Gabon

We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Gabon based on HIV status.

According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Gabon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.

According to the website of the Embassy of Gabon in Washington DC, a yellow fever vaccine is mandatory and a copy of the immunisation card/record should be provided. Exemption to this requires a letter/statement from a primary physician/medical provider.

According to Law n°5/86 of 18 June 1986 which sets conditions on entry and stay of foreigners in the Gabonese Republic, Article 25 establishes the requirements to enter Gabon to enter as a worker, and none of these include health requirements. Article 54 states that non-nationals who are considered to pose a risk to public health will be deported. However, there is no evidence that living with diseases such as HIV would qualify for deportation under this law.

We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Gabon based on HIV status.

According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Gabon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.

The information available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gabon provides a list of supporting documents that should be included with the visa application for stays up to three months, and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.

We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Gabon based on HIV status.

According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Gabon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.

According to the information available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gabon, for a stay of more than 90 days, applicants must go to the Direction Générale de la Documentation et de l’Immigration one month after their arrival in Gabon to apply for a residence permit.

Article 24 of Law n°5/86 of 18 June 1986 details the requirements to apply for a residency (defined as stays longer than three months in Article 17), and there are no requirements relating to health.

The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Gabon. There is some evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.

The country policy of free screening tests and free antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for all treatment lines, adopted in 2005, has been complemented by the adoption of the ‘test and treat’ policy, the decentralisation of care services and full care for HIV-positive pregnant women.

Non-nationals in Gabon can access HIV care, but generally, healthcare in Gabon for non-nationals requires payment unless covered by bilateral agreements or specific programmes. Refugees and asylum seekers, however, are entitled to the same medical health insurance as nationals, which includes access to HIV treatment.

HIV services, including antiretroviral treatment, are available through local health networks, and international organisations. The U.S. government plays a significant role in supporting Gabon’s HIV care infrastructure. The availability of antiretroviral medications has been bolstered by donations and government partnerships, making treatment more accessible despite the country’s ongoing challenges. 

However, undocumented migrants might face difficulties accessing healthcare services beyond emergency care unless they can pay the full cost.

Although the country has made significant progress in reducing HIV infection rates over the past decade, challenges remain, especially in ensuring comprehensive coverage across all regions.

• UNAIDS
• US Department of State
• Website of the Embassy of Gabon in Washington DC
• Law n°5/86 of 18 June 198
• Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gabon

Migrant populations

Refugees and asylum seekers