Question
Are there HIV positive restrictions on travel to Dubai, Malaysia or Hong Kong?
2 May 2009. 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
You can get an official answer on entry restrictions to any country by contacting the appropriate embassy or consulate, or visiting their web site. If you are calling by phone, it is best not to give your name or say you are HIV-positive.
In practice, most people travel with their meds, sometimes in vitamin jars, and hope everything will be ok.
It can sometimes help to travel with a letter from your doctor, saying you are receiving medical care in the UK (not mentioning HIV), but that you are fit to travel. This might help if you are unlucky and get stopped by a customs officer.
I’m sorry this answer isn’t ideal but this is going to be a personal choice.
Some people decide on principle never to visit any country that has unfair entry criteria (including the US when those restrictions were still in place). Others decide they won’t let HIV stop them from doing everything they want in life, and decide that the relatively low risk of being questioned about meds is an acceptable risk to see other parts of the world (including the US).
This community site about HIV and travel lists statutory entry requirements for for most countries, but only includes the strict legal situation. Also check the information is up-to-date before relying on it.
Things can change over time. For example this site did not encourage visiting China when this question was first posted but this has now changed. This is because the Chinese policy changed to drop the entry bar to HIV positive people.
Even before this though, in practice, many thousands of HIV positive people probably visited these countries each year as tourists, travelling with their meds, without any problems.
Can I travel UAE as a tourist carrying my HIV med pills
Hi Dinesh, please see links posted in the main answer to this question and the comments left in the stem.
Hi, I am planning to go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for travel & tourism!! Am I allowed to carry HIV medication with me? Am I first allowed to enter UAE as a tourist?? Kindly need help in understanding it!
Hi Fai, being HIV positive will not stop you being able to travel to Canada.
More information can be found here: https://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=39
I want to travel to Canada but iam HIV positive is it possible for to travel
Hi Lenoch, there are no restrictions/regulations for entering Turkey as a person living with HIV.
When carrying your medication with you it would be advised to carry a doctors note/prescription that details your treatment is for personal use.
More information can be found here: https://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=183
Please soon i’ll be in turkey for 7 days and am gonna take my 7 days HIV meds with me in my bag is there any problems ? And if they ask me should i tell them whats the meds for ? I am so sad and afraid for droping and losing my money for nothing
Hi Biba, there are no restrictions for people living with HIV entering Turkey. You are not required to test on arrival.
More information can be found here: https://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=183
Hey , iam an HIV+ and i want to travel to turkey next year but i saw that they dropted peaople who are positif of HIV is that true ? Please i want an answer and thank u
Hi Alex, only entering the country for 1 week will not require HIV testing. Carrying ART is not allowed even for personal use. You can try switching the bottle but this is no guarantee as there is some risk they will enquire about this. If you are found to be carrying ART you will be subject to the same discrimination as when tested positive and can face detention and deportation. This information is further explained here: https://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=189