TB Test for UK Visa in Ghana: What to Know
If you are travelling to the UK from Ghana for more than six months, you may need to get tested for tuberculosis (TB) as part of your visa application process.
For more information regarding where to get yourself tested for TB in Ghana, what the costs are, how to book an appointment with your nearest testing centre, or what supporting documents you may need, speak with the Total Law immigration advisers today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.
Tuberculosis Testing Requirements for UK Visa in Ghana
Foreign nationals coming to the UK from certain listed countries for more than six months may need to get a pre-departure TB testing done before submitting their visa application. You will need to be tested for TB in Ghana if you:
- Have lived in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Niger or Togo for six months or more
- Were living there, or in any other country listed by the Home Office for this purpose, within the past six months
You must also get tested for TB if you are coming to the UK as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner on a family visa, or you are a returning resident and have been away from the UK for more than two years. You may, however, be exempted from the TB test requirement if any of the following applies:
- You are a diplomatic passport holder who is travelling on official business or on a posting to the UK
- You qualify for an exempt visa
- You are applying for a certificate of entitlement in the UK
Approved TB Test Centres for UK Visa in Ghana
The Migration Health Department of the UN migration agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), has been designated by the Home Office for conducting the TB screening of visa applicants and issuance of certificates as per the UK Department of Health Protocol.
You will have to get yourself tested for TB at a clinic in Ghana approved by the Home Office to obtain an IOM medical certificate confirming that you are free from the disease. The Home Office will not accept a TB test certificate from any clinic that is not pre-approved by them.
There are approved clinics in Accra and Kumasi in Ghana where you can have your TB screening for UK visa purposes. If you are from Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Niger or Togo, you will also need to be tested in Ghana since there are no approved clinics in those countries yet.
Here’s a list of the approved clinics in Ghana:
| Accra | Akai House Clinic |
| IOM Migration Health Assessment Center | |
| Wellnest Ghana Limited | |
| Kumasi | Wellnest Ghana Limited |
Procedure for Tuberculosis Testing for UK Visa
Please call whichever clinic is convenient for you in Ghana or visit them in person to book an appointment and inform them that you are getting the screening done for a UK visa application. It is advisable to book a test at least ten weeks before your planned travel date to give the clinic ample time in case you need further testing after the initial examination.
On the day of your appointment, please visit the clinic with the required documents. There will be an initial examination, including a counselling session, and you must sign a consent form. Next, your chest x-ray will be done if you are 11 or above to test for TB. For children under 11, a physician will conduct a medical examination instead.
You will receive a TB clearance certificate on the examination day if your test shows that you do not have TB. If the result of your x-ray is unclear, you may also need to undergo a sputum test (which may take up to eight weeks for testing).
Instead of an x-ray, pregnant applicants may decide either to give sputum for a TB test on three consecutive mornings or delay the TB screening until after giving birth.
Required Documents Needed for TB Test for UK Visa
You have to carry the following documents with you when attending your TB test appointment:
- A valid photo ID card and its photocopy
- Parent/guardian’s ID card if the applicant is a minor
- TB test fee or proof of payment
- UNHCR/MHA registration documents if you are applying as a refugee
- Your Ghana and UK addresses
Applicants with a history of TB or other lung disease must also provide details of their previous screening, medical notes and x-ray results. Do check with your clinic beforehand if they require any additional documents.
Cost of TB Test for UK Visa in Ghana
The Wellnest Ghana Limited clinic in both Ghana and Kumasi charges $120 per applicant aged 11 years and above and $50 for a child aged ten or less. The fees are $130 and $65 for the other clinics listed.
This is in addition to your UK visa processing fee from Ghana. If you are tested TB positive or decide later not to apply for a UK visa, you will not get a refund.
How Can Total Law Help?
Getting a TB test done is mandatory for all long-term UK visa applications if you are applying in Ghana. You will need to plan ahead just in case your chest x-ray result does not come clear and you need to undergo a sputum screening.
At Total Law, we have helped several UK visa applicants in Ghana with their TB screening procedure as part of their applications. If you are seeking overall advice on how to get tested for TB in Ghana or what documents you must carry with you on your appointment date (especially if you have had TB in the past or other infectious lung diseases), our expert immigration advisers will be happy to help you.
Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online to know more about our bespoke services and to discuss your case.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, all long-term UK visa applicants in Ghana, including children and the elderly, must get themselves tested for TB.
A TB test certificate in Ghana is valid for six months from the screening date or three months if you have been in touch with a family member with active pulmonary TB disease.
