U.S. entry requirements and travel restrictions continue to change in response to public health developments and other evolving government policies. Individuals and organizations planning international travel should be aware of the following travel restrictions and advisories:

Ebola Entry Restrictions

After November 3, 2026, all passengers, including U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents, boarding an international flight to the United States, regardless of their point of embarkation, must attest and sign a statement that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the 21 days before their flight leaves for the United States.

Further, travel is banned or restricted for certain travelers who were present in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days prior to travel, regardless of their country of origin. More specifically:

Travel from DRC

All travelers, including U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents, who have been in DRC within 21 days before departure will not be allowed to board flights with U.S. destinations. These travelers should plan to remain outside the United States for at least 21 days after they leave DRC. If they have been in outbreak-affected provinces in DRC, they may be subject to additional travel requirements from local authorities before they leave DRC.

Travel from South Sudan or Uganda

All travelers, except U.S. citizens, who have been in South Sudan or Uganda within 21 days before departure will not be allowed to enter the United States and should plan to remain outside the United States for at least 21 days after they leave South Sudan or Uganda. U.S. citizens who have been present in Uganda or South Sudan (and not present in DRC) within 21 days before arrival in the United States will have their air travel routed through designated U.S. airports for public health entry screening.

These restrictions will remain in effect through at least December 18, 2026, though they have been extended previously and may be extended again. Please note that many other countries, in addition to the United States, currently restrict entry based on the Ebola outbreak. For updated guidance, please see the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/situation-summary/returning-travelers.html.

Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) Restrictions

Anyone planning to travel to the United States as a visitor under the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA should note the following before planning their travel. Anyone who has traveled to any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen is likely to be permanently ineligible for ESTA travel. Any traveler ineligible for ESTA must instead obtain a B-1/B-2 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the United States in a country where they hold citizenship or legally reside.

Travel Advisories

Before departing the United States, Pryor Cashman advises travelers to consider the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories. The Department of State ranks the safety and security of all countries from Level 1 (blue), “Exercise Normal Precautions,” to Level 4 (dark red), “Do Not Travel.” This list and interactive map (https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/) are updated regularly.

Transit Visas

In addition to ensuring all travelers have appropriate documentation to enter the United States, travelers should also confirm they meet travel requirements to transit through any countries prior to landing in the United States. Pryor Cashman advises all travelers to check with our Global Mobility Team to confirm any additional travel or transit requirements for destinations en route to the U.S.

Note that new U.S. travel restrictions and CDC health rules can be added or removed at any time. For this reason, Pryor Cashman advises all travelers to check with us before traveling overseas to ensure they have the appropriate travel documents and meet all entry requirements to return to the United States.

Planning ahead and consulting immigration counsel can help ease travel concerns. For more information or answers to your questions, contact your Pryor Cashman attorney.

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Director of Government Affairs Philip Folkemer, Counsel Michelle Muñoz-Machen, and Associates Peter A. Reca and Elina Shakhnevich were contributing authors to this client alert.