When you're living with HIV you may face barriers when trying to enter some countries as a business or professional traveller, visitor or student. Some countries require you to disclose your HIV status before travelling, some place restrictions on either temporary or long-term visits, while others completely ban entry of people living with HIV.

Restrictive entry regulations targeting travellers living with HIV perpetuate and reinforce the stigma attached to living with HIV, and NAT believes these countries laws are discriminatory and we have been very vocal in our opposition. The International AIDS Society has further information about travel restrictions and discrimination.

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, the World Health Organisation and International Organisation for 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.

US situation

In January 2010 a 22 year old ban on allowing people with HIV into the US was lifted.  HIV positive people travelling to the US are no longer subjected to special entry restrictions.

NAT has long campaigned for the lifting of travel restrictions and are delighted by this move.  A recent NAT research study identified restrictions on travelling overseas as the biggest limitation faced at work by people living with HIV in the UK.  Read our report Working with HIV.  This decision will make an enormous difference to the lives of many HIV positive people.

Czech situation

From 1 June 2009, long-term Czech visa applicants from Congo, Kenya, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Vietnam are required to present health certificates which state they are not living with HIV. The European AIDS Treatment Group (ETAG), Global Network of people living with HIV (GNP+) and others including NAT are calling for these measures to be repealed.  Such measures are unacceptable and have no precedent in the EU.  Find out more from EATG.

 

Travel Advice

Given these restrictions, 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.

Find out if a country you are planning to visit has any entry restrictions for people living with HIV on this global database.

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 organisation which supports people living with HIV 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.

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.

Visit NAM for further information and advice about travelling with your HIV drugs.