Singapore has lifted a two-decade ban on HIV-infected people from entering the country – but will limit their stay to a maximum of three months.

The Health Ministry said yesterday the ban was lifted “given the current context with more than 5,000 Singapore residents living with HIV and the availability of effective treatment for the disease.”

The three-month restriction is aimed at preventing long-term residence by foreigners, such as those seeking work or looking to accompany a child studying in Singapore.

“The policy on the repatriation and permanent blacklisting of HIV-positive foreigners was recommended in the late 1980s when the disease was new, fatal and no effective treatment was available,” a ministry spokesman said.

Countries such as Australia and New Zealand have similar restrictions

While a short-term visit “poses very low additional risk of HIV transmission to the local population,” the ban on a long-term one remains as “the public health risk posed by long-stayers is not insignificant,” the spokesman said.

Countries such as Australia and New Zealand have similar restrictions on long-term visitors with HIV.

Short-term visitors to Singapore have to obtain a Social Visit Pass that is valid for two to four weeks, and may subsequently be renewed for up to three months. Pass holders are not allowed to work in the city-state.

Roy Chan, the president of local voluntary group Action for Aids, said his organisation welcomed the move as a step toward a greater understanding and acceptance of HIV-infected persons.

According to latest health ministry figures, there were 6,685 HIV-infected Singapore residents in 2014, in a population of 5.3 million, of whom 1,737 have died.