United States: Ebola Health Declaration Required from 3 November
Between 3 November and 18 December 2026, a directive from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all travellers entering the United States to submit an Ebola health declaration confirming that they have not stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before their journey.
For your company, the most sensitive issue is denied boarding: an employee without a signed attestation will not be allowed on the aircraft, even with a valid ESTA (electronic travel authorisation) or visa.
Ebola health declaration: who must sign, and until when?
✅ All passengers, regardless of nationality: the requirement applies to anyone boarding a flight to the United States, whatever their country of departure. It also covers US citizens, and a parent or authorised person signs on behalf of a minor.
✅ An individual attestation covering 21 days: each traveller certifies that they have not been present in the DRC during the 21 days before boarding, including a connection at a Congolese airport. Paper or digital format is accepted.
✅ No attestation, no boarding: the airline checks every document before the flight and refuses boarding if it is missing. It keeps copies for at least 42 days, and a deliberately false declaration may lead to criminal prosecution.
The attestation does not replace the entry restrictions already in force for travellers coming from the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan. Only exemptions granted by the CDC, such as a medical evacuation, remove the need to sign it.
This new check comes on top of the measures introduced since May, set out in our update on the entry restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak. The airline carries out the check at the last airport before travellers enter the United States.
| People concerned | Before | Since 03/11/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers covered | Travellers who had been in the DRC | All passengers |
| Supporting document | ESTA or visa only | ESTA or visa and attestation |
| Format | No form | Paper or digital |
| Denied boarding | If present in the DRC | If attestation missing |
An employee travelling on an ESTA or a visa must now present two documents: their travel authorisation (ESTA or visa) and this declaration.
⚠️ The most delicate case is the employee who travelled to the DRC on assignment and then returned via a third country: they cannot sign the attestation until the 21 days have elapsed.
Three checks to add before every departure to the United States
- Check travel history: ask each employee whether they have stayed in or transited through the DRC in the past 21 days, at booking and again the day before the flight.
- Plan the signature: find out whether your airline offers the attestation at online check-in, and prepare a paper copy for each traveller, including children and accompanying family members.
- Allow a margin for December: the CDC order runs until 18 December 2026 but may be amended. You can turn to our experts.
We build this formality into your pre-departure preparations. Our teams cover 150+ countries and handle 650+ expatriation procedures a year.
Frequently asked questions
No, no additional visa is needed, but each employee must sign an attestation and present it to the airline before boarding. An employee who has been in the DRC in the 21 days before departure cannot travel.
Without an attestation, the airline will refuse boarding. A deliberately false declaration may be reported with a view to criminal prosecution. Whether costs are covered depends on your travel policy and your assistance provider.
Yes, the attestation does not depend on immigration status and applies in addition to the visa or ESTA. Only CDC exemptions, such as a medical evacuation, remove the need to sign it.
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- Mandatory formalities to complete
- The administrations responsible for the procedures
- Required documents
- Immigration statuses
