Resources
A searchable online library of policy and advocacy documents about travelling or relocating with HIV.
Immigration and Travel to Canada for People Living with HIV – Questions and Answers
In general, people living with HIV are allowed to travel and migrate to Canada. However, in certain circumstances, HIV status is a factor considered by the Government of Canada to decide if a person can enter or remain in Canada. This Q&A provides information on how Canadian immigration law and policy affect people living with HIV who wish to visit or live in Canada.
This guide is also available in Spanish
This Q&A describes Canadian immigration law and policy as of July 2023. From time to time, changes are made to the laws and regulations, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues new directives to immigration officers. Immigration officers are allowed some discretion, which they may or may not use to the advantage of an applicant. Officers may also make mistakes in applying laws, regulations, and policies. In other words, the law may be applied unevenly, which could have a positive or negative effect on an application. Therefore, an application to enter or stay in Canada may not proceed precisely according to the procedures described in this Q&A. Please seek legal advice as appropriate (see the “Getting legal advice” section on page 12).
Know your rights: Accessing healthcare without permanence residence or citizenship in Canada
This guide provides essential information on accessing healthcare and HIV medication in Canada, particularly for individuals who might face barriers due to their immigration or insurance status. It explains Canada’s universal healthcare system, who is eligible for public healthcare, and options like the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) for refugees and other groups. The guide also covers alternative ways to access healthcare and medication for those without insurance, discusses the possibility of bringing medication from one's home country, and addresses concerns about how accessing healthcare might affect immigration status.
The guide is also available in French
Stigma trajectories, disclosure, access to care, and peer-based supports among African, Caribbean, and Black im/migrant women living with HIV in Canada: findings from a cohort of women living with HIV in Metro Vancouver, Canada
African, Caribbean, and Black im/migrant women experience a disproportionate burden of HIV relative to people born in Canada, yet there is scarce empirical evidence about the social and structural barriers that influence access to HIV care. The objectives of this study is to estimate associations between African, Caribbean, and Black background and stigma and non-consensual HIV disclosure outcomes, and to understand how experiences of stigma and im/migration trajectories shape access to HIV care and peer supports among African, Caribbean, and Black im/migrant women living with HIV in Canada.
L’accès aux soins et aux traitements antirétroviraux pour les personnes vivant avec le VIH sans considérer le statut d’immigration : Vers une couverture sanitaire universelle au Québec
The aim of this report is to document the various barriers to care and treatment access, to highlight the service pathways used by people to gain access to healthcare, and to explore possible short- and long-term solutions to help people, to make the healthcare system fairer and to reduce inequalities. The report is in French.
