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!
Am positive and my boyfriend is negative. We want to move to the UK. Can I get your WhatsApp number so that when I reach there, I can be in touch with you guys to find out more about getting ARVs.
Hi John, thanks. Many nurses in the UK are HIV positive. People who are on effective ART with an undetectable viral load are able to do nearly any job. There are no very few exceptions.
Can a registered nurse recently discovered that he is a plhiv can apply to the uk?
(Just diagnosed in the middle east contract won’t be renewed)
Thank you so much
Hi Im From Malaysia, and im 20 years old, i diagnosed HIv positive on march 2021. if i want to apply job in UK is it possible? i taking medication in malaysia here, so can i apply for residence in UK? is it would be a matter? can explain to me clearly im so confused.
Hi Ravin,
Your status won’t be an issue- you won’t even be asked.
If you do move to the UK, please get in touch with us, we’ll be able to tell you how you can access ARVs.
Hi Mack,
Yes, positive people can marry negative people in the UK, this isn’t an issue. Being positive in the UK isn’t really an issue.
Like if l’m positive, am I allowed to get married to a negative man from a UK and we stay in England UK together?
Hi Pasupathi,
The following link provides info on where you can work and where it’s OK to be positive- https://www.hivtravel.org/
Hai I’m Pasupathi from tamilnadu. I’m 22 yrs old. In January 2020 I’m going to Dubai for work. But the medical test result is failed and my visa denied. After I’m come back my home in two days with lot of money loss and stress. Please tell me which countries allow to work? Any one get work visa in other countries with hiv treatment ?
Hi Siboe,
Being HIV positive does not stop you applying for a job in the UK. And if you’re resident in the UK, HIV treatment is free on the National Health Service.