Key Point
Many countries restrict the entry and/or residence of people infected with HIV. Even if entry into a country is prohibited, sightseeing and business trips are usually possible. Long-term restrictions related to work or study permits will be strictly enforced. Undetectability is not considered at all.
Some countries restrict entry of people with HIV. However, in recent years, the number of countries restricting travel for people infected with HIV has decreased. Short-term travel typically has fewer restrictions and testing may be less consistent. For longer stays, such as when a work visa is required, the rules tend to apply more strictly.
Can I travel if I have HIV?
yes. Many countries explicitly state that HIV status does not affect your ability to visit, stay, or work. Most countries do not require any kind of health test for short or long stays.
However, there are still some countries that restrict the entry of people with HIV. A small number of them are prohibited from entering the country. This means that if you travel to these countries, you may not be allowed to enter the country if you are infected with HIV.
In other countries, restrictions apply only to long-term stays. You may be allowed to enter the country for short periods of time (for example, for holidays), but you will not be allowed to work or live there. These countries may require you to take an HIV test or declare your HIV status when applying for a visa or residence permit. In some cases, you may not be asked for information about HIV, but if you are found to be infected with HIV, you may be deported (deported).
Travel restrictions for people living with HIV are complex and vary by country. Not all countries have specific immigration laws regarding her HIV, but declaring your HIV status can cause problems.
Travel restrictions apply even if the viral load is undetectable.
Which countries have HIV travel restrictions?
This page provides general guidance on current regulations across different continents, based on information from the website www.hivtravel.org. It is provided by German AIDS Hilfe, the European AIDS Treatment Group, and the International AIDS Association.
Please note that the regulations may have changed since the time of writing. Before making any travel plans, including living or working abroad, we recommend checking the www.hivtravel.org website for the latest country-specific information. There is also a feedback form if you need additional advice or have information to improve the site.
North America
There are usually no restrictions on entry or short-term stay for people with HIV when traveling to North America.
In the United States, people entering the country with prescription drugs, including HIV medications, must carry an English-language doctor’s note stating that the drugs are necessary to treat a personal condition.
Canada requires an HIV test if you are staying for more than six months. All long-term residents are evaluated in terms of how much of an “excessive demand” they are likely to place on Canada’s health services. Costs of more than CAD 24,057 per year are considered “too high,” although many publicly funded HIV drugs cost less than this amount.
Central and South America
There are usually no restrictions on entry or short-term stay for people with HIV when traveling to Latin America.
Long-term stays are restricted in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Paraguay. For example, in Paraguay, people traveling to the country to apply for permanent residence must undergo an HIV test. If the test result is positive, a residence permit will not be issued unless you are able to pay for the treatment yourself.
Regulations in Aruba, Belize, Nicaragua, and Suriname are unclear or inconclusive. Please contact your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
caribbean
There are usually no restrictions on entry or short-term stay for people living with HIV when traveling to the Caribbean.
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, and the Virgin Islands all have long-term stay restrictions. For example, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, work permits will not be renewed if a positive HIV test result occurs, and HIV-positive foreign nationals cannot receive treatment or services.
Regulations are unclear or inconclusive in the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. There is no information regarding Bermuda. Please contact your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
sub-saharan africa
There are usually few restrictions on traveling to sub-Saharan Africa for people with HIV. However, in Equatorial Guinea, you may be required to show proof of an HIV test. If you are HIV positive, you may be refused entry or deported.
Long-term stays are restricted in the countries of Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Seychelles and Sudan.
Regulations in Angola are unclear or inconclusive, and no information is available for Sao Tome and Principe. Please contact your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
North Africa and the Middle East
Most of the countries that restrict entry based on HIV status are in North Africa and the Middle East.
If you are living with HIV, you may not be allowed to enter Jordan, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen, even for a short stay. However, there are no restrictions when transiting through Dubai as an air passenger.
Countries that have or may have long-term stay restrictions include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Tunisia. Almost all of these countries also plan to deport people based on their HIV status.
Note that regulations are unclear or inconclusive in Iran, Qatar, and Tunisia. We recommend contacting your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
Western Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe
There are usually no restrictions on entry and short-term stay for people with HIV when traveling to Western, Northern, or Southern Europe.
In Cyprus, anyone applying for a temporary residence permit from outside the EU must prove that they are not infected with HIV before the permit is issued. However, this provision does not apply to diplomatic personnel or high-level corporate employees.
