All travellers to US required to complete Ebola declaration form

Effective today, all travellers boarding international flights into or connecting through the United States are required to complete an Ebola attestation form, as the country moves to monitor the spread of the virus and prevent its entry.

The requirement was imposed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services, through an order issued on October 22, which was updated on October 28.

See form: https://www.cdc.gov/port-health/media/pdfs/2026/10/367886-A_FRM_EbolaAttestation_3_pass.pdf

An attestation is a statement that confirms that the information provided is true.

Willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment.

Under the order, the CDC said travellers must sign an attestation form confirming that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before boarding a flight to the United States.

The requirement also covers passengers who transited through an airport in the DRC, whether or not they disembarked.

An amended order issued on October 28 clarified that the measure applies to everyone travelling on any aircraft, including crew members on passenger and cargo flights, as well as crew travelling in a non-operational capacity, commonly referred to as “deadheading”.

The requirement takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3 and applies to flights departing foreign countries for the United States at or after that time.

Airlines and aircraft operators are required to confirm, at or shortly before boarding, that all persons on board, or an authorised representative acting on their behalf, have completed the attestation.

The statement may be completed through a physical or authenticated digital signature, or an electronic checkbox.

Airlines must refuse boarding to anyone who fails to complete and present the attestation, unless that person has an exemption issued by the US Government.

They are also required to retain copies of completed attestations for at least 42 days after the flight arrives in the United States and provide them to the US Government upon request.

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