U.S. Introduces New Ebola Travel Restrictions: Could Your Travel History Stop You From Boarding a Flight?
Starting November 3, 2026, passengers on international flights to the United States will face a new mandatory travel-history declaration linked to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The requirement applies to everyone — including U.S. citizens, Green Card holders and travelers connecting through American airports. For some passengers who recently visited the affected countries, the consequences are much more serious: they may be prohibited from boarding a U.S.-bound flight for 21 days.
A trip to the United States could become more complicated even if you have never visited an Ebola outbreak area.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has introduced a new requirement for international air travel: passengers must sign a declaration confirming that they have not been physically present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before their flight to the United States.
The measure is scheduled to take effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026.
But the declaration is only one part of a broader set of temporary travel restrictions. Travelers who have recently been in the DRC face a 21-day restriction on boarding U.S.-bound flights. Separate rules apply to certain travelers from Uganda and South Sudan.
For passengers, the implications are significant. A connecting flight, an airport stop or a recent trip to one of the affected countries could change whether an airline is allowed to let them board.
This is what travelers need to know before booking or taking an international flight to the United States.
1. What Is the New U.S. Ebola Travel Rule?
On October 22, 2026, the CDC issued an order requiring passengers boarding international flights to the United States to sign an attestation confirming that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days.
The CDC amended the order on October 28 to clarify that it applies to passengers on any aircraft, including relevant crew members.
The requirement begins:
November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
It applies to international flights departing for the United States at or after that time.
This is not a restriction limited to flights departing from Africa.
A passenger flying from London, Paris, Warsaw, Dubai, Singapore, Toronto or another international airport must comply with the declaration requirement if the flight is bound for the United States.
The rule also covers passengers whose final destination is another country but whose itinerary includes a connection through the United States.
In practical terms, the United States is introducing a travel-history declaration across its international air network, rather than simply screening passengers arriving directly from the outbreak region.
2. Does the New Rule Apply to U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders?
Yes.
This is one of the most important details in the CDC order.
The declaration requirement applies regardless of nationality or immigration status.
It includes:
U.S. citizens.
U.S. nationals.
Lawful permanent residents, including Green Card holders.
Foreign tourists.
Business travelers.
International students.
Temporary visa holders.
Passengers transiting through the United States.
A U.S. passport or Green Card does not exempt someone from signing the declaration.
Each passenger must complete an individual attestation. A family cannot simply submit one statement covering everyone in the group.
Parents or authorized representatives may complete the required documentation for children or passengers unable to act on their own behalf, subject to the order's provisions.
Passengers who refuse to provide the declaration cannot board the affected flight.
The statement is legally significant. Knowingly and willfully providing false or misleading information may expose a person to penalties under U.S. law, including potential criminal fines and imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
This is not merely an airline questionnaire.
3. The 21-Day Rule: What Happens If You Have Been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The declaration requirement is separate from a more restrictive measure.
Travelers who have been physically present in the DRC during the previous 21 days will not be allowed to board flights destined for the United States.
The restriction applies to everyone, including American citizens and U.S. nationals.
It does not matter whether the person:
Visited the DRC for business.
Traveled for tourism.
Visited family.
Worked in the country.
Passed through an airport in the DRC.
Stayed in the country for only a short time.
The CDC considers a person to have been present in the DRC if they entered or traveled through the country by air, land or sea.
There is one particularly important detail for international travelers:
A connection through an airport in the DRC counts as presence in the country, even if the passenger never left the airport or aircraft.
For example:
A traveler flies from London to another African destination, connects through an airport in the DRC and continues without leaving the aircraft.
If that traveler subsequently plans to fly to the United States within the next 21 days, the DRC transit may make them ineligible to board a U.S.-bound flight during that period.
This is why passengers should examine the complete itinerary, not just the departure and arrival cities shown on their ticket.
When can you fly to the United States again?
The CDC uses calendar days to calculate the waiting period.
Day 0: The day you leave the DRC.
Day 1: The first full calendar day outside the DRC.
Days 1–21: You cannot board a flight to the United States.
Day 22: You may board a U.S.-bound flight, provided you meet all other travel requirements.
For example, if you leave the DRC on November 5, November 5 is Day 0. November 6 is Day 1. You may board a flight to the United States beginning November 27, assuming no other restriction applies.
The exact date should be calculated carefully, especially when connecting flights cross time zones or when travel plans change.
4. Uganda and South Sudan: Different Rules Apply Depending on Your Citizenship
The DRC restriction is not the only measure travelers need to understand.
The United States has also introduced separate entry restrictions affecting certain people who have recently been in Uganda or South Sudan.
