Travelers heading to the United States will face a new pre-boarding requirement beginning in November.
Under an order signed on October 22, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is introducing a mandatory health attestation for all passengers traveling to the United States on international flights.
U.S. authorities have also published a detailed guide explaining the new requirement and how it will be implemented.
The measure is intended to strengthen safeguards against the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Health declaration required for all travelers, even those who have never visited Africa
The new requirement will apply to everyone boarding an international flight to the United States, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
Passengers traveling from countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Belgium, or Switzerland will also have to comply, even if they have never visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The rule will also cover travelers simply connecting through a U.S. airport on their way to another destination.
Each passenger must confirm that they have not been present in the DRC during the 21 days before boarding their flight.
U.S. authorities specify that being present in the country includes both visits and airport connections, even if travelers remained aboard the aircraft or within the airport’s transit area.
However, flying over the DRC without landing does not count as having been present in the country.
How to complete the new U.S. health attestation
The CDC has released the official health attestation form, titled Passenger Disclosure and Attestation to the United States of America.
The document requires passengers to certify that they have not visited or transited through the DRC during the 21 days preceding their flight to the United States.
The attestation may be submitted in paper or digital form, with either a handwritten or electronic signature.
Airlines are encouraged to incorporate the declaration into their online check-in procedures to make the process easier for passengers. The exact steps travelers need to follow will therefore depend on the system adopted by their airline.
A separate attestation will be required for each passenger. For children under 18, a parent or another authorized individual may complete and sign the form on their behalf.
Airlines must deny boarding to any passenger who fails to provide a properly completed and signed attestation. Carriers will also be required to retain a copy of the document for at least 42 days after the flight’s arrival in the United States..
New requirement linked to Ebola outbreak in the DRC
The new attestation is part of broader U.S. public health measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Central Africa.
Since May 2026, the United States has already enforced entry restrictions affecting certain categories of travelers who have recently been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan.
These restrictions have been tightened in recent months, particularly for travelers with a recent history of travel to the DRC.
According to the CDC, travelers who have been present in the DRC within 21 days before their flight, including U.S. citizens, are not permitted to board commercial flights to the United States.
The new attestation is designed to systematically verify the recent travel history of all passengers, rather than focusing solely on those whose itineraries indicate recent travel through the affected countries.
Requirement takes effect November 3 and is scheduled to remain in place through December 18, 2026
According to the CDC order, the new requirement will take effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 3, 2026.
It will apply to flights bound for the United States departing at or after that time.
The measure is scheduled to remain in effect until December 18, 2026, at the latest, unless U.S. health authorities amend, lift, or extend it based on developments in the outbreak.
The CDC may grant specific exemptions, including for certain emergency medical evacuations or humanitarian circumstances.
The health attestation will be an additional requirement alongside existing U.S. entry procedures, including the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a U.S. visa, where applicable.
VisasNews Take
The new U.S. health declaration does not mean that every traveler will have to undergo a medical examination or take an Ebola test. It is a self-attestation concerning travel history during the 21 days preceding departure.
Even passengers who have never visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo will need to complete the declaration before boarding a flight to the United States. Travelers should therefore pay close attention to their airline’s instructions, as carriers may offer the option to submit the attestation digitally during check-in.
