Everyone On US-Bound Flights, Including Crew, Must Now Declare They Haven’t Been In Congo In The Last 21 Days

Credit: Simple Flying Published Nov 3, 2026, 12:35 PM EST Louis is a military historian and the staff writer for History of War magazine, a leading military history monthly. He also has an interest in private and commercial aviation. Sign in to your Simple Flying account The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an order on travel for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which has now come into effect. It requires all air travelers, including crew, flying into or connecting through the United States to sign that they haven't been present in the DRC in the last 21 days. The order comes into effect at 11:59 PM EST on November 3. It will be applied to all flights that depart for the US at or after this time. The order comes in response to the outbreak of the Ebola disease in some remote areas of the DRC. Simple Flying has contacted the CDC for further comment. How The Attestation Order Works An attestation order is a requirement for a traveler to confirm something before they come to the United States. The CDC initially issued the order on October 2. It was clarified on October 28, confirming that it applies to crew and passengers on any aircraft, including cargo services. The order also applies to crew on "deadhead" status, meaning that they are onboard a flight but not carrying out duties. Despite the severity of these new restrictions, the CDC insists that "The overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low." The 21-day restriction has been chosen because that is the maximum incubation period for the disease. Being present in the DRC means physically entering or traveling through the country, either by land, air or sea. It still applies even if someone doesn't leave the airport or aircraft. Day zero of the period is when the individual leaves the DRC, with day one being the first full day outside the DRC. Impacted people can only enter the US from day 22. How The CDC Is Enforcing The Order Airlines are responsible for collecting and retaining the attestations. The CDC then has the right to request any attestations to confirm compliance and assist with public health investigations should there be any Ebola cases within the US. The required retention time for carriers is at least 42 days. When you fly to America, you'll be asked to sign the attestation prior to boarding. One authorized individual, such as a parent or guardian, may sign individual attestations on behalf of each member of a travel party. Anybody refusing to sign the document will be denied boarding. You can also be prosecuted and fined if you submit false information. The current plan is for the order to run until December 18 unless the CDC changes the rules before then. The regulator may also extend the order should the DRC Ebola outbreak worsen or continue. How Airlines Are Dealing With The Attestation Order Airlines have a degree of freedom to decide how they will deal with the attestation process. Make sure to check before you travel as processes will vary between carriers. The Travel has reported that Delta Air Lines' guidance states the following: "Travelers may complete the attestation upon check in via the app or Delta.com. Travelers will also receive a link to the attestation via the check-in reminder sent 24-hours before departure." Meanwhile, if you are flying with American Airlines, you can complete the attestation during check-in on the carrier's website, on the app, at the airport or with a printable PDF. United Airlines has fewer options, with the process only available as a confirmation step during check-in. Things are easier for large groups flying with JetBlue, as one person can complete the form for multiple passengers in their party so long as they are flying under the same booking. d