Central and Eastern Europe
Russia does not require an HIV test for short-term tourist stays (up to three months), but expats found to be HIV positive will be expelled from the country. If you are staying for more than three months or are on a multiple entry visa, you must present a negative HIV test result.
“Travel restrictions for people with HIV are complex and vary from country to country.”
Bosnia and Azerbaijan have restrictions on long-term stays, while Slovakia requires people applying for temporary residence permits from outside the EU to prove they are HIV-free before they can be issued.
Hungary requires you to report your HIV status when applying for a residence permit. However, being HIV positive cannot be used as a reason to deny a license application.
Central Asia
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan all have restrictions on long-term stays, but the rules are unclear or inconclusive. Please contact your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
east asia
There are usually no restrictions on entry or short-term stay for people with HIV when traveling to East Asia.
China used to ban people with HIV from short-term stays, but it no longer does. However, the website www.hivtravel.org recommends not declaring your status on your visa application. It also advises people to be wary of voluntary status declarations, such as wearing a red ribbon. An HIV test is required for work and study visa applications for longer than six months. However, Hong Kong and Macau have separate entry and visa regulations that are not restrictive.
The only country in East Asia that deports people based on their HIV status is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
South and Southeast Asia
There are generally few entry and short-term restrictions on entry and short-term stay for people with HIV who travel to South and Southeast Asia.
However, people with HIV will not be allowed to enter Brunei and may be deported if they are found to be HIV positive. In Bhutan, if you are staying for more than two weeks, you must present the results of an HIV test taken within the six months prior to your visit. Those who test positive could be deported.
There are restrictions on long-term stays in the Maldives, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Regulations in Malaysia and Sri Lanka are unclear or inconclusive. Please contact your respective embassy for guidance before traveling.
Oceania
There are usually no restrictions on entry or short-term stay for people living with HIV when traveling to Oceania. The exceptions are the Solomon Islands, where entry may be denied based on HIV status, and the Marshall Islands, which requires HIV testing for temporary visitors staying for more than 30 days.
Australia requires all long-term visa applicants aged 15 and over to undergo an HIV test. HIV testing may also be done if the child is under 15 years of age, has a history of blood transfusions, has a mother with HIV, or has medical signs that may indicate HIV infection. there is.
Long-term visa applicants with long-term health conditions, including HIV, will be considered based on their cost to the Australian healthcare system. Information on this can be found on the Australian Government website.
In New Zealand, people with HIV are assessed on a ‘case by case’ basis. If you are living with HIV and are in a “long-term, stable relationship” with a New Zealand citizen, you will automatically be granted a medical exemption. This means your girlfriend’s HIV status will not be considered as part of the visa or residence permit application.
The following countries also have long-term stay restrictions: Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Solomon Islands.
In the Solomon Islands and Tonga, regulations are unclear or inconclusive. For French Polynesia and Kiribati, there is no information regarding travel restrictions related to HIV status. Please contact your respective embassy for instructions before traveling.
Can I travel to countries with entry restrictions?
If a person with HIV travels to a country with entry restrictions, they may be refused entry or may be deported. Some countries offer exemptions that allow visits in certain circumstances, such as traveling to visit family, but they can be difficult to obtain.
Travel restrictions for people with HIV can change quickly and should be checked before traveling. In countries where restrictions have recently changed, you should be especially careful when discussing your girlfriend’s HIV status.
If you are living with HIV, you may have traveled to a country that has a travel ban in place. In this case, it is important to know that even if the travel ban is lifted, there is still a risk of being deported. This may occur if there is evidence that you entered the country knowing your girlfriend’s HIV status. In this case, you may be deported as a violation of the law.
Can I travel with my PrEP medication?
I am not aware of any country that bans travel for people with PrEP. However, most countries limit the amount of prescription drugs you can bring with you on your trip. You can usually take as much medication as you need for a stay of up to three months. However, some countries have stricter rules, so you should always check the rules where you are traveling to and departing from. It is usually recommended that you bring your prescription with you.
Traveling with PrEP can cause problems if your country has entry restrictions for people with HIV. This is because customs officials may think the drug is a treatment for HIV. In extreme cases, you may be deported (deported). A letter from your doctor explaining that PrEP is HIV prevention may be helpful.
Other useful information
When you contact an embassy or consulate to inquire about travel restrictions, you can keep your name and HIV status anonymous. For information about the British Overseas Territories, a good place to start is the Foreign Office’s website.
It may be helpful to contact the HIV organization in the country you are traveling to for information.
More information about access to HIV services and medicines in some countries in Europe and Central Asia can be found on the Stay on ART website.
The following pages may also be helpful.
