Netherlands
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 Netherlands
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to the Netherlands based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Netherlands does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Nothing in the list of documents required to request a visa, available on the Immigration and Naturalisation Office website, suggests an HIV-related restriction on entry.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Netherlands
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay to the Netherlands based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Netherlands does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service of the Ministry of Justice and Security provides a list of requirements to apply for a work permit as a highly skilled migrant, and none of the documents required makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
However on the information website for Highly skilled migrant | IND there is a note providing guidance for a tuberculosis test that might be required by the employer.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Netherlands
It is unclear whether the Netherlands imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Netherlands does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
According to the Aliens Act 2000, ‘an application for a temporary residence permit as referred to in Article 14 may be rejected if: […] the alien is not prepared to cooperate in a medical examination for a disease designated by or pursuant to the Public Health Act , for the protection of public health, or to undergo medical treatment for such a disease.’
It is not clear whether HIV would qualify for medical examination.
Treatment access in Netherlands
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in the Netherlands. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
HIV Vereniging provides a guidance document on accessing Dutch healthcare as a non-national.
People on holiday in the Netherlands or who do not having a residence permit are dependent on a private travel insurance covering medical expenses or the healthcare insurance from your home country. Not all insurances cover HIV related costs for care, so check this before your visit to the Netherlands.
Legally speaking, you are always entitled to essential medical care according to the Health Insurance Act. This also applies to HIV care. Essential medical care is all medical care that the doctor considers essential and needed for the person’s well-being. and which is included in the basic health insurance package. Therefore HIV services must be provided if the doctor considers this as essential. By law everyone must pay for the medical care they receive.
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, is required by law to have a basic health insurance.
For access to HIV care, general practitioners can write a referral for you to make an appointment with a HIV department of a hospital in your local area. More information available here.
People living in asylum seekers’ centres or a COA location are collectively insured via the Asylum Seekers Medical Care Regulation and are entitled to the general healthcare services. HIV testing, care and treatment are covered.
Sexual health centres (SHCs) and general practitioners (GPs) are the main providers of tests for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV in the Netherlands. STI/HIV testing at SHCs is free of charge for high-risk groups (including ‘those who originate from an HIV/STI endemic area’) and HIV care is reimbursed through Dutch health insurance.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Netherlands 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.
