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 in Australia, I have multiple sclerosis & wish to marry my fiancé in the Usa.. He is ex military and once married i will be on his health cover. At present we are applying for the K1 fiancé visa.
Do you think this will be denied?
Hi Amanda,
Please see the links on this question above. As Lisa says, your fiance being positive won’t be a reason why your visa will be rejected.
Hi i want to leave South Africa
My fiance is HIV positive
Will it be a problem with his status
I want to go to Australia or New Zeland
Hi Karen,
You being positive won’t be a reason why your visa will be rejected.
I am looking to move to Australia to live with my husband and I’m HIV positive, on medication with undetectable viral load for some time and living a healthy lifestyle. Will my application for visa be accepted?
Hi Jeeva,
Yes you can work on Switzerland, you having HIV won’t be a reason why a work permit would be refused.
Hi
I’m from India , I would like to work in Switzerland..but I have HIV.., Can I get work permit ?
Hi Thiru,
Please see the above post. With regards to the process, please contact your local Australian embassy.
Hi
I’m HIV+ , I wish to work in Australia.. Is it possible?.. May I know the more details ?
Hi Drew,
In the UK where meds are free, its common that people will be given 6 months worth of meds twice a year, if not once a year depending on the individuals circumstances. Therefore, it is very possible to get access to meds that will cover a person for a year.
This may vary in other countries, and if it does then this is something that a patient may need to talk to their consultant about as well as their insurance company.
As to it not being medically appropriate, what’s inappropriate is HIV causing a person more problems than it may already do, as well as disrupting a persons life when it doesn’t need too.