Passengers on international flights to the United States face a new declaration requirement linked to the Ebola outbreak. They must attest that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 21 days before boarding, unless an exemption under the order applies.
The requirement takes effect for flights departing at or after 11:59 p.m. US Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026. That is 6:59 a.m. in Bulgaria on 4 November. It is not a requirement already in force on 29 October.
The order covers flights arriving in the United States even when the country is only a connection on the way to another destination. The signed declaration may be on paper or digital. A parent or authorised person can complete it for a passenger under 18.
Airlines have asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reconsider the implementation, citing the short preparation time and the number of travellers affected. A request to change the measure is not evidence that it has been withdrawn.
This is an additional health-related boarding requirement, not a replacement for a passport, visa or other travel authorisation. A traveller who has not visited the DRC can still be asked to provide the declaration.
The operational detail matters before departure: check the airline’s instructions for the particular flight and use the official form or process. CDC’s current assessment describes the overall risk to the American public and travellers as low; the measure should not be presented as proof that ordinary air travel is generally unsafe.
