Three things to sort before you fly: enough PrEP or HIV medication for the whole trip plus a buffer, a copy of your prescription, and knowledge of where local testing and PEP are available. Free NHS sexual health services do not follow you abroad, and PEP is time-critical — it needs starting within 72 hours, ideally much sooner. Sorting this takes one appointment before you travel.
- Take more medication than the trip length. Delays happen.
- Keep it in original packaging with the prescription or a clinic letter.
- A few countries restrict entry or medication imports — check before you fly.
- PEP works only if started within 72 hours. Know where to get it locally.
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What to sort before you go
| Item | Why | When to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Enough medication + buffer | Flight delays, lost bags, extended stays | Book the clinic appointment weeks ahead, not days |
| Prescription or clinic letter | Customs questions, replacing a lost supply | Ask at the same appointment |
| Original packaging | Loose pills in a bag invite questions | Pack it that way |
| Hand luggage, not hold | Lost bags are the most common failure | Always |
| Where local PEP and testing are | 72-hour window; you will not want to research it then | Ten minutes before you travel |
PrEP away from home
PrEP is available free on the NHS through sexual health services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Abroad, availability and cost vary widely — it is prescription-only in many countries and simply not routinely available in others.
Practical points:
- Take the whole trip’s supply plus several days. Do not plan to buy it there.
- If you take event-based dosing, plan around the timing of the trip rather than improvising on arrival — talk it through at the clinic beforehand.
- Time zones. Daily dosing across a several-hour shift is worth discussing with the clinic rather than guessing.
- Do not buy medication from unverified online sellers while abroad. Counterfeit supply is a genuine problem.
HIV medication and travel
The same supply rules apply, more strictly. In addition, a small number of countries maintain entry, residence or medication restrictions relating to HIV status. These are not always obvious and are worth checking specifically before booking rather than after.
Terrence Higgins Trust and your HIV clinic can advise on both supply and country-specific restrictions. The FCDO country page is the source for entry requirements generally.
PEP: the time-critical one
Post-exposure prophylaxis has to be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure, and works better the sooner it starts. That window is the reason to look up local provision before you need it, not after.
- In many European countries PEP is available through hospital emergency departments.
- It may not be free. Costs vary and this is a reason your travel insurance matters.
- If you return to the UK inside the window, NHS sexual health services and A&E can provide it — do not wait for a clinic appointment.
Testing on your return
Routine testing after a holiday is sensible regardless of what happened. In the UK, testing is free and confidential through sexual health clinics, and free postal self-test kits are widely available. Some infections have a window period, so a test taken the day you land may be too early — the clinic will advise on timing.
Our guides to sexual health for gay men in the UK, free STI testing and getting PrEP on the NHS cover the services in detail.
Other practical points
- Condoms. Availability and quality vary. Bringing your own is straightforward.
- Vaccination. Mpox and hepatitis A and B vaccination are relevant to some travel — ask the clinic at the same appointment.
- Alcohol and adherence. The most common real-world cause of a missed dose on holiday is a late night, not a customs official.
- Privacy. If you would rather not carry a clinic letter, a copy in email or a password manager solves both problems.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get PrEP abroad?
Sometimes, but do not rely on it. Availability and cost vary widely and it is prescription-only in many countries. Take the full trip’s supply plus a buffer from the UK.
How much medication should I take?
More than the trip length — a several-day buffer covers delays and lost luggage. Keep it in hand luggage, in original packaging, with a prescription or clinic letter.
What is PEP and how quickly do I need it?
Post-exposure prophylaxis, which can prevent HIV after a possible exposure. It must be started within 72 hours and works better the sooner it begins. In much of Europe it is available through hospital emergency departments.
Will customs ask about my medication?
Rarely, if it is in original packaging with a prescription. Loose pills in an unlabelled container are what causes questions.
Do any countries restrict travel with HIV?
A small number maintain entry, residence or medication restrictions. Check specifically before booking — your HIV clinic and Terrence Higgins Trust can advise, and the FCDO country page covers entry requirements.
Should I test after a holiday?
It is sensible regardless. UK testing is free and confidential, including free postal kits. Some infections have a window period, so ask the clinic about timing rather than testing the day you land.
Sources and further reading
- NHS — PrEP
- NHS — PEP
- Terrence Higgins Trust
- NHS — find a sexual health clinic
- FCDO — travel advice by country