Countries and their entry restrictions
Detailed below is information on individual countries' policies regarding entry for people with HIV. It is based upon information gathered by Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, and NAM would like to thank this organisation.
You can find more information about entry and residence regulations for people with HIV in English, French, German and Italian at www.hivtravel.org, an initiative of the Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, the European AIDS Treatment Group and the International AIDS Society.
Update January 2010: The US HIV travel ban has now ended - read story on aidsmap.com.
Afghanistan
There is currently no reliable information on restricted entry.
Albania
No restrictions.
Algeria
No restrictions for entry or residence. Returning nationals and army members have to undergo HIV testing.
Andorra
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays. No work or residency permits granted to people with HIV, hepatitis, cancer or diabetes. Restrictions apply to all foreigners, including EU citizens.
Angola
No restrictions for entry or residence.
Antigua and Barbuda
No restrictions for entry or residence.
Argentina
No restrictions for entry or residence.
Armenia
Although there are no restrictions on entry, foreigners in the country who are found to be HIV-positive may be deported.
Aruba
No known restrictions for entry or residence.
Australia
No restrictions for entry, but HIV tests required for foreign nationals over the age of 15 who wish to settle in Austalia. People with HIV wanting to immigrate permanently to Australia will have their case decided based on criterion used for all pre-existing conditions.
Austria
No restrictions for entry.
Azerbaijan
No restrictions for entry.
Bahamas
There are some entry restrictions for visitors to and foreign residents of the Bahamas, but immigration services do not always require testing for people staying less than 30 days. You should check with the embassy before travelling.
Bahrain
No restrictions for tourists, but pre-employment HIV tests for people applying for residence permits (the test must be done in Bahrain).
Bangladesh
No restrictions on entry, but deportation possible if a person if found to have HIV whilst in the country.
Barbados
No information is available, but no health checks are required on entry.
Belarus
No restriction for tourist visits of under three months. All persons staying longer than three months must produce evidence of their HIV status.
Belgium
No restrictions for entry.
Belize
No restrictions for entry or residence.
Benin
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays. HIV testing required for a long-term residence permit. Being HIV-positive does not rule out getting such a permit; the decision is made at the discretion of the officer dealing with the application.
Bolivia
No restrictions for entry or residence, but HIV tests required for intending immigrants.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
No entry restrictions for HIV-positive people.
Botswana
No restrictions for entry. HIV testing required from students beginning their studies.
Brazil
There are no entry restrictions for people living with HIV.
Brunei
No testing for short-term tourist stays, but people with HIV are not permitted entry. HIV tests are required for those seeking work and residence permits. Someone found to be HIV-positive will be deported.
Bulgaria
No restrictions for entry.
Burkina Faso
No restrictions for entry.
Burma (Myanmar)
No restrictions for entry.
Burundi
No restrictions for entry.
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
No restrictions for entry.
Cambodia
No restrictions for entry.
Cameroon
No restrictions for entry.
Canada
No restrictions for short-term tourist visits.
Mandatory HIV testing of all prospective immigrants occurs. With some exceptions, people found to be HIV-positive won't be granted a residence permit.
Central African Republic
No restrictions for entry.
Chad
No restrictions for entry.
Chile
No restrictions for entry.
China
On 28 April 2010, the Government of China announced that it was to lift the entry bar against people with HIV/AIDS with immediate effect. The entry ban against people with leprosy and with sexually transmitted diseases was also lifted. It is not yet known how the laws will be implemented.
Anyone travelling to China should check for updated information on www.hivtravel.org
The following information may also be of use:
- Historically, if travelling to China on a tourist visa or short-term business trip, people declaring a positive HIV status have been denied entry.
- In the case of a long-term professional stay in China, the current situation needs to be followed carefully. Until now, a negative HIV status was mandatory for foreigners staying in China on long-term permits. Tests have also been performed in China and without the consent of those concerned. A positive test result leads to immediate deportation, job loss and unemployment.
- Hong Kong, Macao: both cities have separate entry and visa regulations without restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS.
