From late on Tuesday, November 3, no one will be able to board an international flight to the United States without first signing a declaration about recent travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The requirement, issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), applies to every departure country — not only to flights leaving Africa — and it will be enforced by airlines at check-in and boarding.
What changes on November 3
The rule takes effect for flights departing a foreign country for the United States at or after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026. Each covered person must present a signed paper or digital attestation stating they have not been in the DRC during the previous 21 days. The CDC says 21 days is the maximum incubation period for Ebola. Airlines must check the declaration before boarding and must refuse boarding to anyone who has not provided a completed, signed attestation, unless a government-authorised exemption applies. Operators must retain declarations for at least 42 days and make them available to the US government on request. The order covers commercial, cargo, general-aviation and private aircraft, and it does not apply to land or sea travel.
Who must sign — including US citizens and crew
The requirement covers passengers of every nationality, including US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents, as well as people connecting through the United States to another country. An amended order signed on October 28 and published in the Federal Register on October 30 clarified that it covers all people on board, including operating crew and crew travelling on deadhead assignments on passenger and cargo aircraft. The original order was signed on October 22.
The 21-day rule, and what counts as being in the DRC
The CDC counts the day a traveller leaves the DRC as Day 0, and boarding for the United States is permitted from Day 22, provided all other travel requirements are met. A connection through a DRC airport counts as presence in the DRC even if the passenger does not leave the airport or the aircraft. Overflights that do not land in the DRC are excluded. Signing the form does not by itself lift the underlying travel restriction: people who have been in the DRC within 21 days cannot board a US-bound flight in that period, except under a government-authorised exemption such as certain medical transport.
Airlines say they need more time
Airlines for America, which represents carriers including United, American, Southwest and Delta, said in an October 26 letter that changes to check-in systems, digital signatures, station procedures and staff training could not be completed in the time allowed. The International Air Transport Association has also asked the CDC to reconsider and delay the start. As of November 2 reporting, no delay had been announced. Some carriers have already told passengers to complete the declaration before reaching the airport; Avianca advised on October 31 that passengers should present proof of digital completion at boarding or a completed signed paper form. Travellers should therefore check with their own airline how the declaration will be collected on their flight.
Why the CDC issued the order
The order is part of the response to an Ebola outbreak in the DRC driven by the Bundibugyo strain. USA Today reported that the CDC said that as of October 27, more than 10,200 Ebola cases and nearly 5,000 deaths had been confirmed, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The CDC has said no cases linked to the outbreak have been reported in the United States and that the overall risk to the American public remains low. The order is scheduled to run until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 18, 2026, unless the CDC rescinds or modifies it sooner. The CDC says knowingly providing false information can bring criminal penalties under federal false-statements law.
Related coverage: DR Congo Ebola Death Toll Passes 5,000 in Deadliest Outbreak on Record
What travellers should check before flying
Check your airline’s check-in instructions, complete the paper or digital declaration as directed, and allow extra time at the airport if your airline is still using paper forms at the counter. If your itinerary includes transit through a DRC airport, that transit counts toward the 21 days. If you have been in the DRC within 21 days, do not expect to board a US-bound flight in that window without a government-authorised exemption.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens have to sign? Yes — the order expressly includes US citizens, nationals and permanent residents.
Does a layover in the DRC count? Yes — transit through a DRC airport counts as presence, even without leaving the airport.
What happens if I do not sign? The airline must refuse boarding.
