The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its USA travel advice to confirm that every passenger flying to or through the US must sign an Ebola attestation form before boarding, including anyone flying from the UK to Orlando for Walt Disney World. The rule applies to every UK departure to the US from 4.59am UK time on 4th November 2026. The form asks you to confirm you haven't been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before your flight.
Article Summary
- Starts: Flights departing at or after 11.59pm Eastern Standard Time on 3rd November 2026 (4.59am UK time on 4th November)
- Who signs: Every person flying to or connecting through the US, including British citizens and children
- What you confirm: That you haven't been in the DRC in the 21 days before boarding
- Children: A parent, guardian or other authorised person signs for anyone under 18
- How: Through your airline, with Virgin Atlantic collecting it during app check-in or at airport kiosks
- Ends: 18th December 2026, unless the CDC changes or extends it
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Read on for how to complete the form for your whole party, who can't fly to the US at the moment, and which parts of your trip (return flights and Disney cruises included) need it.
The change was added to the GOV.UK USA entry requirements page on 30th October 2026. It comes from a CDC attestation order issued on 22nd October 2026 and amended on 28th October 2026, following the World Health Organization's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda on 17th May 2026. The CDC still rates the overall risk to the American public and travellers as low.
When Does The US Ebola Form Start For UK Flights?
The CDC order applies to any flight departing for the US at or after 11.59pm Eastern Standard Time on 3rd November 2026. American clocks went back on 1st November and ours went back on 25th October, so that's 4.59am UK time on 4th November 2026. A flight leaving the UK for Orlando on 3rd November doesn't need the form, and anything leaving from 4th November onwards does, whichever UK airport you fly from.
Each airline sets up its own way of collecting it. Virgin Atlantic told its travel trade partners on 30th October 2026 that customers can complete the attestation during check-in in the Virgin Atlantic app, and anyone who can't check in online can do it at the airport check-in kiosks with staff on hand to help. If you've booked a Virgin Holidays Disney World package, the form will be presented during your flight check-in process, so there's nothing extra to sort out.
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Who Needs To Sign The US Ebola Attestation Form?
Everybody on the plane. The order applies to every passenger whatever their nationality, so British passport holders travelling on an ESTA are included, and the 28th October amendment added pilots and cabin crew. Connecting through a US airport on the way somewhere else counts as well, even if you never get off the plane.
For under 18s, a parent, guardian or other authorised person signs on their behalf. One authorised person can attest for every member of a travelling party, so for a family of four one adult can complete all four forms, although the airline still has to hold a record for each person. That adult is making a legal statement for the whole group, and the CDC warns that knowingly giving false information can lead to criminal fines and imprisonment under US federal law.
You still need an approved ESTA or visa to travel, and if you haven't applied yet, use the official ESTA website rather than a third-party one. We recommend applying before you book your trip.
How To Complete The US Ebola Form Before Your Orlando Flight
Your airline provides and collects the attestation, and there's no separate government website to fill it in on. The CDC has published a fillable PDF of the form, which airlines can use to record the declaration you give them.
- Before check-in opens, confirm that nobody in your party has been in the DRC in the 21 days before your flight, including connecting through a DRC airport. If anyone has, contact your airline before checking in.
- When online check-in opens, go to your airline's app or website and look for the attestation step for your US flight.
- Read the attestation wording and complete it for each traveller, with the lead adult signing for children and anyone else in the party they're authorised to sign for.
- If online check-in doesn't work for your booking, allow extra time at the airport to complete the form at a check-in kiosk or desk.
- Save a screenshot of the confirmation if you'd like one for your own records, although the airline is the one that has to keep it.
Once you land, the usual passport control process applies, and our British guide to clearing US customs and immigration covers what to expect at Orlando.
Who Is Restricted From Travelling To The US Over Ebola?
Signing the form is the only change for most travellers, but separate CDC restrictions apply to anyone who has recently been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan. The rules differ depending on your passport, as the CDC guidance for travellers from Ebola-affected areas sets out.
| Where You've Been In The Last 21 Days | British Citizens And Other Non-US Citizens | US Citizens And US Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| None of the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan | Sign the form and fly as normal | Sign the form and fly as normal |
| The DRC (including connecting through a DRC airport) | Not allowed to board a US flight until day 22 after leaving | Not allowed to board a US flight until day 22 after leaving |
| Uganda or South Sudan (but not the DRC) | Not allowed to enter the US until 21 days after leaving | Allowed in, but routed via Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL) or New York JFK for public health screening |
Based on CDC guidance for travellers returning from Ebola-affected areas, last updated on 30th October 2026. Green Card holders follow the non-US citizen rules for Uganda and South Sudan.
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Should UK Guests Change Their Disney World Plans?
No. Unless someone in your party has been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the 21 days before you fly, the attestation adds a minute or two at check-in and leaves the rest of your holiday untouched.
The one thing I'd do differently is check in online as soon as your airline opens it. Airline groups told the CDC in late October that changes to check-in systems couldn't readily be completed in the time allowed, and the airport kiosk is the fallback if the online version doesn't cooperate.
If you're still choosing how to get there, Virgin Holidays packages use Virgin Atlantic flights into Orlando International Airport (MCO), while TUI flies into Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB). Every airline flying to the US has to collect the same attestation, so it shouldn't decide which one you book.
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US Ebola Attestation Form For Disney World Flights: Your Questions Answered
Do I need to fill in a form to fly to Disney World from the UK?
Yes. Every passenger on a flight departing for the US at or after 11.59pm Eastern Standard Time on 3rd November 2026 (4.59am UK time on 4th November) must sign an attestation confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding. You still need an approved ESTA or visa as well.
Can a parent sign the US Ebola form for their children?
Yes. A parent, guardian or other authorised person signs on behalf of anyone under 18. One authorised representative can attest for every member of a travelling party, but the airline must keep a record for each person.
Where do I complete the US Ebola attestation form?
With your airline. There is no separate government website, and the airline provides and collects the form before boarding. Virgin Atlantic says passengers can complete it during check-in in the Virgin Atlantic app or at airport check-in kiosks.
What happens if I do not sign the attestation form?
You will be denied boarding. Airlines must not board anyone who has not completed and presented the attestation, unless they hold an exemption issued by the US Government.
How long will the US Ebola form be required?
The CDC order runs until 18th December 2026 unless the CDC rescinds or modifies it earlier. Any extension will be based on a review of the outbreak at the time.
Do I need the form if I am only connecting through a US airport?
Yes. The requirement applies to anyone passing through the US to reach another country, whether they get off the plane or stay on board.
Do I need the form for my flight home from Orlando to the UK?
No. The order only covers flights into the US from a foreign country, so flights from the US back to the UK are not included.
Does the Ebola form apply to Disney Cruise Line sailings?
Not for the cruise itself. The attestation only applies to air travel and does not apply at seaports, but you will still need it for any flight into the US to reach your ship.
Do I need to keep a copy of the attestation?
No. You can keep a copy or take a photo for your own records, but the airline is responsible for keeping it.
