Travelers returning from Mexico or any other country must confirm they have not visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days. The requirement also applies to U.S. citizens.
A family flying home to Los Angeles after visiting relatives in Mexico may face an unexpected question at the airport: Have you been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days?
Even if the answer is no, they will have to confirm it before boarding.
Beginning November 3, the United States will require people boarding international flights to sign a health declaration stating they have not recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The requirement applies to flights from Mexico, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. U.S. citizens, green-card holders and foreign visitors are all covered.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced the measure in response to an Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
For most passengers, it will mean answering an additional question during check-in or boarding. But for travelers who have actually visited the DRC, the restrictions go much further.
What changes November 3?
The new rule takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 3, 2026. It applies to international flights departing for the United States at or after that time.
Passengers must complete an attestation, a formal statement confirming that the information they provide is true.
The declaration can be completed on paper or electronically. Airlines must collect it before allowing passengers to board.
That does not necessarily mean printing a government form at home. Airlines may include the declaration during online check-in, provide it at the airport or collect it through an authorized electronic process.
Parents can complete the declaration for their children. An authorized representative may also act for other travelers, but the airline must maintain a record for each person.
The requirement covers passengers connecting through a U.S. airport on their way to another country. It also extends to flight crews and people traveling on private or cargo aircraft.
It does not apply to ordinary land-border crossings.
Unlike the immigration documentation covered in Parriva’s immigration reporting, this is a public-health declaration, not a new visa application.
Why is the U.S. asking about Congo?
The CDC says the measure is intended to reduce the risk of Ebola entering the United States.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that can cause fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can cause bleeding and organ failure.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. It does not spread through ordinary airborne transmission.
The 21-day period reflects the maximum time between Ebola infection and the appearance of symptoms.
The CDC says the overall risk to Americans and travelers remains low.
There is also an important geographic distinction: The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the neighboring Republic of the Congo are two separate countries. The new declaration concerns the DRC.
What happens if someone visited the DRC?
Travelers who have been physically present in the DRC during the previous 21 days generally cannot board a U.S.-bound flight.
That includes U.S. citizens.
Even changing planes at an airport in the DRC counts as having been present there, whether or not the traveler left the aircraft.
The CDC calculates the waiting period beginning with the day a traveler leaves the DRC, which counts as Day 0. Travel to the United States may resume on Day 22, provided other entry requirements are met.
Limited government-authorized exemptions may be available for humanitarian or other important government reasons. They are not automatic.
The CDC also warns that knowingly providing false information can result in criminal penalties.
What travelers should know before flying
For California families planning an international trip, the process should be relatively simple if nobody has recently visited the DRC.
Check with your airline. Ask whether the declaration will appear during online check-in or be collected at the airport.
Make sure everyone is covered. Parents can sign for children, and authorized representatives can assist other travelers. Each passenger must have a completed declaration recorded by the airline.
Answer the question truthfully. The requirement concerns the previous 21 days, not whether someone has ever traveled to Africa.
Review the restrictions if you visited the DRC. Traveling through another country does not eliminate the waiting period.
The CDC provides the official declaration and instructions. It has also published guidance for travelers returning from Ebola-affected areas.
The agency says Spanish and French versions of the form will be provided when available. Airlines may also offer translations.
The order is scheduled to remain in effect through December 18, 2026, unless federal officials change, extend or end it earlier.
For someone returning to Los Angeles from a family visit, vacation or business trip, the message is simple: You do not need proof that you have never been to Congo. You need to truthfully complete the new declaration about where you have been during the past 21 days.
