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.

277 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Joseph,

    You’re status shouldn’t be an issue, and you already have a work visa, therefore I see no reason why you can’t work on a ship. You will however need to check out their HR policies.

    i-base are UK based so we can’t help with regards to how you access medication in the UK, nor which shipping companies support access to ARVs.

  2. Joseph

    Hi! I am from South Africa. I was working in a Cruise Ship before. I found later that I am HIV+. I always take my Tablets, and I feel good. I want to apply for job in onother Cruise Ships in USA. Is it possible to go with my HIV Tablets? Or which ships provides medicals for treating HIV?. Please help. I still have the USA Visa whitch expired in 2020 November

  3. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Tina,

    Info about traveling when positive can be found here: http://www.hivtravel.org/

  4. Tina

    Hi
    I’m hiv and I really plan to travel Abroad which country can one really go

  5. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Sinamile,

    Your status won’t be an issue when applying for a visa in Germany.

  6. Sinamile

    Hi,I’m leaving with HIV positive,but I’m willing to work at Germany,can be a problem to apply for a visa

  7. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Hunt,

    As Lisa says on this Q&A, yes it’s okay for you to live and work here in the UK. You’ll be able to get free HIV treatment and monitoring.

    Please see HIV travel for details about Canada.

  8. Hunt

    Hi,
    I’m planning to migrate and work either in Canada or the UK. Will my status cause my visa application to be denied? If not, can I import my medication from my country? Or should I just get my medication locally? Many thanks.

  9. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Sakthivel,

    If you are trying to find a job outside India perhaps one place to start is to look at this website: http://www.hivtravel.org. Please see the info on restrictions for working in, or visiting, each country listed. I hope this helps.

  10. Sakthivel

    Hi I m HIV pesaint ,heavy vechle Volvo bus driver can I help yeny country wanted driver jop netive place India thamilnadu

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