In a sweeping new public health directive issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every air passenger bound for the United States – including those only transiting through U.S. airport hubs en route to third countries, no matter their nationality – will be required to submit and sign a formal health sworn declaration prior to boarding their flight, effective for all departures on or after November 3, 2026. The policy rollout comes as targeted, enhanced screening measure in response to an ongoing Ebola outbreak unfolding across parts of Africa. The core of the mandatory declaration requires travelers to attest under signed oath that they have not set foot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21-day window immediately preceding their scheduled departure date for U.S.-bound travel. Major international carriers have already begun alerting their customer bases of the upcoming regulatory shift, with Colombian flag carrier Avianca publicly announcing its full compliance with the CDC mandate on Saturday, October 31, confirming it will roll out the required new health screening protocols across all its U.S.-bound operations. Public health officials note the new layered protocol is purpose-built to bolster cross-border public health surveillance systems and drastically curb the risk of Ebola viral spread via international air travel pathways, urging all upcoming travelers planning U.S. arrivals or airport transits to familiarize themselves with the new requirement and complete the necessary documentation well in advance of their boarding times to avoid disruptions to their itineraries.
U.S. requires travelers to sign health declaration starting November 3
