Ebola disease: Border measures for travellers entering Canada

On this page

• Ebola border measures
• Exemptions to border measures
• Before you arrive
• Arriving in Canada
• After your arrival
• Penalties and fines
• Privacy notice
• Contact us

Ebola border measures

Due to an Ebola outbreak, Canada has introduced border measures affecting people who have visited or live in:

• Uganda
• South Sudan
• the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Even if you're only transiting through these countries, Canada's border measures still apply to you. There are no exemptions for transiting through these countries or for refuelling.

These measures will last until September 28, 2026, at 11:59 pm EDT.

Suspension of immigration documents of foreign nationals from affected countries

If you're a foreign national of one of the affected countries, you won't be allowed to travel to Canada during this suspension period, even if you have an approved:

• temporary resident visa
• permanent resident visa
• electronic travel authorization (eTA)

Learn more:

• Ebola border measures for foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda

Foreign nationals from other countries

If you’re a foreign national who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days, you'll be prohibited from:

• entering Canada
• boarding a flight to Canada
• transiting through Canada

If you've been in Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days, you'll:

• be allowed to travel to Canada
• have to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival, unless you're exempt

Others who are eligible to enter Canada

You're allowed to enter Canada if you've been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days and are:

• a Canadian citizen
• a permanent resident or
• registered under the Indian Act

You'll have to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival, unless you're exempt.

Exemptions to border measures

Some travellers may be exempt from these measures.

Transit through Canada

You’re exempt from the health assessment and quarantine requirements, if:

• you’re transiting through Canada to another country and:
  • remain in the designated international departures area and
  • are not cleared by a border services officer to enter Canada

Exemption to entry prohibition of foreign nationals

If you're a foreign national who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days, you're exempt if you're:

• a crew member (such as on a plane, ship or train) who is:
  • actively performing their duties, or
  • entering Canada only to become a crew member
• registered as an Indian under the Indian Act
• a person holding a passport with a valid diplomatic, consular, official or special representative acceptance issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• a person with a temporary resident visa who is coming to Canada to work in an official role for a foreign embassy, consulate, international organization, or special representative's office
  • this also includes their immediate family members if they qualify for accreditation from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• a person who is attending a meeting in Canada hosted by an international organization and who is entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities under Canadian law
• a member of a visiting force entering Canada to perform your duties

You do not need an exemption letter but there are some situations where it may be helpful. If you'd like a letter to assist with your travel, you can request one.

Other foreign nationals may also be exempt, but will need an exemption letter from the Government of Canada to confirm eligibility. You must present this letter:

• to an airline to board a flight to Canada
• at the border upon entry to Canada

You may be exempt if you're:

• entering Canada to:
  • provide medical care
  • transport or collect essential medical equipment, supplies or means of treatment
  • deliver, install, maintain or repair medically necessary equipment or devices
• a person who should enter Canada as a matter of national interest and does not pose a risk to public health

Exemption letter

Email us before your departure date to apply for an exemption letter if:

• you're a foreign national who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days and
• you believe you qualify for exemption to allow entry into Canada

We’ll send you an application form and instructions. It may take up to 5 days for us to make a decision and issue a letter once a complete application is received.

To receive an application form, email us at exemptions@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

Travellers exempt from quarantine measures

Travellers who are allowed to enter Canada may be exempt from having to quarantine for 21 days once they arrive in Canada. Your exemption will be determined upon arrival in Canada.

If you're exempt, you'll still have to monitor for symptoms and follow all the instructions from a quarantine officer for the duration of your stay.

You may be exempt from quarantine measures if you're:

• a crew member (such as on a plane, ship or train) who is:
  • actively performing their duties, or
  • entering Canada only to become a crew member 
• a person holding a passport with a valid diplomatic, consular, official or special representative acceptance issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• a person with a temporary resident visa who is coming to Canada to work in an official role for a foreign embassy, consulate, international organization, or special representative's office 
  • this also includes their immediate family members if they qualify for accreditation from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development  
• a person who is attending a meeting in Canada hosted by an international organization and who is entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities under Canadian law 
• a member of the Canadian Forces entering Canada to perform your duties 
• a member of a visiting force entering Canada to perform your duties 
• a person entering Canada to: 
  • provide medical care 
  • transport or collect essential medical equipment, supplies or means of treatment 
  • deliver, install, maintain or repair medically necessary equipment or devices 
• a person who should enter Canada as a matter of national interest and does not pose a risk to public health

Before you arrive

You must have a suitable quarantine plan before your arrival to Canada if you:

• are eligible to come to Canada and
• have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days

A suitable quarantine plan includes having a place where you:

• can stay, without leaving, for 21 days that begins on the day you enter Canada
• are able to avoid direct contact with other people in your place of quarantine
• have access to basic necessities of life, such as food, water and medications (for example, use contactless delivery)
• have access to local public health services

Health care and humanitarian workers must quarantine at a location within 3 hours or 250 km of a provincial test-and-hold centre.

If you don't have a place where you can quarantine safely, you'll be provided with one if you are a:

• Canadian citizen
• permanent resident
• person registered under the Indian Act

If you're a foreign national who is eligible to enter Canada, you must arrange for a suitable place of quarantine for 21 days. You may be asked to show proof of paid bookings for accommodations to a screening or quarantine officer upon your arrival in Canada. If you're unable to financially sustain your 21-day quarantine, you may be denied entry.

