Japan
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 Japan
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Japan based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Japan does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
The website of the Japan Consulate in London has 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 Japan
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Japan based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Japan does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The website of the Japan Consulate in London has a list of supporting documents that should be included with a work visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Japan
We found no evidence of restrictions on long-term stay.
Treatment access in Japan
Antiretroviral medication can be carried for personal use. A ‘Yakkan Certificate’ is required, especially for quantities beyond a two month supply. Additional information (in Japanese only) is available here.
CHARM (Center for Health and Rights of Migrants), a citizen’s group that supports HIV-positive people and non-Japanese speakers, provides a very in-depth page on treatment access for foreigners in Japan, available here.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Japan 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 | 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.
