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.
Hi Sandy,
Info about traveling to the UAE can be found here: http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=189 It isn’t a very welcoming country for people who are positive.
Hi there
I am travelling to UAE in April 2019. I am HIV positive and I am medication. can I perhaps hide the medication on my check luggage or maybe mix with my blood pressure tablets. I have to visit my daughter . she is buying the tickets for me. I will be there foe 2 weeks only.
Hi Steve,
Are there any special circumstances you know about? Is there a problem because S was diagnsed while on a work medical there?
I wouldnt risk it.
Hi S,
If you’re not entering into the UAE then you won’t go through immigration, this means that your passport won’t be stamped. You’ll be in what’s called transit, so just changing planes. You shouldn’t be asked about your health at all as you won’t be entering into the country.
It’s just to swap planes but when I have done this before I still have to get my passport stamped and have been told the authorities have been notified about my circumstances. I just don’t want put in jail which is possible in such a backwards country. I’m hoping as I have a ticket for a connecting flight it won’t be a problem. I called the uae embassy in London and got no answer.
Hi S,
Are you just changing planes? If so you probably don’t need to enter the UAE. You could try calling the airline, anonymously perhaps.
I was diagnosed in Dubai on a work medical and was told the authorities would be notified and would no longer be allowed entry to uae. I’m wanting to go to Thailand and need to know if I’m allowed to transit through uae? I’m very nervous about being refused and embarrassed
Hi TT,
Yes you need to take your meds. You being in transit in Dubai won’t be an issue. Problems can happen when you enter into the country, which you aren’t doing.
Hi ther
am travelling tomoro evening 21st to thailand gonna connect in Dubai to go to Phuket then Thailand. ive been Living wt HIV for the past 9yrs on meds daily .must i take my meds along