I am in this country on an Article 20 residence. I didn’t go to any country but now I want to renew my residency permit … is it compulsory to do a medical test.

Name withheld

Answer: First of all you have not mentioned your nationality but we would like to clear that expatriates from the following countries have to undergo medical exams every year.

In some cases exceptions are made and the exams done only on renewal of residence: Somalia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Eritrea, Senegal, Kenya, Chad, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritania, Benin, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Mauritius, Bhutan, Zaire, Guinea, Togo, Mali, Seychelles, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Malawi, Malta, Guinea-Bissau, Fiji, Cuba, Haiti, Zambia, Angola, Congo and Namibia.

In some cases, for some countries, the tests are only mandatory if a person visits his country and not otherwise. As you have not mentioned your nationality we can’t comment further on the issue. You are requested to check with the Immigration Department.