HIV/AIDS Living With Which Countries Restrict Travel to People With HIV? By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 13, 2021 Fact checked by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall Verywell Health's LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print It was only in 2009 that the United States finally lifted its 22-year ban on travelers with HIV, a law that prohibited all infected persons from obtaining tourist visas or permanent residence status. The order, initiated by George H.W. Bush in 2008, was officially signed into law by Barack Obama on October 30, 2009. Ian Mackenzie / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 While efforts are being made to end similar laws throughout the world, the Global Database on HIV-Specific Travel & Residence Restrictions (a joint European initiative published by the International AIDS Society) reports that s of 2019, 49 countries are known to have some entry regulations for people living with HIV. Of these, 14 are named as having laws that can (or potentially can) affect travelers visiting for 90 days or less. HIV Travel Restrictions in Practice It is important to note, however, that there is often a lack of clarity about these laws, with some either not addressing HIV directly (describing only "infectious disease" concerns) or not enforcing the laws all that stringently, if at all. As such, the assessments provided below are couched in terms that best reflect whether an action "will," "can" or "may" take place. Similarly, there is a lack of clarity about the import of antiretroviral drugs—whether the drugs are allowed for personal use; how much can be brought in if they are permitted; or if possession of such constitutes the right to deny entry. For these reasons, it is advised that you always speak with the consulate or embassy of any of the listed destinations if you plan to visit. Countries With Entry Restrictions for Both HIV-Positive Tourists and Other Visa Applicants Aruba Australia Azerbaidjan Bahrain Bhutan Brunei China Cuba Cyprus Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Equatorial Guinea Honduras Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Malaysia Marshall Islands Mauritius Montserrat New Zealand Nicaragua Oman Papua New Guinea Paraguay Qatar Russia Samoa Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Solomon Islands St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent and Grenadines Sudan Suriname Syria Tonga Tunisia Turks and Caicos Islands United Arab Emirates (UAE) Virgin Islands Yemen 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Preston J. Obama lifts a ban on entry into U.S. by H.I.V.-positive people. New York Times. The Global Database on HIV-Specific Travel & Residence Restrictions. Regulations on entry, stay and residence for plhiv. Additional Reading Sources: By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit