Short answer: from 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026 (04:59 GMT on 4 November), every passenger and crew member boarding an international flight to the United States must have signed a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attestation. It confirms they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the previous 21 days. Private and business flights are covered as well as airline flights.
Charter-A Ltd is a UK private jet and helicopter charter company. This is what we are telling our own clients who fly to the USA, and the information sheet below is the one we send them.
Download the information sheet (PDF, one page)
What has changed for flights to the USA?
The CDC has introduced the requirement in response to the current Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. Anyone boarding a flight to the US, including a connecting flight that continues to the US, must complete the attestation before they board. The CDC’s own traveller guidance also states that the overall risk to the American public remains low; this is a precaution at the border, not a change to how private flights operate.
The CDC’s wording covers any physical presence in the DRC in the 21 days before the flight, including simply changing aircraft there.
Who has to sign it?
Everyone on board: every passenger, and every crew member. The requirement applies to commercial, general aviation and business aircraft alike, so a private charter from the UK is treated the same way as a scheduled airline flight in this respect. Each person needs to be named on an attestation before boarding, and either a digital or a paper signature can be used.
What if someone has been in the DRC?
Anyone who was in the DRC within 21 days of departure will not be able to board a flight to the US, whatever their nationality. They must remain outside the US for at least 21 days after leaving the DRC. If anyone in your party may be affected, tell us as early as you can so we can talk it through with you well before the flight.
Are other countries affected?
The CDC has also set separate entry restrictions for some travellers who have recently been in South Sudan or Uganda. They apply mainly to non-US citizens, and US citizens who have been there are routed through designated airports for screening. Rules like these can change at short notice, so check the CDC’s travel page for Ebola-affected areas before you travel.
How does Charter-A handle it for private flights?
- We send you the attestation form ahead of your flight.
- We confirm with you how the names in your party are to be recorded.
- We check that every passenger is accounted for before the form is returned.
- We give you a return deadline for your flight, so nothing is left until departure day.
This sits alongside the usual preparation for an international private flight: passports, advance passenger information and arrival formalities. Our FAQ page covers how those work, and for US airports specifically see our guide to New York private jet airports.
Your checklist before a US-bound flight
- Send us the full name of every passenger, exactly as on their passport.
- Ask each traveller to check their travel history for the last 21 days.
- Complete and return the attestation as soon as we send it.
- Tell us straight away if anyone may have been in the DRC.
Frequently asked questions
Does the attestation apply to private jet charters?
Yes. The requirement covers commercial, general aviation and business aircraft, so a private charter to the US needs an attestation for every passenger and crew member, in the same way as an airline flight.
When does the requirement start?
It applies to flights to the US after 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026. That is 04:59 GMT on 4 November, so check the departure time carefully if you are travelling on or around those dates.
Can one person sign for the whole party?
The requirement is written per individual, so every traveller must be named and covered. We will confirm with you how the form is completed for your party and make sure each person has approved it before it is returned.
What happens if the attestation is not completed?
A person without a completed attestation cannot board a flight to the US. That is why we send the form early and agree a return deadline with you, rather than leaving it to the airport.
Where can I see the official requirement?
The CDC publishes it on its travel page for returning travellers from Ebola-affected areas. We summarise it here and on the information sheet, but the CDC page is the authority and the rules can change.
Talk to us before you fly
If you are planning a flight to the USA, tell us your dates and your party and we will take you through the paperwork. Call our 24-hour operations team on +44 (0)1737 823 733 or use our contact page. You can also see how we arrange private jet charter flights from the UK.
Information correct at 1 November 2026, based on guidance published by the US CDC. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.
