Starting on November 3, the US will require a health declaration for all foreign arrivals.
In light of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US will start requiring all foreign travelers, including Indians, to fill out a health declaration on November 3.
Beginning on November 3, 2026, foreign visitors to the United States will have to fill out a new health declaration before boarding. All travelers on overseas flights to the United States are subject to this rule, including individuals from India who have never been to Africa.
In response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is proposing the regulation to bolster screening protocols. Unless officials alter the date, the directive is expected to continue in force until December 18, 2026.
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Who Must Fill Out the US Health Declaration?
Regardless of nationality or country of departure, all travelers on international flights to the United States are required to provide a signed health attestation. Indian passport holders traveling from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, or other international hubs fall under this category.
Travelers are asked to attest in the health declaration that they were not in the DRC within the 21 days prior to departure. Even if a passenger does not exit the airplane or remains in the international transit area, airport transit in the DRC is counted.
Being present in the DRC does not include merely flying over the nation without landing. Passengers traveling to another foreign location via a US airport are also required to comply.
How the New US Health Attestation Is Completed
The paper is titled Passenger Disclosure and Attestation to the United States of America by the CDC. Although the specific procedure will vary depending on the airline, it may be integrated into online check-in.
Travelers ought to do the following:
Acquire the form: For the official health attestation, visit your airline's website, online check-in page, or passenger communications.
Fill out the declaration: Verify if you were in the DRC for the 21 days prior to your departure.
Sign the document: You may sign it electronically or by hand. The declaration may be turned in on paper or digitally.
Fill out one form for each passenger: Parents or another authorized individual may fill out and sign the declaration for children under the age of eighteen.
Submit it before boarding:If your airline provides instructions, follow them and save a copy.
If a passenger does not present a fully completed and signed declaration, airlines are required to deny them boarding. Additionally, carriers are required to keep a duplicate for a minimum of 42 days following their arrival in the United States.
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Which Documents Are Required for Travelers?
An extra prerequisite is the health attestation. It doesn't take the place of current US entry paperwork. When traveling abroad, the following should be prepared:
The completed and signed statement is the US health attestation.
The passport used for the trip is a valid passport.
Unless there is an exception, Indian nationals traveling under the relevant visa category must have a valid US visa.
Booking a flight and travel information: To finish airline check-in and adhere to carrier guidelines, keep your itinerary handy.
Instead of assuming the declaration will show up in the check-in system automatically, travelers should review their airline's most recent instructions prior to departure.
Why is this rule being introduced in the United States?
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola that is currently raging in Central Africa is connected to this measure. Some travelers who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan are already subject to limitations imposed by the US.
By requiring all passengers to verify their recent travel history rather than depending solely on aircraft routes or individuals' travel origins, the new declaration broadens the scope of screening.
The practical argument for foreign travelers is straightforward: even a standard trip from India to the US will necessitate an extra pre-boarding check even if the traveler has never been to Africa.https://tinyurl.com/avu6te9e
Travunited Perspective:
We consider this to be an additional pre-boarding check rather than a substitute for an ESTA or US visa. Before departing, international travelers should verify with their airline and finish it early.
US Health Declaration for International Travellers: FAQs
1. When will the new US health declaration requirement begin?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirement takes effect on November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST for international flights departing for the United States.
2. Who needs to complete the US health declaration?
All passengers boarding international flights to the United States must provide the required attestation, including US citizens and foreign nationals, subject to applicable exemptions.
3. What information must travellers declare?
Travellers must sign a statement confirming that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before boarding their flight to the United States.
4. Does the US health declaration apply to Indian travellers?
Yes. Indian nationals travelling on international flights to the United States are covered by the requirement, regardless of whether they have visited the DRC, subject to applicable exemptions.
5. Can travellers complete the US health declaration online?
The declaration may be completed in digital or paper format. The exact submission process may depend on the airline's procedures. Travellers should check their airline's instructions before departure.
6. What happens if a traveller has visited the DRC within the previous 21 days?
Under the CDC order, travellers who have been present in the DRC during the previous 21 days are not permitted to board flights to the United States, subject to any applicable exemptions.
7. Is a medical examination or Ebola test required for every traveller?
The new declaration itself is a statement about recent travel history. It does not, by itself, require every traveller to undergo a medical examination or Ebola test. Additional requirements may apply to certain travellers.
8. Does the health declaration replace a US visa or ESTA?
No. The declaration is an additional public health requirement and does not replace a valid US visa, ESTA authorisation, or other applicable entry requirements.
