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.
- Do not book or take travel to Canada on a suspended TRV, eTA, or PR visa until the measure is lifted.
- Keep your passport, immigration medical exam, police certificates, and language results valid, since a paused file still needs them.
- Respond quickly to any request from IRCC; officers keep processing files during the pause.
- Check the official Government of Canada notice regularly, because the measures can be extended, amended, or lifted early.
- 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.
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