Traveling from Morocco to the US? You’ll need this new declaration to board
A passenger flying from Casablanca to New York could soon miss their flight because of a simple forgotten declaration. The new rule also applies to children and US citizens. The airline says a few clicks may be all it takes to complete the requirement.
Starting Wednesday, November 4, at 5:59 a.m. Morocco time, anyone boarding a flight to the United States will have to confirm that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days. Without this attestation, airlines will have to deny boarding.
The measure, detailed in a US order published this Friday, October 30, applies to all travelers: tourists, Moroccans residing in the United States, US citizens and green card holders. It also applies to passengers transiting through a US airport to reach another country.
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The decision was prompted by the Ebola outbreak affecting the DRC. US authorities have set a 21-day period, corresponding to the virus’s maximum incubation period. Even people who have never traveled to the country will have to complete the declaration.
How do you complete this new attestation?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allow several options. Airlines may offer a paper form, an electronic signature or a simple checkbox during online check-in, provided they can authenticate the declaration.
Each passenger must have their own attestation. For children under 18, a parent or authorized representative may sign it.
On a direct flight, the check will take place before departure from Morocco. For a journey with a connection in Europe, the CDC recommends collecting the declaration at check-in or boarding at the last airport before the United States. The requirement can therefore be completed during the layover.
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Travelers who have been in the DRC will have to wait until the 22nd day after leaving the country before they can board a flight to the United States, unless they have an official exemption. Even a simple transit through a Congolese airport counts, even if the passenger stayed on board the aircraft.
Anyone who intentionally makes a false declaration may face criminal prosecution in the United States. This requirement will remain in effect until December 18, 2026, unless it is extended or lifted earlier.