These restrictions are different from the universal declaration requirement.
If you are a foreign national
Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. nationals who have been present in Uganda or South Sudan during the 21 days before departure may be prohibited from entering the United States during that period.
This includes lawful permanent residents.
That means a Green Card holder who is not a U.S. citizen should not assume that permanent residence automatically provides an exemption.
For affected travelers, the practical guidance is to remain outside the United States until at least 21 days have passed since leaving Uganda or South Sudan.
If you are a U.S. citizen
U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have recently been in Uganda or South Sudan, but not in the DRC, are treated differently.
They may enter the United States, but their travel must be routed through designated airports for enhanced public-health screening.
The currently designated airports are:
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York.
Passengers may need to change their original itinerary to comply with the routing requirement.
The distinction is critical: a U.S. citizen may be permitted to return through designated airports, while a foreign national in the same travel-history situation may be subject to an entry restriction.
5. What If You Are Only Connecting Through an Airport?
This is one of the most important questions for people who regularly travel internationally.
The CDC explicitly addresses airport connections in its guidance.
For the DRC, physical presence includes connecting through an airport, even if the passenger does not leave the aircraft or airport.
The same principle is relevant to the separate Uganda and South Sudan restrictions.
Consider these examples:
Example 1: London – Kinshasa – New York
A passenger travels from London to Kinshasa and then continues to New York.
The passenger has been physically present in the DRC. The 21-day restriction applies.
Example 2: Dubai – Entebbe – New York
A foreign national connects through Uganda before traveling to the United States.
If the passenger has been present in Uganda within the relevant 21-day period, the separate restrictions for non-U.S. citizens may prevent entry into the United States.
Example 3: Paris – Atlanta – Mexico City
A passenger has not been in the DRC during the previous 21 days but is flying through Atlanta to Mexico.
The passenger is still traveling on an international flight into the United States and must complete the required DRC attestation.
Example 4: Warsaw – New York
A passenger travels directly from Poland to the United States and has not been in the DRC during the previous 21 days.
The passenger must still sign the declaration, but the recent-presence restriction does not apply to them on that basis.
The lesson is straightforward: a connecting airport can matter just as much as the country where a journey began.
6. What Happens at the Airport?
Airlines and other aircraft operators are responsible for implementing the declaration requirement.
Before boarding, they must verify that each covered passenger has completed and signed the required statement.
The declaration can be completed in paper or digital form.
Airlines must retain completed declarations for at least 42 days after the flight departs and provide them to the U.S. government upon request.
Passengers should expect airlines to ask about their recent travel history and to require the declaration as part of the boarding process.
The CDC may also request the documentation for compliance verification or as part of a public-health investigation.
If a passenger refuses to complete the declaration, the airline must not allow that passenger to board the affected flight.
If a traveler has recently been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, airlines may also need to assess whether the applicable travel restrictions permit boarding.
Do not assume that an online check-in confirmation or an issued boarding pass overrides these requirements. Final boarding eligibility remains subject to applicable government orders.
7. Why Is the United States Introducing These Restrictions?
The measures are connected to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This is an important distinction.
The outbreak involves Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola virus disease. It is not the same as the Zaire ebolavirus responsible for some of the world's best-known Ebola outbreaks.
The outbreak has expanded across multiple areas, placing pressure on public-health systems and increasing concern about cross-border transmission.
The CDC has identified population movement and travel as factors that could contribute to further spread.
The 21-day period is linked to the maximum recognized incubation period for Ebola disease — the time between exposure to the virus and the appearance of symptoms.
The U.S. measures are designed to reduce the possibility of an infected traveler entering the country during that period.
However, the restrictions should not be interpreted as evidence that the United States is facing a widespread domestic Ebola outbreak.
The CDC's measures are precautionary public-health controls aimed at reducing the risk of importation.
What does the World Health Organization say?
The World Health Organization has assessed the risk within the DRC as very high and the risk for countries sharing land borders with the DRC as high.
However, in its September 10, 2026 situation assessment, WHO assessed the global risk as low.
WHO also advised against general restrictions on travel to or trade with affected countries.
This is an important distinction between international public-health assessment and national border policy.
The United States has chosen to introduce specific air-travel controls. That does not mean every country has adopted the same restrictions or that all international travel to Africa has been suspended.
8. Is It Safe to Travel to Africa or Europe?
The new U.S. restrictions do not amount to a general ban on travel to Africa.
They also do not automatically affect passengers who have never been in the countries covered by the relevant measures.
