CDC will Require Attestation for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Coming Into the United States Begining November 3, 2026
Recently, the CDC announced on October 22, 2026 that travelers will be required to provide a attestation when arriving into the United States. This requirement is to go into effect on November 3, 2026 and is particularly important for travelers who will be traveling internationally.
Depending on how they enforce and roll this change out, this may be an incentive to get to the airport much earlier than normal. Typically, for domestic travel within the United States we advise clients arrive to the airport at least 2 hours prior to their flights departure time, and with international travel I would advise getting there 3-4 hours prior to departure time. But with this change it may be wise for international travelers to plan to arrive at least 4 hours prior to their departure time and pack some extra patience with you.
Again, when you should plan to arrive at the airport will be better determined once this is rolled out, but if they're having people fill out this when at the airport it may cause longer wait times and lines. So you'll want to make sure you're prepared and ready for that should that end up being the case. It is likely though that the form or forms for this will be filled out prior to travel online, but I do not know this for a fact yet, and therefore cannot make any guarantees.
This requirement at a glance is explained as follows on the CDC website. "Beginning November 3, 2026, all passengers boarding an international flight to the United States must attest (sign a statement) that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding a flight to the United States. An attestation is a statement that confirms that the information provided is true. Willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment (18 U.S.C. § 1001)."
If you'd like to read about this upcoming change in more detail, please see the link below.
Here's to helping you make picture perfect memories that are sure to last a lifetime!
I look forward to seeing you again In our next post!
Best wishes,
Megan Tabor, CTA
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