Your suitcase is closed. Your passport is ready. Your journey has been planned down to the airport transfer. Now there is another detail to settle before boarding a flight to the United States: where were you during the previous three weeks?
A new American health declaration requires travellers to confirm that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 21 days before their US-bound flight. For Monaco’s international community, it is an addition to the departure checklist that deserves attention well before the boarding gate. The requirement is already in force. It applies to flights departing for the United States from another country from 11.59pm Eastern Standard Time on 3 November 2026, equivalent to 5.59am on 4 November in Monaco. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced through air travel.
A connection still counts
America need not be the destination printed at the end of the itinerary. Passengers changing planes at a US airport must also complete the declaration. American citizens and permanent residents are covered, alongside foreign visitors, and private aircraft fall within the rules. Without the required attestation, airlines and aircraft operators must refuse boarding unless a US Government exemption applies.
One journey, individual declarations
Families should check that every traveller is accounted for. An attestation must be recorded for each person, although a parent, guardian or other authorised representative can complete it on someone else’s behalf. Submission may be on paper or through the operator’s electronic process. The practical step is to ask the airline how it collects the declaration before leaving for the airport.
The stopover that matters
There is a detail frequent flyers could easily overlook: an airport connection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo counts as presence in the country, even when the passenger remains aboard the aircraft. For anyone who has been there, the departure date requires careful calculation. The day of leaving is Day 0; boarding a US-bound flight is generally permitted from Day 22, subject to other travel requirements and any applicable exemption. Knowingly submitting false information can lead to criminal penalties.
For travellers preparing to leave Monaco, and landing in the US, the sensible addition to the packing routine is therefore a quick administrative check: consult the CDC’s official guidance, follow the airline’s instructions and complete the declaration before boarding. Your holiday may lie ahead. This particular question looks backwards to where you have been in the last three weeks.
