India
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
Restrictions on entry to India
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to India based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, India does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
The India Online Portal for e-visas contains a list of supporting documents that should be included with a visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on short-term stay in India
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in India based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, India does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The website of the High Commision of India in London contains a list of supporting documents that should be included with a student visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on long-term stay in India
Sources are mixed on whether India imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
According to the US Department of State, disclosure of HIV status is required of anyone seeking a resident permit in India. Non-national residents found to be living with HIV will be deported.
We were not able to find evidence among the general information on visas and permits available on the website of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs that there is a requirement to disclose or test for HIV in the application process.
Historic regulations in India
In 2010, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs lifted all travel curbs against HIV-positive people.
The former regulations on student visas were repealed on September 29, 2002, by the Health and Family Welfare Minister Shatrughan Sinha, who said “foreigners, including students, do not have to undergo mandatory HIV testing in India.”
The Health and Family Welfare Minister Shatrughan Sinha is quoted as having said: “Experts were of the opinion that mandatory HIV testing of foreigners/foreign students is contrary to recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).”” The Times of India, November 27, 2010
Treatment access in India
We did not find any available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in India. However, a full list of treatment centres is available here.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the India 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.
