U.S. to Require Ebola Health Declaration for Flights from Cuba and Other Nations

The United States is implementing a new health declaration requirement related to Ebola for passengers boarding international flights to the country. This includes travelers from Cuba, Spain, and any other nation, as part of efforts to mitigate the risk of the disease entering U.S. borders.

This directive, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will take effect on November 3 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Under this mandate, each passenger must confirm, through a signed paper or digital declaration, that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the 21 days prior to boarding a flight bound for the United States.

The measure is part of the U.S. government's initiative to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the country from this African region, which has seen outbreaks of the disease. However, its scope extends beyond flights originating from Africa, as the declaration is mandatory for all international travelers to the United States, regardless of their departure country, except for certain official exemptions.

This means that passengers flying directly from Havana to Miami or from Madrid to New York must comply with this new requirement even if they have never visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The requirement also applies to passengers transiting through a U.S. airport en route to another destination. According to the official order, airlines and other aircraft operators are responsible for collecting the declarations and ensuring each passenger has completed the document before boarding.

Passengers who fail to provide the required declaration will not be allowed to board unless granted an exemption by the U.S. government. The CDC notes that the declaration can be made via a signed physical document, an authenticated digital signature, or an electronic mechanism provided by the airline.

Therefore, passengers do not necessarily need to print a form. Airlines can integrate this procedure into their passenger registration platforms or pre-boarding verification systems.

Health authorities recommend that operators collect this information during check-in or boarding at the last foreign airport before the flight departs for the United States.

Who is Affected by the New Requirement?

The requirement is obligatory for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Holding a U.S. passport or a green card does not exempt individuals from completing the declaration. The measure applies to all travelers, whether they are visiting for tourism, business, studies, or family visits, as long as they are boarding an international flight to the United States.

For minors under 18 years old, a parent, guardian, or authorized adult must complete and sign the declaration on their behalf. The same applies to passengers who cannot complete the document due to disability or other limitations. However, each traveler requires their own declaration. A single collective form for a family will not suffice.

Key Aspects of the Declaration’s 21-Day Rule

One critical aspect of the new requirement is the calculation of the 21 days prior to travel. According to the CDC, having been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo includes any physical presence in the territory, whether by air, land, or sea. This also covers layovers at Congolese airports, even if the passenger does not leave the terminal or the plane.

Conversely, flying over Congolese territory without landing does not count as being present in the country for the declaration's purposes. Those who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must wait a full 21 days after leaving that territory before boarding a flight to the United States, unless an official exception applies.

The rule is based on the maximum incubation period for the Ebola virus, which is the time between exposure and the onset of symptoms. U.S. authorities warn that providing false or misleading information on the declaration can lead to legal consequences, including criminal penalties.

In addition to verifying the forms, airlines must retain the documentation and make it available to U.S. authorities when required for compliance checks or public health investigations.

It's important to note that this new requirement does not equate to needing an additional visa, presenting a diagnostic test for Ebola, or showing proof of vaccination against the disease.

For Cubans traveling to Miami, Tampa, or other U.S. cities, the practical effect will be incorporating this declaration into the boarding process, along with meeting existing immigration and documentation requirements. Cuban permanent residents returning to the United States after visiting the island must also present the declaration, as their immigration status is unaffected by this health measure.

Individuals traveling from Cuba to another country without landing in the U.S. are not subject to this specific order. The requirement does not apply to land or sea crossings, as it targets passengers entering or transiting through the United States via international flights.

This new obligation adds to other Ebola-related health restrictions that the CDC adopted during 2026 for certain travelers with recent presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.

In a previous order, updated on October 11, U.S. authorities established entry limitations for certain categories of foreigners who had been in these African countries.

The key difference is that the new document must be completed by virtually any passenger taking an international flight to the United States, even if their journey has no connection to Africa. According to the CDC, the declaration aims to strengthen preventive measures to prevent individuals recently in high-risk areas from traveling during the disease's incubation period.

The CDC does allow limited exceptions, including special authorizations for certain Ebola-related medical transfers and individual exemptions granted for humanitarian reasons or other significant governmental considerations.

These exceptions are not automatically granted based on U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or family emergencies. The official guidance also differentiates restrictions related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from other provisions applying to individuals recently in Uganda or South Sudan.

The order is set to remain in effect until December 18, 2026, unless withdrawn or modified earlier by the authorities. It may also be extended if a subsequent assessment of the epidemiological situation justifies it.

For now, travelers with flights scheduled from November 3 onward should consult their airlines' communications to understand how the declaration process will be implemented before arriving at the airport.

The CDC has published a reference form and application instructions. Airlines may provide versions in other languages and use electronic procedures to collect the information.

This new declaration is part of a series of measures the United States has adopted during 2026 to prevent the arrival of Ebola within its territory. In May, U.S. authorities tightened health controls amid the outbreak's spread in Africa, imposing restrictions on certain foreigners recently present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.

At that time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington's priority was to prevent the virus from reaching the United States.