Travel
Overview
People living with HIV may face barriers when they seek to enter some countries as business and professional travellers, visitors or students. Some countries require individuals to disclose their HIV status prior to travelling, some place restrictions on either temporary or long-term visits by individuals living with HIV, while others may ban entry of people living with HIV.
For example, the US has placed travel restrictions on visitors living with HIV. This policy was reviewed in December 2007 and the US will be streamlining the process of issuing visa waivers for people living with HIV, who must still declare their HIV status to officials and apply for a visa in person at a US consulate or embassy in advance of their intended trip. In addition, China is planning to repeal immigration laws that currently ban HIV-positive visitors. As policies change, it is worth checking the information and advice you have is up to date before planning your trip.
Restrictive entry regulations targeting travellers living with HIV perpetuate and reinforce the stigma attached to living with HIV, and the National AIDS Trust believes these countries’ laws are discriminatory. For further information, click here.
Countries that ban or erect entry barriers for people living with HIV justify their policies as necessary to protect public health. Yet growing international opinion amongst experts in infectious disease and public health, including UNAIDS and the International Organisation of Migration, is that HIV should not be considered a condition that poses a threat to public health in relation to travel, because, although infectious, the virus cannot be transmitted by the mere presence of a person with HIV in a country or by casual contact.
Travel Advice
Given the above, being HIV-positive can mean that you need to make detailed plans before travelling. Below is some general information about how to find out whether a country bans or puts restrictions on entry for people living with HIV, and if so, how to begin dealing with these.
To find out if a country you are planning to visit has any entry restrictions for people living with HIV, click here.
The most reliable way of finding out if a country you want to visit has entry restrictions for people with HIV is to contact the embassy or consulate. If you do this, you should not reveal your name or the fact that you are HIV-positive to them. An HIV advocacy or support agency might also be willing to do this for you. You might also consider contacting an HIV service organisation in the country you are thinking of travelling to and enquire about entry restrictions.
When travelling to another country that has entry restrictions, you may be requested to disclose your HIV status in advance of travel or upon entry. Disclosing your status on official entry forms will probably mean that your condition is recorded on a central database that may be accessed by immigration officials in the future. This has clear privacy implications to consider carefully. However, if you choose not to disclose your HIV status on official forms that request you to do so, and your condition is discovered by officials, your ability to travel to that country in the future may be jeopardised.
If you are a citizen of an EU country, or have the right to live in an EU country, then there should be no restrictions on your admittance to another EU member state.
It is worth noting that even though you may receive free HIV care in the UK, this does not necessarily mean that you will be entitled to it in the country you are visiting. Therefore, you may want to bring additional supplies of medications with you for the duration of your visit. Some people send their medicine ahead of them, but this may be illegal and delays may mean you have no treatment during your trip. It is safest to carry your medication in your hand luggage, as this is less likely to get lost. However, if you are travelling with medication then this might be found if your luggage is searched. It might be helpful to have a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor saying you are taking the medicines you are carrying for a chronic medical condition.
If you are considering a long-term visit or permanent move to another country, make sure at a very early stage in your planning that your HIV status is not going to be a problem.
For further information and advice, click here.
Key Resources
*Quick Reference: Travel and Residence Regulations for People with HIV and AIDS
A 2005 guide, developed by German and Swiss advocates, for HIV-positive travellers that provides details of entry restrictions, by country, as well as travel advice.
* Aidsmap list of countries and their entry restrictions
A 2006 list by the National AIDS Manual, by country, of entry restrictions.
