Canada singles out one African country to impose a more decisive action and implement a new visa restriction. A month after the Canadian government decided to impose travel restrictions on three African countries, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan, due to fears of Ebola exposure, the country recently decided to double down on its travel ban, especially on the DRC.
A statement was revised by the Government of Canada on July 19, 2026 that reiterated its travel ban on the DRC. This noted that a more decisive action has been implemented against the East African country, considering ground zero for the most recent Ebola outbreak.
The official statement reads, “In response to the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Government of Canada is taking decisive action and implementing new temporary border measures to reduce the risk of the disease entering and spreading within Canada.”
“As of Monday, July 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, any foreign national who was in the Democratic Republic of Congo within the past 21 days will be prohibited from entering Canada,” added the statement.
Canada🇨🇦 singles out one African country to impose a more decisive action and implement a new visa restriction on
A month after the Canadian🇨🇦 government decided to impose travel restrictions on 3 African countries, Uganda🇺🇬, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)🇨🇩, and… pic.twitter.com/iuDYJ38bF9
— Business Insider Africa (@BusInsiderSSA) July 26, 2026
According to the Canadian government, the purpose of the new initiative is to improve the efficacy and sustainability of border controls that can safely handle travellers arriving in Canada, including Canadian humanitarian workers returning. In response to mounting global panic over Ebola spreading outside of Africa, the Canadian government in May 2026 issued broad temporary immigration and quarantine regulations that targeted people from South Sudan, Uganda and the DRC.
As per the sources, Canada opted to halt temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorisations and permanent resident visas for citizens of the impacted nations for ninety days starting on May 27, 2026. The policy ensured that while the suspension is in place, entry to the travellers with previously authorised papers will not be permitted.
Canadian authorities also said that they would temporarily stop processing new immigration applications from residents of the three countries. The measures came just days after the United States introduced similar restrictions on non-citizens who recently travelled to DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan.
Additionally, the Bahamas has instituted emergency entry restrictions alongside intensified health screening protocols.
In June 2026, the United States began pressuring European countries to impose tougher travel restrictions on people arriving from Ebola-affected African countries and argued that stronger measures are needed to prevent the virus from spreading internationally as millions of visitors travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.