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.
Hey am planning to go to Dubai it am HIV can I go with my medicine
Hi Blessing,
Please see HIV Travel for Saudi Arabia. Residency and work permit applicants are required to undergo an HIV test.
As it says above, 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.
I need to travel to Saudi Arabia for 9 days will my HIV status an issue when applying for the visa
Hi Lungi,
Please see HIV Travel for United Arab Emirates (for Dubai). It says, Short-term tourist stays are possible but with some risk. HIV medication cannot be imported.
Hi
Me and my partner are planning to visit Dubai for 5 days .Will they ask about my HIV status .
Hi Pozzie,
Please see HIV Travel for United Arab Emirates (for Dubai). It says, Short-term tourist stays are possible but with some risk. HIV medication cannot be imported .
I’ve been to both Hong Kong and Malaysia several times with HIV Meds. Not sure about Dubai.
Dear Lisa.
I am grateful for your quick response on the travel restrictions to Malaysia. Be blessed.
Hi Lengwe,
Its ok to travel to Malaysia for a week, your status won’t be an issue.
Hi people. I always appreciate your advice on health issues that you provide on this website. Kindly advise on which diseases that Malaysia denies entry to travellers? Do those apply to short term like one week stay?