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,
I from Malaysia and diagnosed with HIV. Now I under treatment here with high cd4. May I know, What is the prosuder for working and leaving in UK? Thanks.
Hi Mbali,
Please see the following link: http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=94
I’m from South Africa. Am I allowed to work in Japan as an English Teacher if I’m HIV positive?
Hi Sarah,
Yes its OK for you to live in the UK. Please see this Q&A for more info.
Can i work in uk even when am hiv positive?
Hi Shaun,
HIV treatment is free if you are resident in the UK. So your husband will be able to access HIV treatment when you are living in the UK.
Please bring an HIV treatment summary from the Chinese clinic with you. This will make it easier to make treatment decisions when you register at the UK clinic.
Hello,
My husband who is Chinese has HIV and we are both looking to move to the UK after us spending 10 years in China. We are legally married, would he be able to access treatment here in the UK. He currently has treatment here in China.
Hi Marcus,
Yes, as long as you reside here legally you can access HIV treatment.
Hi, I’m a positive UE citizen and I’d love to live in London, may I continue Tito my treatment there?
Thank u so much
Hi Gab,
If you are resident in the UK, you have access to HIV treatment.