CDC Updates Ebola Attestation Requirement for All Flights to the United States

Updated Oct. 30, 2026

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued an order prohibiting air carriers and aircraft operators from boarding any person, including crew members, departing any foreign country for the U.S., including those on commercial flights, general aviation and business aircraft, unless the individuals provide either a digital or paper attestation stating that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before boarding the flight to the United States.

The order applies to all flights departing to the U.S. from a foreign country at or after 11:59 p.m. EST Nov. 3, 2026.

The attestation may be in digital or paper form and must be retained by the aircraft operator for at least 42 days after the person’s flight arrives in the U.S. The CDC provided a template for aircraft operator use.

Download the CDC attestation template (PDF)

“Aircraft operators, regardless of the type of operation, should be prepared to provide and collect these attestations from all people, including crew members, departing from a foreign country to the U.S.,” said Laura Everington, NBAA’s director of international operations and regulations. “This requirement is not limited to commercial operations or flights departing certain countries – it applies to all flights from all countries arriving to the U.S.”

Previous CDC mandates to mitigate the risk of Ebola important into the U.S. remain unchanged.

Travelers, including U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals, who have been in DRC within 21 days of their flight will not be allowed to board flights with U.S. destinations.

All U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have been in DRC should plan to remain outside DRC for 21 days before entering the United States. This includes all passengers with an intermediate stop in DRC or on multi-stop itineraries via DRC regardless of whether they disembark or stay on the airplane. U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have been present in Uganda or South Sudan (and not present in DRC) within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through designated airports for enhanced screening.

Authorized designated arrival airports are: