Question
Are there HIV positive restrictions on travel to Dubai, Malaysia or Hong Kong?
2 November 2024. Related: All topics, Living with HIV long-term.
I’m visiting Dubai, Malaysia and Hong Kong and I am wondering if it is safe to take my HIV medication with me?
I’m worried about being refused entry into one of these countries, should they find the pills in my suitcase.
Thanks
Answer
Hi there
i-Base is a treatment information service and I am sorry we don’t have detailed information about travel and visa’s.
Please see this website for these details on each country:
www.hivtravel.org
You should also be able to get an official answer on entry restrictions to any country from their embassy or consulate. This should also be on their web site.
If you are calling by phone, it is best not to give your name or say you are HIV positive.
Informal advice is that in practice, many people travel with their meds and hope everything will be ok. Airport transfers through countries with restriction might be ok.
It can sometimes help to travel with a letter from your doctor. This can say you are receiving medical care in the UK but not mentioning HIV. The letter should say that you are fit to travel. This might help if you are unlucky and get stopped by a customs officer.
Some people decide on principle not to visit a country that discriminates again HIV.
Others decide they won’t let HIV stop them from doing everything they want in life. They decide that the relatively low risk of being questioned about meds is something they balance with the chance to travel and see the world.
Things can change over time. Both the US and China had entry bans against people living with HIV. Both countries later changed these policies and now allow us to visit.
Even before these changes though, many people still visited these countries. They travelled with their meds, and were lucky, without any problems.
This question was updated in November 2024 from an original post in May 2009.
Hello Atahualpa and thanks you for the question.
We are not specialised in travel so I can’t answer with certainty.
Please check this site for more information: https://www.positivedestinations.info/
Hello i am going to travel to egypt with my ARVs medicines. I have tablets only for 6 days and a letter from my doctor. It s ok to pass without problems?
Hello Jerry and thanks for getting in touch.
I would take a few more days medication with me, not the exact number.
For more information please check here: https://www.hivtravel.org/
You can always talk to the embassy and confirm what is the appropriate way to travel to Egypt without any problems
Hello, I am gonna travel to Egypt from Greece next month. I’ ll stay only six days, I will carry only six tablets of my HIV medicines. I’ ll also have letter from my doctor without mention my HIV status. What is your opinion?
Hi Prajwal, thanks, please see this updated answer to the original post:
https://i-base.info/qa/820
Hello,
I want to travel to Dubai for tourism for 10 days. Can I take my ART medicines along ? Will there be any check during the immigration ?
Hi Sweet, as mentioned in the stem of the main post it can be difficult to travel to the country you have mentioned.
If found to be HIV positive it will lead to detention and deportation from the UAE.
Some people will use different medication packets to hide what the medication is for e.g., in vitamin bottles. This is a risk you need to determine for yourself. Other options are listed in the main answer.
Given that the UAE is not known for hospitality towards people living with HIV, unfortautnely there is not a better answer on if you can or can’t visit.