The United States has introduced sweeping new health declaration requirements for international air travellers from 3 November 2026, requiring passengers flying to or connecting through the country to confirm they have not visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduced the measure to reduce the risk of Ebola entering the country through international aviation. Emirates has responded with mandatory printed-form verification for passengers travelling through Dubai and other international airports, creating an additional pre-departure requirement for travellers, airlines and tourism businesses worldwide.
The new regulation applies to American citizens, foreign nationals, green card holders and other passengers travelling on international flights bound for the United States. Travellers must complete and sign an official attestation before boarding, unless they qualify for a government-authorised exemption. The regulation took effect at 11.59 pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026. Emirates updated its travel advisory on 4 November, confirming that passengers must present a completed physical declaration at check-in or, for connecting customers, during boarding verification.
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United States Strengthens Ebola Protection With Mandatory 21-Day Travel Declarations
The new requirements follow a CDC order issued on 22 October 2026 and amended on 28 October. The amendment expanded and clarified the scope of the regulation to include people travelling aboard passenger and cargo aircraft, including operating and repositioning crew members. The central requirement concerns travel history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Every covered traveller must confirm that they have not been physically present in the country during the 21 days immediately before boarding a US-bound aircraft.
The 21-day period reflects the maximum recognised incubation period for Ebola disease. The CDC has described the overall risk to American communities and international travellers as low, while maintaining that additional safeguards are necessary. The measure forms part of a broader public health response to Ebola outbreaks and complements previously introduced restrictions affecting travel from certain African countries.
Emirates Makes Physical CDC Forms Essential for Passengers Travelling Through Dubai
Emirates has introduced specific documentation procedures for customers flying to the United States, including passengers connecting through Dubai International Airport. Under its advisory, passengers must download the official US government attestation form, print a physical copy, complete the required information and sign the declaration before checking in.
Travellers beginning their journeys in Dubai must present the printed document at the Emirates check-in counter. Passengers connecting through Dubai may have their documents checked at the boarding gate. A digital copy alone does not satisfy Emirates’ published physical-document instruction. However, the CDC’s wider federal regulation permits both paper and approved digital attestations, meaning procedures may differ between airlines. Each passenger requires a separate declaration. Where permitted, a parent, legal guardian or authorised representative may complete and sign the form on another traveller’s behalf.
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What Passengers Must Do Before Boarding Flights to the United States
Travellers should complete the declaration before arriving at the airport to avoid problems during check-in and boarding. The following table explains the main requirements.
| Requirement | What passengers need to know |
|---|---|
| Effective date | 3 November 2026, at 11.59 pm EST |
| Applicable flights | International flights departing for the United States, including journeys connecting through the country |
| Required document | Official CDC Ebola travel attestation |
| Travel history | Confirmation of no presence in the DRC during the previous 21 days |
| Emirates document format | Completed and signed physical printout |
| Check-in verification | Emirates passengers present the form at check-in or during connecting-flight boarding checks |
| American citizens | Included in the requirement |
| Green card holders | Included in the requirement |
| Children and families | Separate declaration for each passenger; authorised signatures permitted |
| Failure to comply | Boarding denied unless an official exemption applies |
| False declarations | Potential criminal penalties under US federal law |
Passengers should also ensure that the information on the declaration accurately reflects their travel history. The requirement is not limited to people who stayed overnight in the DRC.
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CDC Clarifies Airport Transit, Ebola Exposure and Boarding Restrictions
The CDC’s definition of presence in the DRC includes airport transit, even where a traveller remained aboard an aircraft or did not formally enter the country. Passengers who have visited or transited through the DRC during the restricted period cannot ordinarily make the required negative declaration. The CDC calculates the waiting period from the date a traveller leaves the DRC, treating that date as Day 0. Travellers can generally satisfy the 21-day absence requirement from Day 22, provided they meet all other applicable entry conditions.
Limited exemptions may be issued by the US government for humanitarian reasons or other important government considerations. Airlines must receive the necessary authorisation before transporting an exempt traveller. Providing inaccurate or deliberately misleading information can lead to criminal penalties, including fines or imprisonment.
New Health Checks Create Wider Responsibilities for Airlines and Travel Businesses
The regulation places additional compliance obligations on international airlines, airport service providers and travel intermediaries. Airlines must review completed attestations before boarding and confirm that covered passengers have satisfied the requirement. Operators must also retain paper or digital copies for at least 42 days after the relevant flight departs for the United States. Customers travelling on multi-sector itineraries may encounter different verification arrangements depending on the operating airline and connecting airport.
Family bookings, escorted tours and corporate travel groups require particular attention because each passenger must have an individual declaration. Travel businesses should also distinguish the new US attestation requirement from separate restrictions applying to entry into the United Arab Emirates. Emirates’ existing UAE advisory identifies restrictions affecting travellers recently present in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, while the new US declaration specifically concerns presence in the DRC.
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What Happens Next as US Health Rules Reshape International Flight Procedures
The amended CDC order is scheduled to remain in effect until 11.59 pm EST on 18 December 2026, unless the US government modifies, extends or rescinds it earlier. The authorities may review outbreak conditions, including case numbers, geographic spread, transmission patterns and containment measures, when deciding whether further action is necessary. For travellers, the immediate priority is completing the declaration accurately and following the documentation procedures of their operating airline.
The attestation does not replace passports, visas, ESTA authorisations or other immigration requirements. As international airlines implement the regulation, the additional verification process is expected to remain an important part of US-bound travel preparation throughout the order’s effective period.
