Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has revised its Smartraveller advice for Canada, issuing an update dated 22 October 2026. While Canada remains at the lowest "Exercise normal safety precautions" level, the bulletin highlights two substantive changes that matter for corporate travellers and mobility managers. First, Canadian authorities have prolonged temporary entry restrictions for passengers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following confirmation of further Ebola cases in Central Africa. Travellers affected by the extension—which now runs until at least 27 November—may face additional questioning or quarantine on arrival. Companies rotating staff through multiple African and North-American projects should review routing and scheduling to avoid unintended stop-overs that could trigger the restriction. Second, the update reminds Australians that an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is mandatory for all air arrivals. Although the eTA system has existed since 2016, DFAT notes an uptick in incidents where Australian passport holders were denied boarding for failing to secure the quick but compulsory permit. Mobility teams are advised to embed eTA checks into pre-trip workflows and to confirm that any travellers with criminal convictions—drink-driving offences were cited—understand Canada’s strict admissibility rules. DFAT also draws attention to heightened wildfire risk and an increase in antisemitic security incidents across several Canadian cities. While these factors have not triggered a higher warning level, employers should continue to monitor local developments and ensure staff register their journeys with Smartraveller for rapid consular contact if required.
Source: Smartraveller (DFAT)
