Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening for Long-Term Visa applicants in Belarus
From 1 April 2014 most visa applicants coming to the UK for more than six months need to demonstrate they are free from Tuberculosis (TB).
This will not affect tourist and business visitors; only those who apply for longer term visas which allow the holder to remain in the UK for more than six months.
The introduction of TB testing to Belarus follows the UK Government’s announcement in May 2012 that it would be extending this requirement based on the figures for high TB incidence provided by the World Health Organisation. This brings the UK into line with the practice of a number of other countries including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Pre-entry TB screening is not required for those going to the UK as a tourist or other type of visitor visa. This includes those people applying for two, five and 10 year visitor visas who will not need to produce a TB screening certificate because the maximum stay in the UK at any one time is still six months. It is also not required for anyone applying to go to the UK as the dependent of a European Economic Area (EEA) national or those undertaking diplomatic postings.
It will be required for all individuals in Belarus who are applying for a UK visa which is longer than six months, including those applying for a Tier 4 student visa and student visitors seeking to go to the UK for six to 11 months to learn English. TB certificate is also required for anyone who applies for a visa for over six months’ validity regardless if the actual intention is to remain less time. All children applying in eligible categories must also be screened.
Please note, it will be required for those applying for a fiancé(e) settlement visa as applicants in this category must demonstrate their intention to remain in the UK for longer than six months.
The process will require individuals to be screened and obtain a certificate from the approved screening provider in Minsk to show that they are free of TB before they make a UK visa application. They will then need to include the TB certificate with their visa application.
Applicants who require pre-entry TB screening should contact the approved clinic in Minsk to schedule an appointment for screening. A fee for the screening will be payable directly to the clinic. More details are available from the UK Visa & Immigration pages.
IOM Minsk
3 Pereulok Gorny,
Minsk 220005,
Belarus
Tel: +375 17 288 25 41; +375 17 288 25 42; +375 17 288 27 42