Bhutan
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Restrictions on entry limiting the entry of people living with HIV.
- Restrictions on short-term stays which in most cases is defined as under 90 days.
- Restrictions on long-term stays which in most cases is defined as over 90 days.
The types of restriction are:
- HIV testing/disclosure required for entry.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for work visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for study visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
Restrictions on entry to Bhutan
Sources are mixed on whether Bhutan imposes entry restrictions on people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS, Bhutan does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
However, the US Department of State highlights that Bhutanese officials can administer HIV tests upon arrival.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Bhutan
There is some evidence of some official restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV in Bhutan.
According to the US Department of State, for stays longer than two weeks, applicants must present the results of an HIV test completed within the six months prior to their visit.
While none of the forms available on the Bhutanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website include this testing as part of the documentation required to request a visa or permit, most of those lists add a note indicating that ‘the Department may ask for additional documents during assessment, if required.’
Restrictions on long-term stay in Bhutan
The same restrictions apply for long-term stays as outlined above.
Treatment access in Bhutan
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Bhutan. There is some evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Bhutan has offered free healthcare to its citizens since the 1970s, with over 30 hospitals spread across the country. While this guarantees basic treatment, issues like overworked doctors and lack of specialists mean that complex medical cases are often referred to India or Thailand. Expats and tourists are encouraged to have international private health insurance, as medical evacuations can be costly. The best healthcare facility in Bhutan is the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, offering free basic and emergency care for locals and foreigners alike.
HIV treatment and care services are primarily provided by government healthcare facilities, with support from international programs. The National HIV/AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NACP) collaborates with key organisations to expand access, including offering community-based HIV self-testing.
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Bhutan page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
