Canada bars entry to foreign nationals with recent travel to the DR Congo
Canada has implemented a travel ban on foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the last 21 days to prevent the spread of Ebola. This measure is part of a broader set of immigration restrictions effective until late August 2026.
Why it matters
Public health measures and border control policies significantly impact international travel and immigration processes.
Foreign nationals who have been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the past 21 days will be barred from entering Canada, effective 11:59 p.m. on July 20, 2026.
Private and commercial air carriers flying to Canada must deny boarding to those affected.
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The entry ban, supported by an interim order under the Aeronautics Act , was announced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in a press release published on July 19, 2026, in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The ban is set to remain in effect until August 29, 2026.
The new ban applying to foreign nationals comes on the heels of earlier omnibus entry restrictions, which since May 30, 2026, have required all persons with recent travel to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan to quarantine for 21 days after arriving in Canada.
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