Burundi
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
Restrictions on entry to Burundi
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Burundi based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Burundi does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
While the Migration Law (Article 30) establishes as a condition for entry the production a medical certificate that the applicant is ‘free from any contagious or transmissible disease’, Article 38 narrows the diseases that are subject to refusal to those defined under international instruments, more precisely the International Health Regulations, which do not include HIV.
The government website does not provide details about documentation required for visa application, however it requires a compulsory vaccination against yellow fever.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Burundi
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Burundi based on HIV status.
Further information for various visa categories is available on the website of the General Commissariat for Migration (CGM).
Restrictions on long-term stay in Burundi
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Burundi based on HIV status.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation for Development provides a list of supporting documents that should be included with the residence visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Treatment access in Burundi
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Burundi. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Healthcare in Burundi can be limited. It is advisable for all travellers requiring specific medical attention to bring a sufficient stock of medicines for the duration of your stay and to take out repatriation and health insurance.
Regarding HIV treatment, Burundi has adopted a patient-focused decentralised system, with the development of community-based sites of ARV distribution. A comprehensive test and treat strategy is in place, ensuring that everyone diagnosed with HIV receives appropriate treatment. Burundi is among the few countries in West and Central Africa to have achieved the 95-95-95 targets set by UNAIDS.
Civil society organisations play a leading role in developing and implementing differentiated approaches to prevention, testing, treatment and care.
The ANSS Burundi has five centres throughout the country providing free ARV treatment and testing, PrEP and PEP. The ANSS Turiho centre in Bujumbura is also a reference centre for sexual and reproductive health issues. Its activities include screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer, as well as family planning advice.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
People living with HIV are criminalised in Burundi. There are HIV-specific criminal laws in force which target alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission. We are not aware of any reported prosecutions under these or other laws.
Visit the Burundi 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 |
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.