Colombia
No restrictions for entry.
Comores
No known HIV-specific restrictions for entry.
Congo (Brazzaville)
No restrictions for entry.
Congo (Kinshasa)
No restrictions for entry.
Costa Rica
No entry restrictions for short-term visits.
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
No restrictions for entry.
Croatia
No restrictions for entry.
Cuba
No restrictions for short-term visits. Students wishing to obtain a study grant for Cuba must undergo testing. HIV test required for foreign nationals who want to remain in Cuba longer than three months.
Cyprus
HIV status: no restrictions for short-term visits. HIV test required for residency, work and study. If the result of the examination is positive, no residence permit is granted. EU citizens, diplomatic personnel and high-ranking company employees are exempt from these regulations.
Czech Republic
No restrictions for entry.
Denmark
No restrictions for entry.
Djibouti
No restrictions for entry.
Dominican Republic
No restrictions for entry, but restrictions affecting long-term stays.
Ecuador
No restrictions for entry. Those applying for a long-term residency are normally requested to test for HIV.
Egypt
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays. HIV testing required for work and residence permit applications. No residence or work permit will be granted if test result is positive. Foreigners diagnosed with HIV while in the country are expelled.
El Salvador
No restrictions for entry.
Equatorial Guinea
Requires a Police Clearance Certificate for personal or tourist travel. An HIV test certificate may also be required, and HIV-positive status could lead to refusal of entry or deportation.
Eritrea
There is contradictory information on restricted entry. While some sources state that there are no specific entry or residence regulations, others say that HIV testing may be required upon entry. You should check with the embassy before travelling.
Estonia
No restrictions for entry.
Ethiopia
No restrictions for entry.
Fiji
No reliable information about entry for short-term visits. HIV tests required for visits lasting over six months.
Finland
No restrictions for entry.
France
No restrictions for entry.
Gabon
No restrictions for entry.
Gambia
No restrictions for entry.
Georgia
No restrictions for entry.
Germany
No restrictions for short-term visits. HIV tests required in Bavaria for stays lasting over 180 days.
Ghana
No restrictions for entry.
Greece
No entry restrictions. Sex workers wishing to work in Greece are the only group tested. If positive, a sex work permit will be refused, but free HIV treatment will be offered.
Guatemala
No restrictions for entry.
Guinea
No restrictions for entry.
Guinea Bissau
No restrictions for entry.
Guyana
No information currently available.
Haiti
Information is incomplete, but no HIV testing is required on entry.
Honduras
No restrictions for entry. There are special regulations for people wishing to settle.
Hong Kong
No restrictions for entry.
Hungary
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays. No HIV testing on entry. A number of conditions have to be reported to the authorities by foreigners seeking residence, including HIV. People with these conditions who are not getting treatment or complying with certain requirements can be expelled.
Iceland
No restrictions for entry.
India
No restrictions for entry.
Indonesia
No restrictions for entry.
Iran
No restrictions for tourism or business visits of under three months. Foreign nationals intending to work in Iran or to stay for more than three months must produce a negative HIV test certificate.
Iraq
HIV tests are required for those wishing to visit for more than ten days. It is unclear if a positive test would still lead to immediate deportation.
Ireland (The Republic of)
No restrictions for entry.
Israel
No restrictions for entry. Working migrants must have a health check, including an HIV test, and purchase health insurance.
Italy
No restrictions for entry.
Jamaica
No restrictions for entry.
Japan
No restrictions for entry.
Jordan
People with HIV/AIDS are not permitted to enter Jordan. Testing is mandatory when applying for a residency or work permit. People testing positive are deported.
Kazakhstan
No restrictions for short-term visits, but a negative HIV test required for work or residence permit (it may be necessary for the test to be done in Kazakhstan).
Kenya
No restrictions for entry.
Kiribati
There is currently no reliable information.
Korea (Democratic People’s Republic)
There is no legal provision regarding the entry of people with HIV. Not everybody is requested to present a medical certificate or a specific document of an AIDS examination when entering the country. However, if a person’s HIV-positive status becomes known, he/she is sent back to his/her country of origin. The reason given for this is the lack of experience with HIV and the lack of treatment options.