Arriving in Canada

If you're eligible to enter Canada, you'll receive a health assessment when you arrive. You're eligible if you:

• have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days and are a:
  • Canadian citizen
  • permanent resident
  • person registered under the Indian Act
• have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days and are a foreign national

If you don't have symptoms of Ebola disease, you'll have to quarantine for 21 days starting on the day you enter Canada. You must go directly to your place of quarantine and follow instructions from a quarantine officer.

You will also receive a kit that includes a:

• digital thermometer
• handout with instructions and a daily health record

This kit will help you complete your daily health checks during your 21-day quarantine period.

If you have symptoms of Ebola disease, you'll:

• immediately be transported to a medical centre or other suitable place for a medical examination and
• be placed in isolation and receive care for 21 days or until a quarantine officer determines you no longer pose a public health risk

After your arrival

While in quarantine, you must follow your quarantine plan by:

• providing the address and contact information of your quarantine location to the quarantine officer
• reporting your arrival at your place of quarantine within 48 hours of arriving in Canada
• staying at your quarantine location for 21 days from the date you entered Canada
  • avoid direct contact with other people in your household
  • avoid all contact with people outside your household unless to seek medical care
    • you may go outside for fresh air or your well-being but can't have direct contact with others
  • make sure you can access heat as well as food, water and medications without direct contact with other people
    • consider using food delivery services
  • make sure you have access to local public health services
  • you can't have visitors
• monitoring daily for symptoms of Ebola disease and reporting on your health to a government official
• calling the local public health authority immediately if you start to develop symptoms of Ebola disease
  • you'll have to isolate in a medical facility for 21 days from the day your symptoms start
• washing your hands and cleaning spaces such as washrooms regularly

If a change in quarantine location is required during the 21-day period, it must first be approved by a quarantine officer.

If you have symptoms of Ebola disease and you're in isolation or treatment, you'll remain there:

• for 21 days from the day you entered Canada or when your symptoms first appeared (whichever is later) and
• until a quarantine officer determines it's safe for you to leave

Learn more:

• Ebola disease symptoms
• Contact your local health authority

Daily temperature check and reporting

Take your temperature with the thermometer provided in your kit:

• twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening) and
• at any time if you begin feeling sick

Do not share your thermometer with anyone else.

To use your thermometer:

• wash your hands with soap and water before use
• put the thermometer under your tongue for 10 seconds or until you hear a beep to get an accurate reading
• clean the thermometer after use, following the manufacturer's instructions

Write the following details in your daily health record for the next 21 days:

• your temperature
• the date and time
• any symptoms you develop
• any medications you took

A government official will call you during your quarantine. Give them the details of your daily health record as requested.

If symptoms appear, isolate from others and contact your local public health authority immediately.

How to isolate from others

Financial support during quarantine

You may be eligible for employment insurance (EI) sickness benefits if:

• you're unable to work while in quarantine and
• you don't have access to paid leave through your employer or private insurance

You will need a medical certificate to support your claim for EI sickness benefits. We can provide one that has been signed by a quarantine officer (registered nurse).

Email us to request a certificate, and include:

• your full legal name
• your full home address
• the date you entered into quarantine (arrival date)

The email address to request a medical certificate is included in the information kit that you received on arrival. You may also contact us.

Contact us for a medical certificate

You can apply for benefits before requesting or receiving this certificate. You may be asked to submit your medical certificate to support your claim. If not, keep it for 6 years in case Service Canada asks you to submit it later.

Learn more:

• Employment insurance benefits

Penalties and fines

Failure to comply with these and other related measures are offences under the Quarantine Act. The maximum penalties are a fine of up to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both.

Privacy notice

Why we collect your personal information

We collect your personal information as outlined in the:

• Quarantine Act
• Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to Ebola Disease in Canada Order, 2026, No. 2

This information helps us:

• confirm that you have to quarantine
• prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases

We'll handle your information as outlined in the Privacy Act. We may use it for:

• monitoring
• public health follow-up
• enforcement and verifying compliance with the Quarantine Act
• issuing you a medical certificate to support your EI claim if you make one

If you don't provide the requested information:

• we may not be able to issue a medical certificate and you may not be able to access EI sickness benefits
• you may no longer be entitled to the EI benefits you already receive and may have to repay them

Sharing your personal information

In order to prevent disease spread, we may share your personal information with:

• provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• other Government of Canada departments
• operators responsible for a vehicle, like a plane or ship
• international health organizations
• law enforcement partners
• contractors

Your rights

You have the right to access and request corrections or that a note be added to your personal record under the Privacy Act. This could be because of:

• an unresolved dispute
• the accuracy of the information

You also have the right to file complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your information has been mishandled.

More information about our quarantine program data holdings can be found in these Personal information banks on Info Source:

• Quarantine Program PHAC PPU 071
• Pandemic Border Measures PHAC PPU 074

Contact us for privacy-related questions

Learn more:

• Privacy Act
• Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• Info Source: Access to information and privacy for border and travel health

Contact us

Should you have any questions, phone us at 1-844-280-5020.

Hours of service are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm (Eastern time).