Who has to sign the CDC flight attestation?

Everyone boarding an aircraft to the United States from a foreign country, including U.S. citizens, green card holders and crew, unless the U.S. government has granted an exemption.

Can a company sign the attestation for its employees?

Only an authorized representative may attest for someone else, such as a parent, guardian, travel companion, adult member of the same traveling party, or a person the traveler authorizes. The traveler or representative remains responsible for the statement's truth.

How long must airlines keep attestations?

Airlines and aircraft operators must retain each completed attestation for at least 42 days after the person's flight arrives in the United States and provide it to the U.S. government on request.

Does the rule apply to private and charter flights?

Yes. CDC says the order applies to all flights departing for the United States, including commercial, general aviation, cargo and private aircraft.

US Flight Attestation Checklist for Business Travel

General information only — not legal, medical or travel advice. Requirements come from the CDC order and may change. Confirm details with the CDC order page, your airline, and your company's counsel or travel provider.

Interactive checklist

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Free downloads

A printable one-page checklist (PDF) and a traveler roster tracker (CSV) for spreadsheets — one row per traveler, with columns for 21-day history, earliest boarding date and attestation status.

Download PDF Download CSV roster

What the rule requires, in plain English

The amended CDC order bars boarding of any person on an aircraft bound for the United States from a foreign country unless that person presents a signed statement, on paper or digitally, confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding. It is scheduled to run through 11:59 p.m. EST on December 18, 2026, unless amended or rescinded.

Key points for business travelers:

Everyone signs. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, green card holders and visitors are all covered, as are crew members, including deadheading crew.
All aircraft. Commercial, charter, general aviation, cargo and private flights are covered, including flights from pre-clearance airports.
Connections count. The rule applies if the U.S. is only a transit point, and a stop at a DRC airport counts as presence in the DRC even if no one deplanes.
Air only. Land border crossings and seaports are not covered. U.S. territories are not treated as foreign countries.
Exemptions are rare. They are limited to authorized air medical transport and individual exemptions CDC grants for humanitarian or other important government reasons.

Extra steps for corporate flight departments and charter operators

If your company operates or charters aircraft into the United States, the operator carries the airline-side duties CDC lists:

Confirm, at or shortly before boarding, that every person aboard (or their authorized representative) has completed the attestation.
Do not board anyone without a completed attestation unless the U.S. government issued an exemption.
Use the full text of CDC's Attachment A, including the OMB control number and expiration date; you may reformat it for electronic use. Translations are allowed, but the operator is responsible for their accuracy.
Keep each completed attestation for at least 42 days after arrival and be able to produce it on request, with name, PNR (if any), carrier code or aircraft registration, flight number, departure and arrival airports, and dates and times of travel.
Do not send attestations through APIS; CDC will provide instructions if it requests a record.
Third parties (e.g., FBOs or handling agents) may collect attestations, but the operator keeps sole legal responsibility.

Related tool

Someone on your team recently left the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan? Work out their earliest permitted US-bound flight with the CDC 21-day rule calculator.

FAQ

Who has to sign the attestation?

Everyone boarding an aircraft to the United States from a foreign country, unless the U.S. government grants an exemption (CDC).

Can a company sign for its employees?

Only an authorized representative may attest for another person: a parent, guardian, travel companion, adult member of the same traveling party, or someone the traveler authorizes. Airline staff who help with data entry do not become the representative. One representative may attest for each member of a traveling party.

Can the attestation be verbal?

CDC allows an airline agent to record a verbal attestation if the traveler has reviewed the attestation language and confirms they have not been in the DRC in the last 21 days, and the system creates a retained record.

What happens if a traveler refuses?

They will be denied boarding on the US-bound flight. Knowingly false statements can lead to criminal fines and imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

What about Uganda and South Sudan?

Those countries are handled by separate CDC measures. Non-U.S. citizens, including green card holders, who were there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter; U.S. citizens and nationals are routed through Washington-Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL) or New York JFK for screening (CDC).

Will airlines be penalized for refusing passengers without the form?

CDC notes the Department of Transportation's consumer protection office will not take action against an airline for strictly following this directive for people who cannot present the attestation.