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Tuberculosis

Some employees arriving in the Netherlands may need to undergo medical test for tuberculosis (TB). According to the conditions of the residence permit, if required the testing should be carried out by the relevant Gemeentelijke of Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst – GGD (municipal public health service) within 3 months of arrival in the Netherlands. Those required to undergo testing and haven’t done so within the specified time period will be notified by the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst – IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service).

Those exempt from testing meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant is a citizen of of one of the countries listed in the appendix ‘Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test’;
  • The applicant has a valid residence permit for the Netherlands;
  • The applicant was born in the Netherlands and have always lived here;
  • The applicant underwent a TB test in the Netherlands less than 6 months ago;
  • The applicant holds an European Union (EU) residence permit for long-term residency issued by another EU Member State or is a family member and was already admitted to another EU Member State as a family member of the long-term resident.

Adults are usually tested intially by an X-ray. The conditions for tuberculosis testing for children are different to those for adults:

 

X-ray

Skin test

Blood test

Children under 6 years

Yes

Compulsory

Compulsory when skin test is not available.

Children 6-12 years

No

Voluntary

Voluntary

Children 12 up to 18 years

No

Voluntary

Voluntary


Employers often assist employees in the tuberculosis testing process, their first point of contact in the Maastricht Region is the Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst – GGD (municipal public health service) in Roermond.