Korea (South)
Update: The South Korean government has announced that entry restrictions on the basis of HIV status have been lifted, effective from January 1st 2010. However, the situation is not currently clear. People with HIV are not permitted to enter the country. However, for a stay of up to three months, it is not mandatory to prove one’s HIV status (for those visitors who do not require a visa). There are controls at the border regarding the HIV status. If a person’s HIV-positive status becomes known, he/she is expelled.
Kosovo
No restrictions for entry.
Kuwait
No HIV testing is required for visitors or business travellers. The visa application for a long-term stay requires a doctor's certificate. In the case of an HIV infection, no visa is granted.
Kyrgyzstan
All foreigners excluding diplomats staying more than one month are required to provide evidence that they are HIV-negative, but i's not clear if this is actively enforced. You should check with the embassy before travelling.
Laos
No restrictions for entry.
Latvia
No restrictions for entry.
Lebanon
No restrictions for entry. However, it is recommended that people with HIV do not travel to Lebanon.
Lesotho
No restrictions for entry.
Liberia
No restrictions for entry.
Li bya
No restrictions for entry.
Liechtenstein
No restrictions for entry.
Lithuania
No restrictions for entry. No HIV testing on entry. The application form for residency requires applicants to declare if they have a disease that threatens public health. HIV is not regarded as such, so does not need to be mentioned. If an HIV-positive person indicates that they have a disease that threatens public health while filling in applications for residency it may create difficulties.
Luxemburg
No restrictions for entry.
Macedonia
No restrictions for entry.
Madagascar
No restrictions for entry.
Malawi
No restrictions for entry.
Malaysia
No restrictions for entry for short-term visits. Full medical check-up, including an HIV test, within one month of arrival and on a yearly basis required for people seeking residence. There are special provisions for some migrant workers.
Maldives
No restrictions for entry.
Mali
No restrictions for entry.
Malta
No restrictions for entry.
Marshall Islands
No restrictions for short-term visits, but HIV test may be required for visits over 30 days.
Mauritania
No restrictions for entry.
Mauritius
No restrictions for entry or short-term stays. People seeking employment have to prove their HIV-negative status.
Mexico
No restrictions for entry.
Micronesia
No restrictions for entry.
Moldavia
There appear to be no restrictions for short-term stays and no controls at the border. A test certificate is mandatory for stays beyond three months. If not performed in the country of origin, it has to be executed at a specialised institution within ten days after arrival.
Monaco
No restrictions for entry.
Moldavia
Foreign nationals who are HIV positive are not allowed to enter Moldavia. A medical certificate is required on entry, although tourists are exempt. In addition, foreign tourists need to pass a health exam conducted by the Moldavian Health Authorities. Such a certificate is also necessary if a foreign national wishes to get married in Moldavia. HIV testing is required of anybody wishing to stay longer than three months.
Mongolia
No information about short-term visits, but few problems anticipated. Tests required for longer visits or work, residence or study permits. It is not clear if the requirement is determined by the length or the purpose of the stay, or if the granting of the permit is dependent on HIV-negative status. There are laws allowing the deportation of people with HIV.
Montenegro
No restrictions for entry.
Montserrat
No restrictions for entry. Foreign nationals, including university students who are applying for or renewing work or residence permits, may have to produce a negative HIV certificate.
Morocco
No restrictions for entry.
Mozambique
No restrictions for entry.
Namibia
No restrictions for entry.
Nauru
There are no restrictions for short-term tourist stays (up to 90 days). Restrictions may be in place for longer-term stays. You will need to check with the Republic of Nauru Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Nepal
No restrictions for entry.
Netherlands
No restrictions for entry.
New Zealand
No restrictions for stays of up a year.
From early 2005, New Zealand started undertaking HIV screening for migrants. The full set of changes, including screening for HIV, and a wider and updated set of tests for other expensive-to-treat conditions, was implemented for people seeking to be in New Zealand for longer than twelve months.
