Eritrea
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 Eritrea
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Eritrea based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Eritrea does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Visa forms are available on the website of the State of Eritrea in Washington DC. There is nothing in these documents required that suggest an HIV related restriction on entry.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate from selected countries is required.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Eritrea
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Eritrea based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Eritrea does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The visa forms linked above do not suggest any HIV related restrictions on short-term stay.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Eritrea
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Eritrea based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Eritrea does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
The visa forms linked above do not suggest any HIV related restrictions on long-term stay.
Proclamation No. 24/1992 issued to regulate the issuing of travel documents, entry and exit visas from Eritrea, and to control residence permits of foreigners in Eritrea, listed in its Chapter V – Residence In Eritrea, and the conditions to obtain a residence permit make no reference to HIV.
Anecdotal information shared by a user suggests that there is HIV testing for marriage certificates, however this does not impact travel rules. See the case studies section below.
Treatment access in Eritrea
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Eritrea. However, it is not clear whether non-nationals are able to access this treatment in the same way as nationals.
Eritrea’s healthcare system is primarily government-funded and organised under the Ministry of Health. Public health services are tiered, including primary healthcare facilities, district hospitals, regional hospitals, and one national referral hospital, located in the capital, Asmara. Services provided include basic preventive and curative care, maternal and child health, and treatment for common diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
However, specialised healthcare and advanced treatments are limited due to shortages in equipment, medicines, and healthcare personnel, particularly in rural and remote areas.
According to the Borgen Project, Eritrea’s Ministry of Health currently operates 135 voluntary counselling centres and 93 facilities offering antenatal care and PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) treatments. Additionally, blood screening is readily available across the country. Antiretroviral drugs are also provided in health facilities nationwide. Providing these centres across the country and not just concentrated in urban centres has helped eliminate obstacles to treatment.
HIV tests are performed in Eritrea before marriage, regardless of nationality of the couple, as outlined in this report. We have no information about the consequences of a positive test result.
Case Studies
HIV tests are performed in Eritrea before marriage, regardless of nationality of the couple.
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Eritrea 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 | N/A |
| 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.
