Passengers flying to the United States from abroad, including US citizens, will soon need to sign a declaration for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about their recent travel history. The requirement starts with foreign departures at or after November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The statement confirms that the passenger has not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, during the 21 days before boarding. CDC issued the order on October 22, giving travelers time to prepare. Its current end date is December 18, unless it is rescinded or modified earlier.
Who needs the declaration
US citizens, US nationals and green-card holders are included, along with other passengers. A connection through a US airport on the way to another country also requires the declaration. Departures from airports with US preclearance are covered, as are private aircraft and general aviation.
The practical dividing line is the flight leaving a foreign country for the United States. Domestic flights and entry by land or sea are outside this particular attestation requirement. CDC does not classify US territories and possessions as foreign countries for this purpose. Those exclusions do not remove other entry or public-health requirements.
The deadline is tied to departure, so compare the US-bound leg’s departure time with the stated Eastern cutoff. In Pacific Standard Time, the cutoff is 8:59 p.m. on November 3. An arrival date by itself does not determine whether the form applies.
Families need a separate statement for each passenger
The passenger form requires an individual declaration for every traveler. One adult cannot submit a single statement covering the whole family or booking.
For passengers under 18, a parent, guardian or another authorized person signs on their behalf. An authorized representative can also sign for someone unable to act independently because of a physical or mental impairment. The form provides an option for the representative to identify the passenger and specify their relationship.
It also asks for a printed name, signature and date. Knowingly providing false information can carry criminal penalties. A representative needs to confirm the child’s or other passenger’s own travel history, as well as completing the adult’s separate declaration.
Count the DRC waiting period through Day 21
Physical presence in DRC includes an airport connection, even when a passenger stays aboard the plane or never leaves the airport. Flying over the country without landing is excluded.
CDC counts calendar days. The departure day is Day 0; Day 1 is the first full calendar day outside DRC. Boarding a US-bound flight becomes possible on Day 22, provided all other travel requirements are met.
For a departure from DRC on November 1, the calculation is:
| Calendar date | CDC day | US-bound boarding under this waiting period |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | Day 0 | Not permitted |
| November 2 through November 22 | Days 1 through 21 | Not permitted |
| November 23 | Day 22 | Permitted if other requirements are met |
A DRC airport stop belongs in the calculation even when another country was the trip’s main destination.
How the airline collects it
CDC’s passenger and airline instructions allow paper or digital collection. The agency recommends check-in or boarding at the last foreign airport before the United States. Airlines may use authenticated digital signatures or electronic checkboxes; CDC encourages carriers to add the process to their websites and reservation apps.
Collection methods may differ by airline, so follow the operating carrier’s process. Passengers who fail to complete and present the attestation must be denied boarding unless they have a government-issued exemption.
Passengers may keep a copy for their records but are not required to do so. The operator retains the declaration, and CDC can request it for compliance checks or a public-health investigation.
Exemptions and other entry restrictions
Exemptions cover authorized transport of Ebola patients under US government approval and CDC guidance, or individuals granted a CDC exemption on humanitarian or other important government grounds. Travelers cannot create an exemption by explaining their circumstances on the form.
The declaration adds paperwork to existing DRC travel restrictions, as Airways reported on October 23. CDC’s returning-traveler guidance sets different requirements for recent presence in Uganda or South Sudan.
US citizens and nationals who visited either country within the past 21 days, without visiting DRC, must enter through designated screening airports: Atlanta, New York JFK or Washington Dulles. Noncitizens and nonnationals, including green-card holders, face a 21-day entry restriction after leaving Uganda or South Sudan. An airport connection counts for those rules, too. Completing the DRC declaration does not replace these separate requirements.
In its October 27 outbreak update, CDC reported no US cases associated with this outbreak and described the overall risk to the American public and travelers as low.
