Question
Can I get a work visa for Australia if I’m HIV positive?
27 February 2016. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Disclosure, Travel.
I am a psychiatric nurse and have been hiv positive since 2004. I am taking truvada and efivarenz.
In 2007 I was refused entry to New Zealand because they said my medication was expensive and truvada new on the market also being HIV my chances of hospitalization where high.
I want to try Australia, do they have same policy on hiv migrant workers?
Answer
Currently, as in almost every country of the world, foreigners applying for most types of Australian visas, excluding temporary visitor visas, require a health check. The certified results are a required part of their immigration documents.
The Australian government Department of Immigration and Citizenship also wrote :-
“If the applicant is found to be HIV positive, a decision on whether the applicant meets the health requirement will be made on the same grounds as any other pre-existing medical condition. The main factor to be taken into account is the cost of the condition to the Australian community of health care and community services. Standard pre and post-test counselling must be provided by the doctor who examined the applicant.”
This link helps demonstrate the criteria for gaining a visa for entry into Australia. While Australia does carry some restrictions, these are often not enforced and gaining a visa tends to end in positive outcomes for those who are HIV positive.
However, nursing is one of the professions where HIV might still be an issue. The restrictions on HIV positive people working as doctors, dentist and nurses were lifted in the UK so long as the person is on ART with an undetectable viral load. In other countries this might not be the case yet.
Perhaps contact an HIV organistation in Australia, such as NAPWA (www.napwa.org) in case they can help.
This answer was updated in January 2022 from a question first posted in November 2011.
I’m a health safety officer in an India oil and gas refinery. I have HIV. I want to work in Australia, is this possible?
Hi Kapil,
Australia’s HIV visa policy is discussed here:
http://www.hivrestrictions.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=23
If may also be worth contacting the Australian Embassy in New Delhi. When wanting to study for sometime its important to take into consideration how you will access medication and where you will get your care from.
Hello guys,
I want to apply for Australia student visa, and I m HIV positive, I m from India, so can anyone tell me right answer that can I get student visa for Australia because of my HIV status??? And HiV test will be for student visa? If they will found me that I m positive then they will refuse my visa?
Hi Aey,
The following sites provides info about where people living with HIV can travel to where they can move to:
http://www.hivrestrictions.org/
You may also want to try the Australian embassy.
Can I move to Australia for work? I’m HIV positive, on treatment and have an undetectable viral load.
Hi Bande,
What help is it exactly that you need?
I’m a poor Indian man, who is jobless. I’m HIV positive. I need your help.
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Hi Steeve. Thanks for your feedback and question.
i-Base only focus on treatment-related questions. It is best to contact an organisation in Australia (such as NAPWHA.org.au) to see whether their might be flexibility in HIV-related enquiries. Exceptions might be allowed but I haven’t heard of these.
Although you have been lucky enough to stay well off treatment for so long, most doctors and all guidelines are now much more cautious about just relying on CD4 count as a way to decide future risk of HIV complications. For the last 5-10 years there has been increasing concern about the risk from having detectable viral load – and a VL of 100,000 is an independent risk factor for complications. Given HIV treatment (ART) is now so much better and easier to take, it might be good to keep an open mind about discussing treatment with your doctor.
Physical fitness is not the whole picture. The concerns from ongoing high level of vial load include serious organ complications (heart, liver, kidney etc) and a higher risk of some cancers.
If your viral load was still undetectable without treatment, this might help your visa situation, but most Australian doctors are likely to suggest that even if you are not on treatment now, you are likely to need this in the future.
Hi, I’m HIV positive for more than 15 years. I do not accept treatment, I have an excellent test results CD4 530 and viral load 100,000 Excellent physical condition, working auto mechanic for 9.5 hours per day and an additional 1 hour every day I spend in the gym. I have a Belgian passport and a tourist, I do not need a special visa to travel to Australia. But to obtain a work visa requires an HIV test. What is the probability of failure? Is it possible to sign a paper that will not be eligible for treatment in Australia? That is, you will not be burdensome for the health care system?