October 25, 2026 — Starting the night of November 3, every passenger on an international flight to the United States — US citizens and green-card holders included — will have to sign a short health declaration before boarding. Airlines are required to refuse boarding to anyone who has not completed it.
What changed
- Issued by: the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an order signed October 22, 2026, in response to the Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- Effective: flights departing for the US at or after 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 3, 2026.
- Scheduled end: December 18, 2026, according to VisasNews and Latin Times, unless the CDC extends, changes or lifts it. The CDC order page itself lists no end date.
- What you sign: a statement that you have not been in the DRC during the 21 days before boarding. A connection at a DRC airport counts, even if you never leave the plane or the transit area. Overflying the DRC without landing does not count.
- Not a medical test: it is a self-declaration about where you have been. No Ebola test or medical exam is required.
Who it applies to
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| All air passengers arriving in the US from a foreign country, any nationality | Land border crossings and seaports |
| Passengers only connecting through a US airport | Flights from US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam (not treated as foreign) |
| Commercial, private and general aviation flights, including from preclearance airports | People granted a specific CDC exemption (e.g. humanitarian cases) |
Each traveler needs their own declaration. A parent, guardian or other authorized adult signs for anyone under 18, and a companion or family member may sign for a traveler with a disability who cannot sign.
How it will work
- The CDC has published a fillable form; it can be signed on paper, with a digital signature or by ticking an electronic box.
- Airlines run the process. The CDC recommends collecting it at check-in or boarding at the last foreign airport and encourages carriers to build it into online check-in, so the exact steps will vary by airline.
- Airlines must keep each declaration for at least 42 days after arrival and hand it over to the government on request.
- The CDC warns that knowingly giving false information can lead to criminal fines and imprisonment.
Existing restrictions still apply
The declaration sits on top of entry restrictions in place since May 2026 for travelers recently in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, according to VisasNews. InsideFlyer reports that travelers recently in Uganda or South Sudan must enter through one of three designated airports: Washington Dulles, Atlanta and New York JFK. Latin Times, citing figures as of October 21, reports 9,735 confirmed cases and 4,690 deaths worldwide, almost all in the DRC.
What it means for airline travelers
- Expect it on every trip home. Any return to the US from abroad after November 3 — including standby on a pass — needs the declaration. Without it you will not be allowed to board.
- Do it before you get to the gate. Watch for the step in your airline’s online check-in or app. On standby you may only be cleared at the last minute, so have the declaration done early so it is not what holds you up.
- Kids and companions need their own. Each family member on your pass needs a separate declaration; a parent signs for children under 18.
- Connecting through the US counts. Retirees routing, say, Europe–US–Latin America on passes still need the form for the US leg.
- Check your last three weeks. If you transited a DRC airport (for example on a routing through Kinshasa or Lubumbashi), you will not be able to sign until day 22 after leaving.
- Answer truthfully. False statements carry criminal penalties under federal law.
- For health advice about the outbreak itself, see the CDC’s Ebola travel notices and talk to your doctor before any trip to the region.
Sources
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Order: Requirement for Attestation for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving in the United States
- VisasNews — U.S. to require new health declaration for all international air travelers starting November 3, 2026
- Latin Times — Every Traveler Flying to the U.S. Must Sign an Ebola Declaration Starting Nov. 3
- InsideFlyer — International passengers face new Ebola attestation rule
- CDC — Travel Health Notices
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