Nicaragua
No restrictions for short-term stays. For stays of more than three months, the residence permit has to be extended by the immigration authorities. In this case, the presentation of a medical certificate is requested.
Extended residency will only exceptionally be granted to HIV-positive people.
Niger
No restrictions for entry (although this information cannot currently be confirmed), but HIV tests required for foreign nationals seeking to marry citizens of Niger.
Nigeria
No restrictions for entry.
Norway
No restrictions for entry. Persons who stay in Norway for longer than three months are offered a tuberculosis test and an HIV test, in order to arrange for any necessary treatment as quickly as possible.
Oman
No HIV test required for tourists. HIV tests required for work or residence permits. People whose HIV-positive status becomes known are deported.
Pakistan
No restrictions for entry, although this information cannot currently be confirmed.
Panama
No restrictions for short-term visits. The authorities still require a “certificate of good health” from people intending to stay in Panama for more than three months. This certificate can be issued to a person living with HIV.
Papua New Guinea
The situation is not entirely clear, but it seems that people with HIV are not allowed to enter the country. Those aged over 16 applying for entry permits will need to have an HIV test.
Paraguay
No restrictions for short-term visits. An HIV test, done locally, is required for residency. A permit will not be granted with a positive result unless the applicant can pay for their own treatment.
Peru
No entry restrictions. In some communities, those wishing to obtain a Peruvian marriage certificate are required to take an HIV test.
Philippines
No restrictions for entry.
Poland
No restrictions for short-term stays. Applications for long-term stays (three months and beyond) require medical testing for HIV/AIDS.
Portugal
No restrictions for entry.
Qatar
An HIV test is required for everybody intending to stay for more than one month. No HIV testing on entry. Medical-exam report required by the embassy from one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) approved clinics in the country of the person requesting a work visa. Those testing positive will be denied work visas and will be deported (exception: residents contracting HIV during residence).
Romania
No restrictions for entry.
Russia
no testing required for short-term tourist stays (up to three months). Multiple entry visa and stays of more than three months require a negative HIV test result. Foreign nationals found to be HIV-positive are deported. (Important: entry bar, short-term stay restrictions and deportations apply to students and work visas only.)
Rwanda
There are no restriction entries to people living with HIV. However, in the case of serious illness permission can be refused.
St Kitts and Nevis
There is contradictory information. There seem to be no restrictions for short-term stays, but restrictions for both visitors and foreign nationals seeking permanent residence can't be excluded. You should check with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis.
St Lucia
No restrictions for entry.
St Vincent and Grenadines
The information available is unclear. There appear to be no restrictions for short-term stays, there may be some for both visitors and foreign residents. You should check with the embassy before travelling.
Samoa
There is no information about short-term stay restrictions. There is possibly an HIV-test requirement for residency or work-permit applicants.
San Marino
No restrictions for entry.
São Tomé and Príncipe
There is no available information on restrictions.
Saudi Arabia
Very likely to be no problems for short-term visits, but negative HIV test results required for long-term work permits. Deportations of people diagnosed with HIV have been reported.
Senegal
No restrictions for entry.
Seychelles
No restrictions for entry.
Sierra Leone
No restrictions for entry.
Singapore
While no HIV test is required for tourist or business visa applications of up to 30 days, entry is denied to any foreigner found to be HIV-positive. HIV tests are mandatory for stays beyond 30 days. Singapore's immigration law lists people living with HIV as ’prohibited immigrants’. Foreign nationals with HIV are deported (with the exception of spouses of citizens).
Slovakia
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays of up to three months. Foreigners applying for a long-term stay (more than three months) must prove that they are not suffering from a communicable disease.
Slovenia
No restrictions for entry.
Solomon Islands
Entry can be denied if it becomes known that the person in question has an infectious disease. Deportation is possible.
Somalia
No restrictions for entry.
South Africa
No restrictions for entry.
Spain
No restrictions for entry. People suspected of having an infectious disease may be obliged to undergo a medical examination within the first three months after arrival (free of charge).
Sri Lanka
No specific entry regulations for people with HIV. No questions asked about HIV on entry. However, in cases in which an HIV infection is suspected, foreign nationals may be denied entry.
Sudan
Officially, people with HIV are not granted a visa and are not permitted to enter Sudan. A negative HIV test result must be presented at a Sudanese embassy or at Khartoum airport in order to obtain a visa. However, these regulations are unlikely to be carried out.
Suriname
Since 2008, citizens from countries in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, requiring a visa to enter Suriname, must present evidence of health and travel insurance, plus a health certificate stating the absence of leprosies, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis B, HIV and tuberculosis.
Swaziland
No restrictions for entry.
Sweden
No restrictions for entry.
Switzerland
No restrictions for entry.
Syria
No restrictions for short-term visits. HIV test required for individuals aged 15 to 50 who require a residence permit or to settle in Syria, including spouses of Syrian citizens.
Tadjikistan
No evidence of HIV testing to entry. HIV testing is required for stays of more than 90 days. Foreigners diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are no longer deported.
Taiwan
No short-term restrictions. An HIV test result must be presented by anyone wishing to stay longer than 90 days or applying for a residence or work permit; if the result is positive or if the person in question refuses to take the test, he/she is deported. Entry is denied to people with a known HIV infection.
Tanzania
No restrictions for entry.
Timor Leste (East Timor)
There is no information available.
Thailand
No restrictions for entry.
Togo
No restrictions for entry.
Tonga
No restrictions for short-term visits, but HIV test required for visits lasting six months or more. A residence permit is not granted in the case of a positive result.
Trinidad and Tobago
No restrictions for entry, although HIV testing cannot be ruled out for longer-term stays.
Tunisia
Information is unclear, but foreigners and students who intend to stay in the country for a long period are required to get tested for HIV.
Turkey
No restrictions for entry.
Turks and Caicos
No restrictions for short-term visits. All visitors of more than 30 days, or foreign nationals applying for work and residence permits, must have an HIV test on arrival.
Turkmenistan
No restrictions for short-term tourist stays. Any visa application for more than three months requires the presentation of a medical HIV certificate. A positive test result may lead to deportation.
Tuvalu
There is currently no reliable information.
Uganda
No restrictions for entry.
Ukraine
No restrictions for entry (a relatively recent change).
United Arab Emirates
HIV tests are required for entry, but short-term visits are possible (although with some risk) because there are no checks at borders. An HIV test (performed in the UAE) is required for residence. Residence is denied if the result is positive.
Uruguay
No restrictions for entry.
United Kingdom and Gibraltar
No restrictions for entry.
United States of America
No restrictions for entry.
The long-standing US HIV travel ban ended with effect from January 4th 2010.
Uzbekistan
According to the existing legal regulations, foreign nationals entering Uzbekistan are required to present an HIV test certificate if they intend to stay for more than three months. The testing is performed at the airport on entry. Uzbekistan law states that visitors carry a medical certificate attesting that they are not infected with HIV, but this requirement is sporadically enforced.
Vanuatu
There is currently no reliable information.
Venezuela
No restrictions for entry. Art. 32 of the law on foreigners (Ley de Extranjeros) partially prohibits the entry of "people carrying disease". As far as we know, although this measure could apply to HIV, it has never been applied to people with HIV.
Vietnam
No specific entry or residence restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS. The Vietnamese law requires HIV-positive people to report to the health control authorities on entry, but it seems this is rarely carried out in practice.
Virgin Islands
No restrictions for entry. Foreigners applying for residence may need to present a negative HIV test certificate (information available is contradictory).
Yemen
Entry will not be granted if the authorities are aware an individual is HIV-positive. Tourists staying less than three months are not tested on entry or during their stay. Residence or work-permit applicants need to undergo HIV-testing in order to receive their permits. The regulations target students, foreign employees, refugees and immigrants.
Zambia
No restrictions for entry.
Zimbabwe
No restrictions for entry.
