US-bound 'Ebola declaration' from 1:59 p.m. Nov 4 KST: one form per passenger, infants included, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii too
TripX Verified · 3 sources · checked 2026-11-03Key points
- US-bound flights departing after 1:59 p.m. Korean time on November 4 require a declaration of no stay in the DRC in the past 21 days to board.
- Every passenger, infants included, must submit their own form; families and groups cannot use a single form from a representative.
- Hawaii, Guam, Saipan and US connections are covered, initially through December 19 Korean time.
In this guide
Under an executive order from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), passengers on US-bound flights departing after 1:59 p.m. Korean time on November 4 must submit a declaration that they have not visited or stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the past 21 days. Korean Air said it will collect the form one per passenger, and families or groups cannot submit a single form through a representative. Flights to Hawaii and the US territories of Guam and Saipan are covered as well as the US mainland.
This article is based on reports by Edaily and TV Chosun on Korean Air's notice and by The Hankyoreh on notices from several Korean airlines, all published on November 3. The background of the CDC order is in our earlier article on the US attestation; this one focuses on what travelers departing Korea actually need at check-in.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Start | Flights departing after 1:59 p.m. Korean time on November 4 (11:59 p.m. US Eastern Standard Time on the 3rd) |
| Period | Initially through December 19 Korean time (subject to change) |
| Routes | US mainland, Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and connections through the US |
| Unit | 1 form per passenger (infants included; no single form for a group) |
| Deadline | Before check-in on departure day, paper or electronic |
| Completed by others | Guardian or adult representative for under-18s, people with disabilities, older passengers and similar cases |
What is newly set
The start time is now stated in Korean time. 11:59 p.m. US Eastern Standard Time on the 3rd is 1:59 p.m. Korean time on the 4th, and the rule applies to flights departing after that. It runs initially through December 19 Korean time and may change if US health authorities revise their guidance. Korean Air said it will notify passengers again if that happens.
The unit of submission is also clear. Each passenger must fill out and submit their own form, and every passenger, infants included, must submit one. Passengers who do not fill it out or refuse to submit it will be denied boarding.
Which flights and who is covered
All flights from abroad to the US are covered. According to The Hankyoreh, Korean Air, Asiana and Air Premia, which fly to the US mainland, and Jin Air and Jeju Air, which fly to Guam and Saipan, among others, have notified passengers of the requirement. Holiday trips to Hawaii, Guam and Saipan are included.
US citizens, permanent residents and crew members must also submit it. Transit passengers continuing through the US to a third country must do the same, so keep this in mind if your ticket connects in the US.
When and how to submit
The form is an official statement in which you confirm and sign that you have not visited or stayed in the DRC in the past 21 days. It can be completed on paper or electronically, and the method differs by airline. It must be submitted to the airline before check-in on the day of departure.
Passengers under 18, or those who find it hard to write or sign because of a physical or mental disability, old age or similar reasons, can have a guardian or an authorized adult representative complete it. Even then, each passenger still needs a separate form, so a family needs as many forms as there are travelers.
If you passed through the DRC: counting the 21 days
Changing planes at an airport in the DRC, or simply transiting without leaving the airport, counts as stay history. If you have such history in the past 21 days, you cannot board a US-bound flight.
Eligibility is counted with the day you left the DRC as day 0. After spending 21 full days outside the US, you may take a US-bound flight from day 22. If your route reaches the US via Africa, write down your transit airports and dates in advance.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Ebola declaration for a trip to Guam or Saipan?
Yes. Flights to Hawaii and the US territories of Guam and Saipan are covered, not just the US mainland. Airlines flying to Guam and Saipan, such as Jin Air and Jeju Air, have reportedly notified passengers.
Do babies and children need their own form?
Yes, each passenger, infants included, needs one form. For passengers under 18, a guardian or an authorized adult representative can complete it.
When must I submit the form?
Before check-in on the day of departure. It can be done on paper or electronically, depending on the airline.
How long will this rule apply?
Initially through December 19 Korean time. It may change if US health authorities revise their guidance.
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Sources
- Edaily (Nov 3, 2026; on Korean Air's Ebola declaration notice, in Korean)
- The Hankyoreh (Nov 3, 2026; on Korean airlines' Ebola declaration notices, in Korean)
- TV Chosun (Nov 3, 2026; on Korean Air's notice, in Korean)
Checked on
This guide is Global TripX’s summary of the information published in the sources above. It is not a first-hand review, and rules and schedules can change, so check official guidance again before you travel.
TripX Verified: the date we matched the facts in this guide against the original sources below. Rules can change.
