From 2013, South Africans seeking visas for the United Kingdom for stays of longer than six months will need to undergo tuberculosis tests, Beeld newspaper reported on Saturday.
According to the UK Border Agency web site, this follows the UK government's announcement in May to introduce tuberculosis testing as a requirement of the visa application process for certain countries.
“South Africa is one of the 67 countries, who according to the World Health Organisation have a high incidence of tuberculosis.”
It said applicants who submit an online visa application form and pay the visa application fee online before 31 December 2012
would not need to take a tuberculosis test.
Beeld reported that this requirement also affects citizens of Swaziland and Lesotho.
Applicants would have to carry the costs of the tests, which involve x-rays to the chest. -Sapa