Czech Republic/Czechia
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
Restrictions on entry to Czech Republic/Czechia
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to the Czech Republic based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Czech Republic does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Czech Republic/Czechia
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in the Czech Republic based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Czech Republic does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contains a list of supporting documents that should be included with the visa application for short stays, including tourism, culture, scientific research and other purposes, and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
The Schengen visa application does not contain questions or fields in relation to any health condition or status.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Czech Republic/Czechia
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in the Czech Republic based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Czech Republic does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contains a list of supporting documents that should be included with a long stay application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Historic regulations in Czech Republic/Czechia
The Czech Republic announced in May 2009 that visa applicants from 10 countries must present an HIV test in order to enter the country. The new legislation applied to citizens from Congo, Kenya, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Vietnam. This discriminatory proposition was withdrawn after mass protest by the HIV community throughout Europe, including an open letter by the EATG. The administration quietly dropped the plan.
Treatment access in Czech Republic/Czechia
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in the Czech Republic. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
It is compulsory for everyone to have duly paid and valid health insurance. All citizens and EU residents participate in the public health insurance, as well as non-nationals with permanent residence, asylum-seekers, subsidiary protection holders and all other employed non-nationals. Those with other types of residence that are not employed have to have commercial health insurance with a private health insurance company.
Those from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland without permanent residence in the Czech Republic can join the Czech public health insurance system if they are employed by a company registered in the country or if they meet specific European regulations, such as being a dependent family member of someone insured in the system. Citizens of countries with which the Czech Republic has social security agreements that include health insurance are also eligible.
Those from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland without permanent residence in the Czech Republic can participate in public health insurance through employment or European regulations. This includes self-employed individuals working solely in the Czech Republic, dependent family members of EU citizens employed or receiving benefits in the country, and in some cases, economically inactive individuals who can prove their residence and centre of interest in the Czech Republic.
As of 1 January 2024, all non-nationals under the age of 18 who have a valid long-term residence permit are now covered by public health insurance. The cost of the insurance is paid by the child’s parents. More information is available here.
Regarding HIV care, there are eight AIDS Centres in the Czech Republic providing HIV treatment and care as well as PrEP and PEP. The National Institute of Public Health has set up a website specifically for migrants, available in several languages, providing information on HIV, testing centres and treatment centres: https://tadyted.com/.
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Czech Republic/Czechia 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 | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| 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 | Yes |
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.
