Guidance

Tuberculosis testing in Zimbabwe

Updated 1 October 2024

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 Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Harare Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC)
10 Duthie Road, Alexandra Park
Harare

Telephone:

• +263 086 8800 7618
• +263 086 7700 9828

Mobile: +263 772 125 094

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register/login.jsp

Online appointments:

• you can book your TB appointment online on the IOM website
• if you receive a “NULL” message, it means the appointment is invalid and you need to rebook
• to book an appointment for children aged 10 years and under, you will need to send a copy of their passport to the email address

Operating hours:

• Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm
• Friday, 8am to 1:30pm

Closed on national holidays.

Test fees

11 years and above	Below 11 years
165 USD	75 USD

You will pay the clinic directly for the cost of your TB test. The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee. Please contact the clinic for further information.

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

Payments must be made at least 2 days prior to your appointment date.

Payment

Payment must be made in the name of the visa applicant before the examination in US dollars (USD) as a cash deposit or bank transfer to:

Bank name: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited
Account name: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Account number: 9140006530167 (USD)
Branch: Minerva

Attending the clinic

You should contact the clinic to book an appointment and make it clear 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 July and October.

You’ll be given a chest x-ray to 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.

What you should bring with you

• original and valid passport as identification or Refugee Asylum Seeker card
• proof of payment of the TB test fee
• parents and guardians must bring their original photo identification when accompanying children under 18 years of age for screening
• UNHCR/MHA registration documents if you are a refugee applicant
• if you have had TB in the past or have any other lung disease, you should provide details of your previous screening and, if possible, your medical notes and x-ray results

Step-by-step procedures

• the medical examination will be processed on Monday to Friday except on public holidays and UN recognised international holidays

• all visa applicants must present themselves to the clinic for assessment with the required identification documents

• the initial examination will comprise a counselling session and signing of consent for all

• applicants below 11 years will undergo a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued

• applicants 11 years 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 may apply in case of abnormal chest x-ray findings and will take up to 8-10 weeks to get the final results

• a TB clearance certificate will be issued to the applicant if the examination result is considered free of active pulmonary TB disease

• if you fail to 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 for applicants who have had a chest x-ray done, or 6 months from the physical examination date for applicants who do not need a chest x-ray

• the above TB clearance certificate’s validity is 3 months for applicants who have been in contact with a family member with active pulmonary TB

• please note that female applicants of childbearing age may be requested to undergo a pregnancy test, in case there is uncertainty as to whether they maybe currently pregnant

• pregnant applicants can decide not to get a chest x-ray and instead either give sputum for TB testing done on 3 consecutive mornings or postpone 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.