U.S. imposes new health declaration on air travellers from Canada over Ebola

OTTAWA — The United States has introduced a new health measure for passengers arriving by air from Canada and other countries. It requires them to sign a declaration confirming they have not visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21 days before their flight.

The measure took effect after November 3, 2026, as part of U.S. efforts to limit the spread of the Ebola virus, which is experiencing a worrying outbreak in parts of Africa.

The main challenge for travellers is that airlines differ in how they collect the declaration, which has raised questions about how to complete the new requirements before departure.

Mandatory declaration for all flights to the U.S.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the measure applies to all passengers on international flights to the United States, including those departing from Canadian airports.

Passengers must sign a health declaration confirming they were not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the three weeks before their flight.

The requirement also applies to travellers who pass through U.S. airports on their way to other destinations.

People who visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the specified period are generally not permitted to board flights to the United States, with limited exceptions.

Authorities said knowingly providing false information in the declaration could result in legal penalties.

How are Canadian airlines applying the measure?

The way health declarations are collected varies among airlines, after U.S. authorities made operators responsible for obtaining and keeping them.

Air Canada said travellers can complete the declaration electronically during check-in, through its website or app.

It can also be submitted using self-service kiosks at the airport or with the help of airline staff.

Flair Airlines uses a digital form, and a parent, guardian or authorized person may fill it out on behalf of minors and people who need assistance.

Porter Airlines, meanwhile, said the declaration is collected at the boarding gate, with forms available at check-in counters, while it considers adopting an electronic system.

WestJet stresses that the declaration must be signed, but the information it has published does not describe a single method for submitting it.

Does the decision apply to land travel between Canada and the U.S.?

The new U.S. health declaration requirement does not apply to people crossing the land border between the two countries.

The CDC said the measure is intended for international air travel and does not cover land crossings or seaports.

This means that people driving from Ontario to New York, for example, do not need to submit the form under the new decision.

However, this does not cancel other U.S. entry requirements, or other health restrictions that may apply to certain categories of travellers.

Canada imposes health restrictions until November 27

For its part, the Canadian government has extended its temporary Ebola-related measures until November 27, 2026.

The restrictions apply to some foreign nationals arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

The rules also bar, with specific exceptions, foreign nationals who visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the previous 21 days from entering Canada or boarding aircraft bound for Canada.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who visited the affected countries can return under health conditions that include a medical assessment and a 21-day quarantine, unless exemptions apply.

Authorities say the health risk to people in Canada remains low.

Warnings for travellers before heading to the airport

Health authorities and airlines advised travellers to review the requirements before departure and make sure the declaration is completed in the way their airline uses.

Travellers should also accurately disclose their travel history for the previous 21 days, particularly when passing through countries subject to special health measures.

U.S. authorities say the measure is temporary and is scheduled to remain in place until December 17, 2026, unless it is amended or extended.

Its aim remains to reduce the chances of the virus spreading through international flights, while the outbreak's development and the measures needed to protect travellers continue to be assessed.