Question
Can I invite my HIV-positive partner to live with me in the UK?
9 June 2008. Related: Access to treatment, All topics.
Can I call over from abroad my HIV-positive partner to join me in the UK for permanent residence?
Answer
The UK does not put a ban on positive people, as long as they reside here legally. Also, although HIV testing is rare, I think that the UK reserves the right to include a health test, including HIV, if they think someone is travelling here who is not well.
There may also be differences depending on where your partner lives and whether you have a legally binding partnership. If you are married or are civil partners, then health issues like HIV-status may be fine, but if this is not a formally recognised relationship, then your partner’s HIV status could limit how easily they can enter the country, if this is something you disclose on the application form.
If your partner is a citizen of an EU country, he/she can come to the UK without a visa and this is much more straight-forward as EU citizens can travel freely between other EU countries.
If he/she is a citizen of a non-EU country, the process is more complicated. You will have to send him/her an invitation letter and go through the partnership visa procedure. It varies slightly by country, that is why you will have to check the exact documents necessary in the local British embassy.
If you are successful in your partners application to stay, according to the legislation, your partner will not legally be able to access HIV treatment for one year after arriving in the UK. Sometimes it is possible to be treated anyway, but this varies by hospital, region and other factors. If they are on treatment, then making sure that he/she has enough medications for that period may be important.
This is a specialist area and it might be useful to contact the National AIDS Trust (www.nat.org.uk) for their advice.
Best of luck!
Hi Jabu,
You being positive won’t be a problem with regards to working in the UK. You won’t even be asked about your status.
I just found out that I am HIV positive. In June next year I was planning to come to work in the UK. Will that be a problem? Will i be able to get my visa?
Hi Zoliswa,
People who are living with HIV are free to come to the UK. However, we do have very strict immigration rules, so getting a visa may be a problem if you’re from outside of the EU.
Hi,me and my partner we are HIV positive. We would love to come and work in the UK for a year, is it possible?
Hi Esther,
You being HIV positive isn’t a barrier to you coming to the UK. This is because we don’t ask people about their status. What may be an issue is getting a visa to come here.
Hi, I’m from Nigeria, and I’m HIV positive. My partner isn’t. He juts got his visa to the UK and asked me to come with him. Is this possible?
Hi Constance,
The UK does not restrict people who are HIV positive from entering into the UK, or living here. This is irrespective of where they are from, or if they are UK citizens. Therefore, if you choose to come to the UK then you can. If you are wanting immigration information you will need to get this from the embassy.
Good day, my partner is from the UK, but currently in south africa we are both planning on moving to the UK as that is where we want to build our lives, but we are both HIV positive, how will the whole thing work? Will he be allowed back to his country and what is going to happen to me as his partner?
Hi,
You can bring your medication with you, you will need a prescription, or note from your doctor or clinic. You HIV status or the fact you are bringing meds with you should have no impact on you immigrating. There are no restrictions on the entry or stay of people with HIV in the UK.
You can find more information here:
http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryCode=GB
I am from abroad – out side of the UK.
My question is can I bring my medication with me, it’s for HIV treatment ?
If yes will i have problems with immigration ?
Tell me in detail please how important for immigrant ?
Thanks