Canada restricts entry for travellers from DR Congo, i.e., foreign nationals who have travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the previous 21 days are no longer allowed to enter Canada. The new measure came into effect at 11:59 p.m. on July 20, 2026, as part of Canada’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region.
The federal government announced the temporary restriction through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The measure has been introduced under an interim order issued through the Aeronautics Act and will remain in place until August 29, 2026.
Private and commercial airlines operating flights to Canada have also been instructed not to allow affected foreign nationals to board flights bound for Canada.
Canada Expands Ebola Travel Restrictions
The latest entry restriction follows broader Ebola-related measures that Canada introduced on May 30, 2026.
Under those earlier rules, anyone who had recently travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan was required to complete a 21-day quarantine after arriving in Canada.
At the same time, Canada’s immigration department also paused the processing of immigration applications and suspended immigration documents issued to foreign nationals living in these three countries.
These public health and immigration measures are also scheduled to remain in effect until August 29, 2026.
Ebola Situation Remains Serious
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported 2,124 confirmed Ebola cases, including 828 deaths, as of July 15, 2026.
In comparison, Uganda had confirmed 20 cases and two deaths as of July 2, while South Sudan had not reported any confirmed Ebola cases.
Despite the outbreak overseas, the Public Health Agency of Canada has stated that the overall health risk to people in Canada remains low. The agency also confirmed that no travel-related Ebola cases have been detected in Canada so far.
The Ebola-related immigration measures are also significant because they represent the first time the Canadian government has used the expanded executive powers introduced through Bill C-12, which amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act on March 26, 2026. These powers allow the government to respond more quickly to serious public health emergencies that may affect Canada’s immigration system.
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