Ebola risk order extended for immigration documents

Summary#

The government has extended the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to Ebola Disease in Canada Order (Immigration Applications and Documents) for an additional 31 days. The Order’s effective period is set from May 27, 2026 to September 28, 2026, and the extension comes into force on August 28, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

What it does#

• Temporarily stops finalizing certain immigration applications and suspends already-issued immigration documents for some people who live outside Canada.
• Applies to documents such as permanent resident visas, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, study permits, and temporary resident permits.
• Lets the minister grant case-by-case exemptions after considering public‑health risks, urgent protection needs, or other humanitarian reasons.
• Gives the minister authority to amend, extend or repeal the Order, or to add/remove document types from its scope.
• Is meant to work alongside other travel and health measures (for example, border health screening and flight restrictions) rather than replace them.

Who's affected#

• Foreign nationals outside Canada who listed Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan as their country of residence on immigration applications.
• People whose applications are being processed but not finalized. The government reported:
  • 24,949 suspended immigration documents held by affected applicants.
  • 31,693 suspended permanent resident applications in the inventory.
  • 10,465 suspended temporary resident applications in the inventory.
• Airlines and other travel operators, because suspended documents trigger travel controls (airlines receive a “no board” message).
• Not affected: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, people registered under the Indian Act, citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States, and accredited foreign representatives and their family members (who don’t need a visa).

Why it matters#

• People listed as residents of those three countries can’t travel to Canada while their documents are suspended. That can delay work, study, visitor travel, or family reunification.
• The measure is meant to reduce the chance Ebola is brought into Canada and to protect public‑health capacity by reducing the number of potentially exposed travellers who arrive at airports.
• Exemptions are possible, so urgent or humanitarian cases can still be considered, but they are handled case‑by‑case.