New U.S. Health Declaration Required for All Travelers Starting November
Starting November 3, 2026, all international travelers to the USA, including Israelis, must complete a health declaration regarding Ebola exposure. Airlines will enforce the rule before boarding, with severe penalties for false statements.
Travelers flying to the USA, including Israeli passengers departing from Ben-Gurion Airport, will face a strict new mandate starting November 3, 2026. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring all international passengers to complete and sign a health declaration before boarding, regardless of their nationality or departure point.
The directive is a direct response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A central question on the declaration form concerns the 21 days preceding the flight, requiring passengers to disclose any stay in the DRC. This applies even to short airport transits where travelers remained strictly within the international terminal zone. However, flights passing over the country without landing are exempt.
Airlines are tasked with enforcing the new rule, checking that passengers have completed and signed the declaration prior to boarding. Passengers lacking the form will be denied entry to the aircraft. The requirement applies universally, including to transit passengers catching connecting flights through American airports on their way to other destinations.
Forms may be submitted in paper or digital format, depending on the airline's implementation. Every individual passenger requires a separate declaration, while parents or legal guardians may complete the forms for minors under 18. Airlines are mandated to retain the completed declarations for at least 42 days following arrival in the USA.
U.S. authorities emphasize that providing false information on the health declaration carries severe legal consequences. Passengers who knowingly conceal a stay in the DRC risk substantial financial penalties and criminal prosecution under American law. The regulations take effect on November 3 at 23:59 Eastern Time and remain in force through December 18, 2026, unless modified or extended.
Travelers are reminded that the new health form supplements existing entry requirements and does not replace standard travel documents. Passports, alongside valid ESTA authorization or a Visa, remain mandatory for all visitors entering the United States.
