are already in Canada. The quarantine rule, however, can apply to anyone arriving in Canada who was in the affected areas within the previous 21 days, including citizens and permanent residents returning from travel. If you are already here and not travelling, the immigration document suspension does not change your current status.

Sources

• Government of Canada, temporary border measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak
• Government of Canada, Ebola disease: symptoms and treatment