Entry restrictions

Many others are considering emigrating or working abroad that may not have considered this before.

Very few countries now ban tourist travel (usually considered to be a stay of under 30 days) for people with HIV; however Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are just three examples of countries where even a tourist stay can be problematic.

A larger number of countries do have HIV entry restrictions for people on longer stays, especially when residency and work permits are involved. If you are planning to emigrate to a country, you are strongly advised to check whether HIV will be problematic in any way.

The World Health Organization does not endorse these restrictions, often introduced during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, and their effectiveness in reducing the spread of HIV internationally has been challenged repeatedly. The USA and China both dropped their HIV travel restrictions in 2010.

Countries such as Russia and Hungary still have residency restrictions along with many Middle Eastern countries. People can be tested involuntarily in some countries then detained in prison and deported. If you are unsure of your HIV status it is advisable to be tested before considering moving to a country with such restrictions.

Be warned that some countries restrict the carrying of HIV medication even when they have no specific restrictions for HIV positive individuals. See Travelling with medication for further details.

You are advised to research any destination in advance just to be sure.

You can check whether a country has entry restrictions for HIV by contacting your local embassy, consulate or High Commission. However some countries do have conflicting information on HIV restrictions, such as the Republic of Korea, and you may have to wait for a response on an individual basis.

You may have reservations about revealing your HIV status to a foreign embassy or consulate and you may want to consider whether to give your name and other details when making the enquiry. THT Direct can help.

The Global Database on HIV Travel website is considered a reliable and frequently updated resource listing entry restrictions for people with HIV, published in several European languages.

If you do decide to visit a country with entry restrictions, think through the consequences of your HIV status possibly being discovered on arrival. This can happen through discovery of medication, correspondence, HIV literature or doctor’s letters that you may be carrying. Lesbian and gay publications can also arouse suspicion in certain countries, as can haemophilia. You may be refused entry and deported.

Ensuring this is all checked in advance should make for a much more relaxed and enjoyable trip.