Q and A

Question

Which countries that do not allow HIV positive people to visit?

Can you please name a few countries who do not allow hiv +ve people? What about Saudi Arabia ?

Answer

Further information on the legislation of the different countries is published at the following link:
https://www.hivtravel.org

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 with restrictive policies, for short trips, some HIV positive people still travel for holidays and business. The main complication comes if your meds are found by border control or immigration.

For this reason some people decide not to travel to countries that show this discrimination.

This Q&A was updated in 2021 from a post in May 2008.

271 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    HI Gilbert, unfortunately some countries and not positively responsive towards people living with HIV. As with all types of discrimination there is no basis for this to occur, spawning from misinformation and other societal factors. Hopefully over time the UAE will follow suit with the progression of acceptance for people living with HIV.

    It does not mean that the UAE is an HIV free country. They will treat home nationals and it is likely that other people living with HIV will not report their HIV status and continue to live in a country which is not welcoming to themselves.

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