Kyrgyzstan
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Restrictions on short-term stays which in most cases is defined as under 90 days.
- 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 entry.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for work visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for study visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
- Ban on residence.
Restrictions on entry to Kyrgyzstan
Sources are mixed on whether Kyrgyzstan imposes entry restrictions on people living with HIV.
UNAIDS does not report any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
However, the US Department of State reports that some HIV restrictions exist for visitors and residents in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The official evisa website has a list of supporting documents that should be included with the visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
However, there are provisions in the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on External Migration (2000) that could be used to deny visa and residence status on the basis of health, but HIV is not directly mentioned.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Kyrgyzstan
We are aware of some official restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV in Kyrgyzstan.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, an HIV test is required for work permits. Additionally, UNAIDS reports that testing is required for study permits.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reports that an HIV test is required to apply for a work visa in Kyrgyzstan. It also highlights that the current law requires visitors staying more than one month on Kyrgyz territory to prove that they do not live with HIV.
According to the information available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among the documents for obtaining a work permit, applicants should submit ‘a medical certificate of a blood test for HIV – infection of an international standard (Republican AIDS Center in Bishkek, at: 8, Logvinenko Street, crosses Bokonbaev Street).’
Restrictions on long-term stay in Kyrgyzstan
We are aware of some official restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV in Kyrgyzstan.
According to UNAIDS, Kyrgyzstan requires HIV testing for residency permits (longer than 90 days) and denies these permits on the basis of HIV status.
Treatment access in Kyrgyzstan
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Kyrgyzstan. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Labour migrants and refugees in Kyrgyzstan can access free antiretroviral therapy and PrEP without needing special documentation. A passport or any identity document is sufficient. Migrants registered at AIDS centres in Kyrgyzstan can also receive ARV remotely. By communicating with their doctor, the necessary medications can be sent via postal service to any CIS country (Commonwealth of Independent States).
HIV-related services, including ARV and PrEP, are provided by AIDS Centers across Kyrgyzstan. To access these services, individuals need to visit the nearest clinic with a passport or identity document. An initial analysis, which costs around 230 soms (about 2.41 euros as of April 2024), is required before registration. Once registered, all future HIV services, including medications and analyses, will be free of charge.
In 2023, the Ministry of Health, Neman-Pharm, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered up to distribute free HIV self-testing kits. The kits are available in 32 pharmacies in Bishkek, Osh city, and across the Chui and Osh regions.
Information on AIDS centres is available here.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
People living with HIV are criminalised in Kyrgyzstan. There are HIV-specific criminal laws in force which target alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission. We are aware of reported prosecutions under these or other laws.
Visit the Kyrgyzstan 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.
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