China - Regulations on Entry, Stay and Residence for PLHIV


Restriction categories relative to China

  • Countries with restrictions for long term stays (>90 days)
  • Countries deporting people with HIV

 
Entry regulations Residence regulations Additional information
No restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS for short-term and tourist stays. HIV test required for work and study visa applications of more than six months. Reports about denied work & residence permits and deportations.

HIV-specific entry and residence regulations for China

Editor’s note

  • If travelling to China on a tourist visa or short-term business trip: Do not declare your status on the visa application form. Historically, people declaring their status truthfully have been denied entry.
  • Be careful with voluntary status declaration (refrain from wearing red ribbon stickers, etc.).
  • In case of a long-term professional stay in China (longer than six months): Check the situation carefully. Until recently, a negative HIV status was mandatory for foreigners staying in China on long-term permits. Tests have also been performed in China and without consent of those concerned. A positive HIV test result led to immediate deportation, job loss and unemployment.
  • Check this page for status updates.
  • Hong Kong, Macao: Both cities have separate entry and visa regulations without restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS.

28 April 2010: The Government of China announced the lifting of entry restrictions against people with HIV/AIDS with immediate effect. The entry ban against people with leprosy and with sexually transmitted diseases was also lifted.

(Source 1)

For China visa categories D, X1, X2 & Z, the following is requested:

Holders of … Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits.

(Source 2)

 

HIV treatment information for China

 

 

HIV information / HIV NGOs in China

Updated information is available through the aidsmap search engine at http://www.aidsmap.com/e-atlas

 

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. China Daily, April 29, 2010; http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/29/content_9788598.htm  
  2. Embassy of China in Switzerland, visa requirements published Sep 8, 2017, http://ch.china-embassy.org, consulted July 6, 2018

 

updated: 7/6/2018
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