The CDC recommends avoiding all travel to Ituri and North Kivu provinces in the DRC unless traveling for humanitarian aid or emergency response. It recommends avoiding nonessential travel to Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces.
For other parts of the DRC and Uganda, the CDC recommends enhanced precautions.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has assessed the infection risk for people living in the EU/EEA as very low, citing the way the virus spreads and the low likelihood of importation followed by secondary transmission in Europe.
That does not mean the outbreak is insignificant. It means the public-health risk must be assessed according to geography, exposure and transmission conditions rather than headlines alone.
Travelers should consult the latest official guidance before departure, particularly if their itinerary includes the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan.
9. What Travelers Should Do Before Flying to the United States
If you are planning an international trip to the United States, a few checks can prevent serious problems at the airport.
1. Review your travel history for the previous 21 days.
Check every country and airport where you were physically present. Do not look only at your final destination.
2. Examine connecting flights.
A transit stop in the DRC counts as presence, even if you never leave the aircraft.
3. Check whether the Uganda or South Sudan rules apply to you.
Your citizenship and immigration status matter. U.S. citizens and foreign nationals are not treated identically.
4. Complete the required declaration.
From November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, all passengers on international flights to the United States must sign the DRC travel-history attestation.
5. Contact the airline before departure if your itinerary includes an affected country.
Do not wait until you reach the boarding gate. Ask the airline to confirm whether your travel history affects your eligibility to board.
6. Keep your travel documents and itinerary records.
Retain tickets, boarding passes and evidence of your travel dates. These records may help clarify your travel history if questions arise.
7. Monitor official updates.
The restrictions are temporary public-health measures and may be amended, extended or rescinded as the outbreak develops.
The CDC order is initially time-limited. The Federal Register notice specifies a 45-day period, with the measure scheduled to remain in effect through December 18, 2026, unless amended or rescinded earlier.
Always check the current order before traveling.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Do all passengers flying to the United States have to sign an Ebola declaration?
Yes. Beginning November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, all passengers boarding international flights to the United States must sign an attestation confirming that they have not been present in the DRC during the previous 21 days.
Does the new rule apply to U.S. citizens?
Yes. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, Green Card holders and foreign nationals are all covered by the declaration requirement.
Can I fly to the United States if I recently visited the DRC?
You cannot board a U.S.-bound flight during the 21 days after leaving the DRC. Under the CDC's calendar-day calculation, you may board beginning on Day 22, provided you meet all other travel requirements.
Does an airport connection in the DRC count?
Yes. Connecting through an airport in the DRC counts as physical presence, even if you remain inside the airport or on the aircraft.
Can a Green Card holder enter the United States after visiting Uganda?
Not necessarily. Green Card holders are non-U.S. nationals for purposes of the separate restrictions affecting certain travelers from Uganda and South Sudan. They may be subject to the 21-day entry restriction.
Can American citizens return from Uganda or South Sudan?
Yes, under the applicable conditions. U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have been in Uganda or South Sudan, but not the DRC, may enter through designated airports for enhanced screening.
Does the new rule apply to flights from Europe?
Yes. The declaration requirement applies to international flights to the United States regardless of the country of departure.
Can an airline refuse boarding if I do not sign the declaration?
Yes. Airlines must not board passengers who are required to provide the declaration but fail to complete and sign it.
Is the United States banning all travel to Africa?
No. The measures are specific to recent presence in certain countries and the required travel-history declaration. They do not constitute a general ban on travel to Africa.
How long will the restrictions remain in effect?
The new declaration order is initially time-limited through December 18, 2026, unless it is amended or rescinded earlier. Other restrictions may operate under separate CDC orders and can have different timelines.
The Bottom Line: Your Last 21 Days Could Determine Whether You Board
The new U.S. measures introduce an unusual level of scrutiny into international travel history.
From November 3, passengers on international flights to the United States will have to confirm that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days.
For travelers who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, the consequences can be much more significant than an additional airport questionnaire. Depending on the country, travel history and citizenship, they may face a boarding restriction, an entry restriction or mandatory screening at a designated U.S. airport.
The most important detail is that your route matters, not just your destination.
A connecting flight through an affected country may have consequences even when you never leave the airport.
Before booking your next international journey, check the complete itinerary, review the applicable 21-day rules and confirm your eligibility with the airline.
A small detail in your travel history could determine whether you are allowed to board.
Editorial disclaimer: This article provides general travel and public-health information, not individual immigration, legal or medical advice. CDC orders and travel restrictions can change. Passengers should verify the latest requirements directly with the CDC, the relevant government authorities and their airline before departure.
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Immigrants.live — Global Travel & World Affairs
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