Tick Off These Items Before Any Flight to the United States
To fly to the United States, you need a valid passport, an approved ESTA or a US visa, and now a signed health attestation. That last item is new. It took effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on 3 November 2026. Since then, every person boarding a flight to the US must confirm one fact. They have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the past 21 days. The rule covers US citizens too.
We researched the official pages of the CDC, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the State Department. Then we compiled one checklist for international travellers. It covers the documents that rarely change, plus the new form that airlines now collect at the gate.
| What to have | Who needs it | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| An electronic passport (e-passport) with a chip | Visa Waiver Program travellers | State Department and CBP |
| A passport valid 6 months past your planned departure | Most visitors, unless their country has an exemption agreement | State Department |
| An approved ESTA, or a US visa | ESTA for Visa Waiver Program citizens on trips of 90 days or less; a visa for everyone else | CBP and State Department |
| A new ESTA after any new passport | Anyone whose passport has changed since approval | CBP |
| A signed CDC attestation | Every person on a US-bound flight, including US citizens and transit passengers | CDC order, effective 3 November 2026 |
| A passport for every child, infants included | Families | State Department |
Sign the CDC Travel Attestation at Check-In
The CDC issued its order on 22 October 2026. It then amended the order on 28 October, and the amendment appeared in the Federal Register on 30 October. The order is called “Requirement for Attestation by All Persons Traveling by Air to the United States”. It responds to an Ebola outbreak in the DRC, and the 21-day window matches the longest known incubation period for Ebola.
So what do you actually sign? You confirm that you have not been in the DRC during the 21 days before you board. Your airline must collect that answer at or shortly before boarding. The CDC accepts a signature on paper, a digital signature, an electronic checkbox or a recorded verbal answer. Also, the CDC offers a fillable PDF in English, Spanish and French.
The rule reaches further than most travel forms. For example, it applies to US citizens, US nationals and green card holders. It also applies to passengers who connect through a US airport, even if they never leave the plane. After the 28 October amendment, crew on passenger and cargo flights must attest as well. Private jets and general aviation are covered too. However, the order does not apply at land borders or seaports.
| Date | Step in the CDC attestation rule |
|---|---|
| 22 October 2026 | CDC issued the attestation order |
| 28 October 2026 | CDC amended the order to cover crew and all persons on board |
| 30 October 2026 | The amended order was published in the Federal Register |
| 3 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST | The rule took effect for flights leaving foreign countries for the US |
Airlines started telling passengers straight away. For instance, Emirates posted the requirement on its website on 4 November 2026, and Emirates 24|7 covered the notice the same day. Still, the airline only collects the form. The rule itself is set out on the CDC attestation order page.
Work Out Your Boarding Date After a DRC Visit
The CDC counts the day you leave the DRC as Day 0. You cannot board a US-bound flight on Days 0 to 21. Then, from Day 22, you may board. We ran one example. If you leave the DRC on 1 December, Day 21 is 22 December. So the first day you can board a flight to the US is 23 December.
Be careful with the answer you give. If you refuse to attest, the airline must deny boarding. Also, the CDC warns that a knowingly false statement can be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which can bring fines and prison. The order has no end date on the CDC page, so check it again before each trip.
Find Out Whether You Need an ESTA or a Visa
Your passport decides your route into the US. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can visit for tourism or business for 90 days or less without a visa. Instead, they need an approved ESTA before they board a plane or ship to the US. On the other hand, if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you need a visa, even from a waiver country.
Next, check the exceptions. The State Department notes that British citizens qualify only if they have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in the specified UK territories. Also, travellers in certain categories under a 2015 US law must get a visa even if their country is in the program. The State Department’s Visa Waiver Program page has the country list and the full eligibility rules.
However, travellers from countries outside the program apply for a visitor visa at a US embassy or consulate. For trips that need no visa at all, our guide to countries Indians can visit visa-free covers options for Indian passport holders.
Apply for Your ESTA on the Official Government Site
The only official place to apply is the CBP ESTA website, or CBP’s ESTA Mobile app. So type the address yourself and check that it ends in “.gov” before you pay.
CBP says you can apply at any time, but it advises applying as soon as you start planning a trip. Each application carries a fee, paid by card. The form asks about communicable diseases, arrests and certain convictions, and any past visa refusals or removals. So gather your travel and personal history before you begin.
An approved ESTA usually lasts two years, or until your passport expires if that comes first. However, a new passport means a new ESTA. So renew passports first and apply for the ESTA after. Also, keep in mind that an approved ESTA is not a visa.
Check Your Passport Against Two US Rules
First, waiver travellers need an e-passport. That is a passport with a chip inside and a chip symbol on the cover. CBP has required it for all Visa Waiver Program travel since 1 April 2016. In fact, even an emergency or temporary passport must be an e-passport to use the program.
Second, look at the expiry date. The State Department says a passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure from the US. But some countries have agreements that relax this rule. So check your own country on the State Department site before you book.
Cover Children and Group Travel on Every Form
First, every family member needs a passport, including infants. Then the CDC attestation follows the same idea. A parent, guardian or other authorised adult may sign for anyone under 18.
For groups, one adult in the travelling party may attest for everyone. Even so, the airline must keep a record for each person. Also, airlines must hold every completed attestation for at least 42 days after the flight lands.
Clear Connections Through US Airports Without Surprises
A US connection counts as entry for the paperwork. For instance, the CDC rule applies to passengers who connect through the US to another country. That holds even if they stay on board during the stop. So a traveller flying from London to Mexico City through Houston signs the same attestation as someone ending the trip in Texas.
Long layovers need planning too. Use our flight time calculator to see how long each leg takes. Then use the time zone converter to check the local time when you land. If you face an overnight stop, our list of US airports with sleeping pods shows where you can rest airside.
Use Mobile Passport Control if You Hold a US or Canadian Passport
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) lets you send your passport details and answers to CBP from your phone after you land. CBP says US citizens and Canadian citizen visitors can use it. The apps are free, although some offer paid extras. Then you use a separate MPC lane at the airport.
CBP lists three approved apps. They are Mobile Passport by Airside Mobile, CLEAR Pass for CBP Mobile Passport Control, and the DFW Airport app. Next, here is how it works on arrival. You pick your airport and airline, take a selfie and answer CBP’s questions. The app then gives you a QR code receipt. Finally, you show the QR code and your physical passport to a CBP officer. CBP lists 27 US airports and 4 seaports where MPC works. For example, the airports include Boston Logan, Los Angeles and New York JFK. The seaports are Miami, Palm Beach, Port Everglades and San Juan.
Visitors on an ESTA or a visa from other countries are not on CBP’s current MPC list. So they should expect the regular passport control line. Also, keep your passport in your hand luggage, because the officer checks the physical book even in the MPC lane.
Traveller Questions About US Entry Forms
Do US Citizens Need to Sign the CDC Attestation?
Yes. The CDC order names US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents. In fact, it covers everyone on a flight from a foreign country to the US.
Do I Need a New ESTA if I Renew My Passport?
Yes. CBP says a new passport needs a new ESTA. So apply again after you get the new passport, and before you fly.
Can I Stay Longer Than 90 Days on an ESTA?
No. The Visa Waiver Program covers stays of 90 days or less. So for a longer stay, you need a visa. If you want to work from abroad for months, our guide to digital nomad visa countries lists places built for longer stays.
Does the CDC Rule Apply When I Drive In From Canada or Mexico?
No. The order covers air travel only. Land border crossings and seaports are outside it. Still, check the CDC page before you travel, because the order can change.
