Everyone Flying Into the US Must Now Sign a Health Declaration

A new CDC order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 3, 2026, and it reaches every passenger boarding an international flight to the United States, regardless of nationality or departure point. US citizens, green card holders and crew are included. Each traveler must attest that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the previous 21 days, and transiting a Congolese airport counts as being there. The order is scheduled to run through December 18 unless it is changed sooner.

Anyone who was in the DRC generally cannot board until Day 22, counting the day they left as Day 0, with narrow exemptions for medical and humanitarian travel. Passengers who refuse to sign are denied boarding, and knowingly false statements can carry criminal penalties. Airlines must collect the declarations before boarding and keep them for at least 42 days after arrival. Travelers who were in Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days must enter through Dulles, Atlanta or JFK.

Airlines have objected. Reuters reports that IATA wrote to the CDC on October 27 asking it to reconsider, and Airlines for America asked for a delay, calling the rule overly stringent, costly and burdensome and saying check-in systems and staff training cannot be ready in time. The groups also asked for exemptions for crew and military charters. Reuters notes that fewer than 25,000 of about 130 million air passengers screened in 2025 had a DRC connection.

For travelers, the practical effect is a new line at check-in rather than a new visa. The rule does not apply to land or sea arrivals and does not replace passports, visas or ESTA. A Department of Transportation notice dated October 28 says airlines will not be penalized for denying boarding under the rule, and that denied passengers can rebook within 90 days at the original fare or take a refund or voucher.

Sources: TheTravel, Reuters via The Star