Travelers with flights to the United States in November or soon after will need to complete an additional step before boarding. A Mexican airline announced that U.S. health authorities have introduced a new requirement affecting all tourists entering the country, regardless of nationality.
- Effective date: the measure takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Required document: a declaration from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Scope: Mexicans and foreigners flying to U.S. territory, including those departing from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) or Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).
What passengers must present
According to information shared by Volaris, under an official CDC order, travelers must present a document called the CDC Ebola Passenger Disclosure and Attestation Form. This is a sworn declaration in which the passenger provides the requested information and certifies that they did not stay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the period set by U.S. health authorities, which is 21 days prior to their travel request.
The form requires confirmation that the person was not physically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 21 days before boarding the flight to U.S. territory. The measure applies to all travelers, regardless of nationality.
Recommendations before going to the airport
Those with international flights to the United States should consult and download the CDC form, print it, and complete the data before arriving at the airport. The declaration must be carried in physical format to the boarding gate on the day of travel.
The airline recommended completing the procedure in advance to avoid setbacks during boarding. Presentation of the document will be required from the time established on November 3, 2026, for passengers traveling from another country to the United States.
“A partir del 3 de noviembre de 2026, por disposición de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) de Estados Unidos, todas las personas que viajen a ese país, sin importar su nacionalidad, deberán completar una declaración física o digital en la que confirmen que no han estado en la República Democrática del Congo durante los 21 días previos a su vuelo. Te recomendamos consultar los detalles de este requisito y completar la declaración correspondiente antes de tu viaje”, publicó la aerolínea en sus redes sociales oficiales.
What counts as having been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For purposes of this requirement, the airline specified the situations that count as having been in the African country:
- Having entered or traveled through the country by air, land, or sea.
- Having made a connection at an airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, even if the passenger did not get off the plane or leave the airport.
- Overflights over the country are excluded from this definition.
- If the passenger has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they must contact the airline to handle their case.
The new health screening adds to the usual documents travelers must gather to enter the United States and responds to U.S. authorities' monitoring of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For passengers with flights in the coming weeks, the recommendation is to review the official form, print it, and carry it completed before leaving home, since its presentation will be mandatory at the boarding gate.