US Ebola Attestation: All Flyers Must Confirm No DRC Visit From 3 November

From late on Tuesday 3 November, everyone boarding a flight to the United States from any foreign country, including American citizens, must sign a statement confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the previous 21 days. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says airlines must refuse boarding to anyone who does not complete the attestation.

The requirement applies to flights departing at or after 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November, which is 05:59 West Africa Time on Wednesday 4 November. It is part of the US response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has passed 10,000 cases. The CDC stresses that the overall risk to the American public and to travellers remains low.

Who Needs to Sign the Ebola Attestation?

Almost everyone. The CDC order, first issued on 22 October and published in the Federal Register on 27 October, covers all people travelling to the United States by air from any foreign country. That includes US citizens, US nationals and green-card holders, as well as visitors on an ESTA or a visa.

It also applies to:

• Passengers who are only connecting through the United States to another country, whether or not they leave the plane
• Commercial flights, general aviation, cargo and private aircraft
• Flights departing from US pre-clearance airports abroad
• Crew members, including crew travelling as passengers to position for duty (“deadheading”), following an amended order on 28 October

The rule does not apply to land border crossings or seaports. US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands are not treated as foreign countries for the purposes of the order.

What Counts as Being in the DRC?

Any physical presence in the DRC during the previous 21 days counts, whether the person entered by air, land or sea. The CDC says that connecting through an airport in the DRC also counts, even if the traveller never left the airport or the aircraft.

The 21 days are calendar days. Day 0 is the day a person leaves the DRC, and Day 1 is the first full day outside the country. A traveller may board a flight to the United States from Day 22, provided they meet all other entry requirements. The 21-day period reflects the maximum incubation period for Ebola.

How Do Travellers Complete the Attestation?

Airlines and aircraft operators collect the attestation at or shortly before boarding, so travellers should check with their airline. Airlines can use paper forms, authenticated digital signatures or an electronic checkbox at check-in or the gate. An agent may also record a verbal attestation, provided the passenger has seen the wording and confirmed they have not been in the DRC.

One authorised representative, such as a parent, guardian or adult travel companion, can attest for everyone in a travelling party, including children under 18 and people unable to sign. CDC says Spanish and French versions of the form will be provided as soon as they are available.

What Happens if Someone Refuses or Lies?

Anyone who does not complete the attestation, or have it completed on their behalf, will be denied boarding. Knowingly making a false statement can be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which carries possible fines and imprisonment.

Airlines must keep each attestation for at least 42 days and provide it to the US government on request. CDC has told airlines not to send attestations through the Advance Passenger Information System. The US Department of Transportation has said it will not take action against an airline for strictly enforcing the order.

Are There Any Exemptions?

Exemptions are rare. The order allows two: designated air medical transport carrying people with Ebola under US government authorisation, and individuals granted an exemption by CDC on humanitarian or other important government grounds. If an exemption is granted, CDC says it will contact the airline directly.

What Other Ebola Travel Rules Apply?

The attestation sits alongside other US measures. CDC guidance for travellers returning from Ebola-affected areas describes entry restrictions on some non-US citizens and enhanced screening for returning US citizens, including health questions, temperature checks and follow-up messages during the 21-day monitoring period. Travellers with recent links to the region should read CDC’s returning-traveller guidance before booking.

For travellers in West and Central Africa, the practical advice is simple: anyone who has been in the DRC, or connected through Kinshasa or another DRC airport, should not plan to fly to the United States until at least Day 22 after leaving. MediaPavilion will continue to follow the Ebola vaccine trial and the wider outbreak response.

Featured image: Check-in hall at Bremen Airport, by Jacek Rużyczka / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. File photo; illustrative.

Sources

• CDC — Order: Requirement for Attestation by All Persons Traveling by Air to the United States (30 October 2026).
• Federal Register — Requirement for Attestation for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving in the United States From Any Foreign Country (27 October 2026).
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Ebola Attestation Requirement for Passengers Departing Foreign Countries for the United States (October 2026).
• CDC — Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas (October 2026).