Guidance

Tuberculosis testing in Côte d’Ivoire

Updated 5 October 2023

Your test must be from a clinic approved by the Home Office and you will need to obtain an IOM medical certificate confirming that you are free from TB. We will not accept a TB test certificate from a clinic we have not approved.

You do not need a certificate if you:

• are a diplomatic passport holder travelling on official business or on a posting to the UK
• qualify for an exempt visa
• are applying for a certificate of entitlement

Approved clinic

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Abidjan

OIM
2 Plateaux Vallon, Rue J107, Lot 1616
Cocody, Abidjan
Côte d’Ivoire

Telephone: +225 22 52 82 00

Mobile: +225 04 00 46 56

Email: IOMABIDJANMHD@iom.int

Website: https://www.iom.int/countries/cote-divoire

Online appointments: http://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register

Operating hours:

• Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4pm
• Friday, 8am to 1pm

Closed on national holidays.

Attending the clinic

You should contact the clinic to book an appointment at least 10 weeks before your travel to allow processing in case you may require further testing after the initial examination. You should make it clear that you need the test for a UK visa application.

You can expect to get an appointment within a few days of your request. At busy times you may have to wait 10 days for an appointment, especially during the UK student visa peak season between June to September.

Registration for TB screening takes place from 8:30am to 11:30am. Medical certificates are issued between 3pm and 4pm the day following the medical examination or as advised by the medical staff.

You’ll be given a chest x-rayto test for TB. If the result of the x-ray is not clear, you may also be asked to give a sputum sample (phlegm coughed up from your lungs).

If your test shows that you do not have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray. Include this certificate with your UK visa application.

If you would like an appointment with a female clinician, please ask the clinic when you schedule your appointment.

If you need to cancel your appointment, you should contact the clinic as soon as possible.

What should you bring with you

• proof of identification, which contains your photograph, such as your passport
• UNHCR/MHA registration documents if you are a refugee applicant
• 2 recent passport-size photos
• bank deposit slip
• if you have had TB in the past or have any other lung disease, details of your previous screening and, if possible, your medical notes and x-ray results

Test fees

11 years and above	Below 11 years
140 USD	60 USD

You will pay the IOM directly for the cost of your TB test. The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee.

The test fee does not cover treatment if you have TB.

Payment

Payment must be made in US dollars (USD) before the TB screening registration through bank deposit. Please provide proof of payment to the IOM office when reporting for your registration. You must pay the examination fee using the below bank details and obtain a deposit slip.

Name of the bank: CITIBANK
Branch: CI118
Account holder: 01001
Account number: 000112340009
B ban number: 06

Step-by-step procedures

• medical examinations are processed between Monday to Friday except on public holidays and UN recognised international holidays
• all visa applicants must attend the clinic for the assessment with all the required documents
• the initial examination will include a counselling session and signing a consent form
• applicants aged 10 and under will go through a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued
• applicants aged 11 and above will have a chest x-ray done; applicants will then be reviewed by the doctor with the chest x-ray result before a certificate is issued
• additional sputum smears and cultures medical procedures may apply in case of abnormal chest x-ray findings and could take up to 8 weeks to get the final results
• a TB clearance certificate will be issued to the applicant on the day of the examination if the examination result is considered free of active pulmonary TB disease
• if you do not return within 7 days for sputum collection, you will not get a TB clearance certificate
• you will be given further testing or told to contact your own health care provider if the examination results are abnormal but the abnormality is not related to TB disease
• the TB clearance certificate expires 6 months from the chest x-ray date if you had a chest x-ray done, or 6 months from the physical examination date if you don’t need a chest x-ray
• the TB clearance certificate is valid for 3 months if you have been in contact with a family member with active pulmonary TB
• female applicants may be requested to undergo a pregnancy test, in case there is uncertainty as to whether they may be pregnant
• pregnant applicants can decide not to get a chest x-ray examination and instead either give sputum for a TB test on 3 consecutive mornings or delay the TB screening until after giving birth

Read more information on TB screening requirements for people applying for a UK visa in countries where TB is common.