Travel Abroad
Entry restrictions
Health risks
Health Insurance
The Global database on HIV related restrictions
Entry restrictions
People living with HIV often face barriers when they seek to enter other countries as visitors, immigrants, refugees, or for business. Entry regulations are distinguished in special regulations for tourist visas (short-term stays) or for residence visas, student visas and work permits (long-term stays more than 90 days). These barriers are discriminatory, and perpetuate and reinforce the stigma already faced by people living with HIV. Many states that enforce entry restrictions for people with HIV justify their policies wrongly for the purpose of protecting public health and the public purse. But there is no public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status.
In addition, many governments that have HIV-related travel restrictions do not provide transparent and evidence-based rationales for why they maintain laws and policies restricting entry and residency on the basis of HIV-positive status and many still do not make information about these restrictions easily available so that travellers are forewarned.
There is not a problem visiting most countries for short visits of a few days or weeks, but there are some countries where it is more complicated.
The most reliable way of finding out if a country you want to visit restricts entry by people with HIV is to call the embassy or consulate. If you do this you should not reveal your name or the fact that you are HIV positive.
Health risks
You also need to consider any health risks that might be greater for you when visiting some countries, especially ones where there are tropical diseases. You should discuss this with your HIV Consultant.
Health Insurance
It is a very good idea to get travel insurance that covers you for an existing health condition. Most ordinary health insurance policies do not cover people for ongoing health conditions, including HIV. ACET can provide information about health insurance companies that provide insurance for existing health conditions.
The Global database on HIV related restrictions
This new database is an initiative of the German AIDS Federation, the European AIDS Treatment Group and the International AIDS Society. The Database provides updated information from 196 countries, on existing regulations denying entry or residency for people living with HIV, based on relevant country legislation. Wherever possible the database informs about the mechanisms used in practice, to support implementation and enforcement of HIV-related travel restrictions. It is the successor to earlier information provided on the European AIDS Treatment Group web site.
Up-to-date information can be found at www.hivtravel.org.
Last update 1st July 2011.