Switzerland - Regulations on Entry, Stay and Residence for PLHIV


Restriction category relative to Switzerland

  • Countries without restrictions

 
Entry regulations Residence regulations Additional information
No restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS. No HIV testing on entry. Complex access to health system for long-term stays

HIV-specific entry and residence regulations for Switzerland

Foreigners with a known HIV infection or who are living with AIDS are not subject to specific residence regulations.

Foreigners who come to work in Switzerland for the first time are subject to the regulations about sanitary measures at the border (...). No HIV testing is performed during this examination. EU and EFTA nationals are not subject to this medical examination anyway (the screening is mainly performed to recognise cases of tuberculosis). 

Applicants for asylum are not tested for HIV on entry either. However, the medical examination mentioned above is performed on them. 

(Source: 1)

Antiretroviral medication can be imported for personal use. It is recommended to carry a prescription.

(Source: 2)

Editor’s note: The information above is accurate as of June 22, 2021

 

HIV treatment information for Switzerland

Foreigners moving to Switzerland will be confronted with a rather complex health and social insurance system. Access to the basic insurance system is guaranteed by law, regardless of existing pre-conditions. The basic insurance basically covers anything a person living with HIV needs. What PLHIV need to consider:

There are specialised testing and treatment centres and regional AIDS service organisations all over the country. 
Addresses: https://aids.ch/en/what-we-do/advice/consulting-and-test-centres/

 

HIV information / HIV NGOs in Switzerland

 

Global Criminalisation of HIV Transmission Scan

The Global Criminalisation Scan is an initiative of GNP+. It aims to collect and keep up to date information on national and state level laws criminalising the transmission of or exposure to HIV. It also aims to provide an easily accessible ‘clearing-house’ of resources, research, and initiatives on the subject and to provide a platform for advocacy initiatives.

Find out more about the scan and the criminalisation of HIV transmission legislation at http://criminalisation.gnpplus.net/.

 

Sources

  1. Federal Department of Justice and Police; Federal Office for Immigration, Integration and Emigration, Berne, 12 January 2000
    confirmed by the Embassy of Germany, Berne, January 8, 2008
  2. Embassy of the Swiss Confederation, Berlin, February 4, 2008

 

updated: 6/22/2021
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