New U.S. flight rules will require people travelling by air to the United States to sign an attestation confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days.
The requirement takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The rule applies to flights departing from any foreign country for the United States at or after that time.
That means travellers flying from Canada to the United States will be covered, even if they have not recently visited an Ebola-affected country.
Table of Contents
What the new U.S. flight rules require
Passengers must complete and sign a paper or digital statement before boarding an international flight destined for the United States.
The statement confirms that the person has not been physically present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commonly known as the DRC, during the 21 days before boarding.
The requirement also applies to flights connecting through the United States on the way to another country.
It covers passengers, flight crew and other people aboard commercial, private, general aviation and cargo aircraft travelling to a U.S. airport.
Flights that only overfly the United States without landing are not covered by the order.
Airlines and other aircraft operators must review the completed attestation before boarding and retain a copy for at least 42 days after the person’s flight arrives in the United States from a foreign country.
Airlines must also confirm to the U.S. government that covered people aboard have completed the required statement.
Who may be denied boarding
A person who does not complete the attestation may be refused boarding unless a U.S. government exemption applies.
The rule does not allow a traveller who has been in the DRC during the previous 21 days to simply sign the form and continue travelling.
Under the order, a person who was present in the DRC may board a flight to the United States beginning on day 22 after leaving the country, provided all other travel requirements are met.
Time spent transiting through an airport in the DRC counts as being present in the country, even if the traveller did not leave the airport or aircraft.
Limited exemptions may be available for authorized medical transport or for humanitarian or other important government considerations.
What travellers from Canada should know
Travellers departing Canada for the United States should expect airlines to add the attestation process to online check-in, airport check-in or boarding procedures.
Travellers may complete the form digitally or on paper, depending on the airline’s process.
Parents or authorized representatives may complete the form for children under 18 and for people who cannot complete it themselves.
The requirement applies to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents, as well as foreign nationals travelling to the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the overall risk to the American public and travellers remains low.
The agency says the attestation is intended to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced into the United States through air travel during the current outbreak response.
What happens if a flight is disrupted
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an enforcement notice on October 28, 2026, to align its aviation policies with the public-health travel restrictions.
The notice says the department will not penalize an airline for rejecting a medical certificate that does not satisfy the Ebola travel directive.
DOT says airlines must still provide passenger protections when a traveller is affected by the restriction.
Those protections include rebooking, a prompt refund or a transferable travel voucher valid for five years, depending on the circumstances and the option selected by the passenger.
Travellers who are refused boarding should contact the airline before leaving the airport and ask which option applies to their ticket.
How long the requirement will last
The amended order is scheduled to remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 18, 2026.
The CDC may amend or rescind the order earlier, or extend it, depending on outbreak indicators such as case counts, geographic spread, community transmission and containment capacity.
Travellers should check their airline’s instructions before going to the airport because carriers may use different digital or paper procedures to collect the same statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new U.S. flight attestation rule take effect?
It takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026, for flights departing from a foreign country to the United States at or after that time.
Do Canadians flying to the United States need to complete the attestation?
Yes. The requirement applies to people boarding international flights to the United States from any foreign country, including Canada.
What does the attestation confirm?
It confirms that the traveller has not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 21 days before boarding the flight.
Can someone who recently left the DRC fly to the United States?
A person who was in the DRC must remain outside the United States for the 21-day period and may board beginning on day 22, subject to other travel requirements.
What happens if an airline denies boarding because of the rule?
The U.S. Department of Transportation says affected passengers must receive an applicable protection such as rebooking, a prompt refund or a transferable five-year travel voucher.
Fact-Checked: Verified against the CDC attestation order and traveller guidance and the U.S. Department of Transportation enforcement notice. The effective time is 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 3, 2026; the attestation-retention period runs for at least 42 days after the covered flight arrives in the United States, not after departure. ([cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/port-health/legal-authorities/attestation-order.html?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Travel requirements can change during a public-health response, so passengers should confirm the latest instructions with their airline and U.S. authorities before departure.