Canada has temporarily suspended thousands of immigration and travel documents for residents of three African countries as the federal government moves to strengthen border protections amid an Ebola outbreak and rising international travel ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The 90-day suspension applies to certain travel and immigration documents held by people currently residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. The measure took effect late Wednesday night and could impact more than 24,000 valid travel documents.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, approximately 12,600 residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 11,500 residents of Uganda held valid travel documents as of May 19. Another 470 South Sudan residents held valid immigration travel documents as of May 21.
Federal officials emphasized that the measure is based on country of residence, not nationality. This means citizens of those countries who are living elsewhere are not automatically affected by the suspension.
The documents affected include electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident visas, and permanent resident visas for people currently located in the three listed countries.
The government is also pausing decisions on new applications for those documents filed from the affected countries. However, officials say processing will continue for Canadian passports, permanent resident cards, and permanent resident travel documents.
Visa extensions for people already inside Canada will also continue to be processed normally.
In addition to the document suspension, anyone travelling to Canada from Ebola-affected regions will be required to complete a 21-day quarantine. That quarantine rule is currently set to expire on August 29.
Federal officials say the measures are being introduced as a precaution while Canada, the United States, and Mexico prepare to co-host the FIFA World Cup, an event expected to bring major international travel across North America.
The three host countries issued a joint statement confirming that they have aligned their travel measures for people arriving from Ebola-affected regions.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel said Canada remains at low risk but is taking additional precautions because of the scale of travel expected during the tournament.
She said the World Cup is a key factor in the coordinated response.
“Even if Canada still remains low-risk, we are taking all the precautionary measures and we are aligning with the U.S. and Mexico,” Michel said.
The move marks the first use of new federal powers created under Bill C-12, border legislation passed in late March. The law allows the federal government to modify or suspend immigration documents in bulk when cabinet determines it is in the public interest.
Government officials have said the power is intended for exceptional situations, including public health emergencies, and must include clear reasons and timelines.
However, critics have warned that the broad definition of “public interest” could allow the government to use the power too widely in future cases.
The federal government also announced $8 million in funding to support Ebola response efforts through the World Health Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Canadian Red Cross, and other partner organizations.
Michel said international cooperation is essential because infectious diseases do not respect borders.
Opposition New Democrats criticized the government’s response, arguing that the funding is insufficient and that Canada must do more to support vaccination, public health preparedness, and access to essential medicines.
NDP MPs Heather McPherson and Gord Johns said the announcement shows the government has not fully learned lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, calling the $8 million contribution “a drop in the bucket.”
The new border measures are expected to remain in place for 90 days unless extended, modified, or lifted earlier based on public health developments.
As Canada prepares for one of the largest international sporting events in its history, the Ebola-related restrictions highlight the delicate balance governments face between protecting public health, maintaining fair immigration processes, and supporting global mobility during major international events.