Philippines
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Restrictions on long-term stays which in most cases is defined as over 90 days.
The types of restriction are:
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
Restrictions on entry to Philippines
Official sources suggest there are no restrictions on entry to the Philippines based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Philippines does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Among the documents required to request a visa, available on the website of the Ministry of Interior, some visa categories include chest x-rays and a medical examination FA Form no. 11, which includes questions on ‘tuberculosis, venereal disease’ among other conditions.
However, the Republic Act 8504 Sec. 37 clarifies that: ‘nobody will be quarantined, isolated, denied entry to the Philippines or deported from the country due to a confirmed or suspected HIV infection.’
Restrictions on short-term stay in Philippines
It is unclear whether the Philippines imposes restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, the Philippines does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The non-immigrant visa application form does not contain fields regarding health.
Student visa requirements include a notarised medical certificate (FA Form no. 11), which includes questions on ‘tuberculosis, venereal disease’ among other conditions. It is not clear if HIV status should be disclosed under this law.
In terms of work, according to the ILO and IOM report, ‘mandatory HIV testing migrant workers South-East Asia’, mandatory HIV testing and discrimination in the workplace are banned by law in the Philippines. However, according to Human Rights Watch, ‘workers and employees in the Philippines living with HIV who suffer workplace discrimination often do not seek redress, Human Rights Watch said today. The Philippines has the fastest-growing HIV infection rate in the Asia-Pacific region. Workplace discrimination in the Philippines includes refusal to hire, unlawful firing, and forced resignation of people with HIV.’
Users of this site reported that teacher recruitment agencies require health checks including HIV tests. An HIV test is not essential for obtaining a work permit from the authorities.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Philippines
We are aware of some official restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV in the Philippines.
A non-quota immigrant visa may be granted to the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of Philippine citizens (13A) and to former Filipinos who have already acquired foreign citizenships including their spouse and unmarried minor children (13G). Requirements include a medical examination report which requires HIV testing.
The medical examination report includes specific questions on ‘AIDS’, which is defined alongside other viruses and conditions as a Class A disease.
Treatment access in Philippines
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in the Philippines. There is some evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
As of January 2023, there were about 180 treatment hubs and primary HIV care facilities in the Philippines. ART is dispensed only through these designated facilities and is not available from commercial pharmacies. While the national HIV program provides ART for free to PLHIV, other fees for medical care, such as consultation fees and laboratory tests, may be covered by the national health insurance.
People living with HIV can access ART and comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care services at the DOH-designated HIV Treatment hubs and Primary HIV Care Clinics. A list of treatment hubs is available here.
All non-nationals who are legal residents in the Philippines are required to sign up for public insurance with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Healthcare costs in the Philippines are generally affordable for most foreigners, but costs can vary. If you are employed by a Philippines employer, they will take care of the application process for you, and if you are filing voluntarily, you will likely be applying under the Informal Economy Member category. To register as such, see here.
IOM reports that while Filipinos are mandatorily covered under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act (2019), foreign nationals, have access to emergency Government-funded health services only if they take up voluntary membership in the national social health insurance benefits scheme of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Even if there is no legal basis for the coverage of foreign nationals under the UHC Act, the 2015 memorandum of understanding between PhilHealth and the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) allows some foreign nationals to enrol under the Informal Economy member category to gain access to medical care. As such, not all foreign nationals are entitled to the comprehensive benefit packages (such as laboratory tests) that are available for Filipinos, except for migrant workers who are formally employed.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Philippines 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 | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
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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.
