A new travel requirement is taking effect for passengers flying to the United States.
Despite calls from major airline industry associations to reconsider the measure, U.S. health authorities have, so far, maintained the original implementation schedule.
In official guidance updated on October 30, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the requirement will apply to international flights departing for the United States beginning November 3 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), corresponding to November 4 at 5:59 a.m. in Paris.
A mandatory declaration before boarding flights to the United States
The requirement applies to all passengers boarding international flights to the United States, regardless of nationality or country of departure.
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and foreign nationals traveling with a visa or an ESTA authorization must comply with the measure, which also extends to airline crew members.
Passengers connecting through a U.S. airport are also covered, even if the United States is not their final destination.
Every traveler must confirm that they have not visited or transited through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before boarding.
The declaration is required even for passengers who have never traveled to the DRC or anywhere else in Africa.
Do travelers need to download and complete the form before departure?
The CDC has clarified that passengers do not necessarily need to download and print the health declaration before arriving at the airport.
Airlines are responsible for collecting the required attestations and must establish procedures to obtain them before passengers board.
Depending on the system used by their airline, travelers may be able to complete the declaration through several methods:
- Filling out a paper form;
- Providing an electronic signature;
- Confirming a digital attestation during check-in or before boarding.
U.S. guidance also allows airline staff to collect verbal attestations under certain conditions, provided the declarations are properly documented.
The official health attestation form is available as a PDF on the CDC website.
A separate attestation is required for each passenger. However, a parent or other authorized individual may complete the declaration on behalf of a child or another member of their travel group.
Travelers are encouraged to check their airline’s instructions before departure.
What happens if a traveler has recently been to the DRC?
For passengers who have recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the new declaration involves more than simply completing a form.
The CDC states that anyone who has been in the country during the previous 21 days is prohibited from boarding a flight to the United States unless they have received a specific exemption from U.S. authorities.
This restriction also applies to U.S. citizens.
Even a brief connection through an airport in the DRC counts as having been present in the country, including when the passenger remained on board the aircraft.
U.S. authorities specify that travelers may fly to the United States again beginning on the 22nd day after leaving the DRC, provided they meet all other applicable entry requirements.
Separate public health restrictions also remain in place for certain travelers who have recently visited Uganda or South Sudan.
A temporary requirement scheduled to remain in place until December 18, 2026
The mandatory health declaration is scheduled to remain in effect until December 18, 2026, unless U.S. authorities decide to extend, modify, or lift the requirement earlier.
Airlines will be required to deny boarding to passengers who fail to provide the necessary attestation, unless an exemption has been authorized by the United States.
Carriers must also retain the collected declarations for at least 42 days and make them available to U.S. authorities upon request.
The new health declaration does not replace existing entry requirements, including ESTA authorization or a U.S. visa where applicable.
VisasNews Take
The new U.S. health declaration takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 3, 2026, with no postponement announced so far. For travelers who have not recently visited or transited through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the requirement essentially involves confirming their recent travel history. Printing the official form is not always necessary, as airlines may collect attestations directly during check-in or boarding. Passengers should nevertheless make sure they have completed the required declaration before their flight.
