Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries
December 2006
An increasing number of countries require that foreigners be tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prior to entry. It is usually required as part of a medical exam for long-term visitors, i.e. students and workers. The following list of country requirements is based on information available as of December 2006 and is subject to change. Before traveling abroad, check with the embassy of the country to be visited to learn about entry requirements and specifically whether AIDS testing is a requirement. If the list indicates U.S. test results are acceptable and the word “Yes” appears with an asterisk beside it (Yes*) in a particular country, prospective travelers should inquire at the embassy of that country for details (e.g. which laboratories in the United States may perform tests and where to have results certified and authenticated) before departing the United States.
| Country | Test Required For | U.S. Test Accepted? |
| Algeria | Residency permit | No |
| Angola | All foreigners applying for work visas and resident permits. | Yes |
| Australia | All applicants (15 years of age or older) for permanent residence. Permanent applicants under 15 years of age must be tested if being adopted or has history of blood transfusions. Temporary applicants need to declare any illness/condition at time of interview. Any temporary applicant who is likely to come in contact with blood must be tested. | Yes* |
| Bahrain | All foreign citizens (workers, family, etc.) applying for residence permits must submit locally performed medical exams, including HIV tests. Anyone who tested positive is immediately deported. | No |
| Belarus | All persons staying longer than 3 months | Yes |
| Belize | Residency permit | No |
| Benin | Residency permit | No |
| British Virgin Isles | Residency permit | Yes |
| Brunei | Work permits | No |
| Bulgaria | All intending immigrants and foreigners staying longer than 1 month for the purpose of study or work. | Yes* |
| Canada | Routine HIV testing is required for all applicants who are 15 years of age and over and are seeking entry to Canada for a period longer than 6 months (I.e. students, workers, visitors, those applying for immigration and refugee status, etc.), and resided in a designated country for 6 consecutive months within a 12 month period immediately preceding entry into Canada. | Yes* |
| Central African Republic | Anyone seeking residence, work or student permits must submit to a medical exam (which includes an HIV test) | Yes |
| China, People's Republic of | Foreigners planning to stay for more than 6 months (not required for entry or residency in Hong Kong or Macau). Those who are HIV positive are not allowed into China for any purpose. | Yes* |
| Country | Test Required For | U.S. Test Accepted? |
| Colombia | Entry is prohibited for HIV positive individuals. HIV positive individuals should request a waiver from a Colombian Embassy. | No |
| Comoros | Foreigners planning to work | Yes |
| Cuba | Foreign students on scholarships | Yes* |
| Cyprus | All foreigners working or studying | No |
| Dominica | No HIV testing requirement for standard entry; students, intending immigrants and anyone seeking employment. | Yes |
| Dominican Republic | Foreigners planning to reside, study, or work | No |
| Egypt | All foreigners applying for work, study, or training permit and staying longer than 30 days in requires testing. Dependents are no longer exempt; testing is also a requirement for spouses and children aged 15 or older. | Yes* |
| Eritrea | May be required upon entry | N/A |
| Fiji | Persons staying longer than 6 months | Yes |
| Greece | Only persons arriving to work as legal prostitutes | Yes* |
| Hungary | Anyone staying over 1 year and all intending immigrants. Some employers may require workers to be tested. | No |
| India | All students over 18. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 with a visa valid for 1 year or more. Anyone extending length of stay to a year or more (excluding accredited journalists and those working in foreign missions). | Yes* |
| Iraq | Residency/exit permit | N/A |
| Israel | Legal foreign workers; Ministry of Interior reserves the right to deny entry to aliens claiming to be HIV positive. | N/A |
| Jordan | Anyone staying longer than 6 months | No |
| Kazakhstan | All visitors staying more then 1 month must present a certificate of an HIV test within 10 days of their arrival | Yes* |
| Korea, Republic of | Persons entering on an E-6 visa to be engaged in performance or entertainment activities at tourist hotels and entertainment places | No |
| Kuwait | Foreigners intending to work or reside (Anyone found to be HIV positive will be deported.) | Yes* |
| Lebanon | Persons intending to work and maids. | No |
| Lithuania | Residency permits (Migration Dept. reserves right to exclude foreigners who present a public health threat.) | Yes |
| Malaysia | Foreign workers (unskilled and semiskilled) undergo a full medical check up (includes HIV) within 1 month of arrival and on yearly basis. | No |
| Country | Test Required For | U.S. Test Accepted? |
| Marshall Islands, Republic of the | Applicants for residence. US Citizens are exempt from obtaining work permits, but may still require medical clearance (including HIV test) by the Immigration Division upon entry. | No |
| Mauritius | Foreigners planning to reside or work; testing performed upon arrival. | N/A |
| Moldova | Anyone staying more than 3 months | Yes* |
| Montserrat | University students and applicants for work and residency | No |
| Niger | Foreigners seeking to marry national of Niger | No |
| Oman | Residency permit | No |
| Palau | Anyone staying longer than 6 months | No |
| Paraguay | Applicants seeking temporary or permanent residency status. | No |
| Qatar | Applicants seeking residency and anyone staying longer than 30 days, including dependents. | No |
| Russia | Applicants applying for visas valid more than 3 months | Yes* |
| St. Vincent | No HIV testing required for visitors; HIV testing required for applicants seeking temporary and permanent residency visas | Yes |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | Residency permit | Yes |
| Samoa | Anyone applying for work, study or staying more than 12 months to submit a medical report, which may include an HIV test. | Yes* |
| Saudi Arabia | Residency/work permits | Yes* |
| Seychelles | Foreigners planning to work must undergo a medical exam, which includes an HIV test, upon arrival | No |
| Singapore | Employment passes, work permits and permanent resident status (except spouses and children of Singapore citizens) | No |
| Slovakia | Residency status (as part of a medical exam). | No |
| South Africa | All mine workers (irrespective of their positions) | Yes* |
| Syria | All foreigners (ages 15 to 60 years) staying more than 15 days | No* |
| Taiwan | Anyone staying over 90 days (Foreigners applying for residency/ work permit must be tested, at a public hospital in Taiwan within three months of application.) | No |
| Tajikistan | Anyone staying more than 90 days | Yes* |
| Tonga | Anyone staying longer than 6 months | No |
| Turkey | Any foreigner immigrating or applying for permanent residence | No |
| Turkmenistan | All foreigners staying longer than 3 months | No |
| Ukraine | All foreigners staying longer than 3 months | 30 days before arrival |
| Country | Test Required For | U.S. Test Accepted? |
| United Arab Emirates | Anyone applying for residence. Tests are done upon submission of visa applications. | No |
| United Kingdom | Anyone who does not appear to be in good health may be required to undergo a medical exam (including an HIV test) prior to being granted or denied entry | No |
| Uzbekistan | Anyone staying more than 15 days (long-term visitors must renew HIV certificate after the first 3 months in Uzbekistan and annually thereafter) Foreigners applying for permission to work are required to submit the certificate as proof that they are not HIV infected. | Yes* |
| Yemen | Applicants seeking permanent residence, students over age 16, all foreigners staying longer than one month and foreign spouses. | No |
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Testing Requirements for Entry into Foreign Countries