Answer

The two main countries are USA and Russia.

Russia, however, requires an HIV test only if you apply for a multiple entry visa or working visa, which is common for many countries. As for the USA, you can officially apply for a special visa if you are HIV-positive, but this can be a difficult and humiliating procedure. Approval is not guaranteed, and if they decline, your passport is stamped as such. Additionally, tourism or visiting relatives is not considered a valid reason for the visa.

Further information on the legislation of the different countries is published at the following link:

http://www.thebody.com/content/art31626.html

It is important to recognise that what countries have on paper is impossible to enforce in practice. Even when countries say that HIV is a bar to entry, and even if they maintain the right to test you, this very rarely happens unless they have a reason to think you are HIV-positive.

Even the US policy doesn’t stop thousands of HIV-postive people each year traveling for holidays and business.

It becomes more complicated if you are on treatment, as your meds could imply your status if they were found by border control or immigration.

For this reason some people:

•    post there meds before travelling,

•    ask US citizen who is a friend or relative to carry them (any US citizen can carry prescription meds),

•    take them in their luggage (recognising that bags are rarely checked and this isn’t a major security priority), or

•    take a treatment break (this should only be considered with your doctors advice. Stopping meds can lead to resistance if not timed correctly, and treatment interruptions are no longer routinely seen as an option for most people).

Answer: Svilen Konov