UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

New TB Test for Ghana and Kenya

Saturday, 27 January 2007

From 5 February 2007, visa applicants in Ghana and Kenya applying for UK visas valid for stays longer than six months will need to provide with their visa application a certificate confirming that they are free from infectious tuberculosis (TB).

Visitors and those staying for six months or less will not need a medical certificate.

The following are exempted from the TB testing requirement:

- diplomatic passport holders and others exempt from UK immigration control

- children aged under 11 years old

- returning residents

Last November, medical experts asked the Government to declare TB a national disaster saying that more than 300 people die from the diseases daily.

A statement from the British High Commission says the move aims to stem the global spread of the disease.