In general, a medical certificate is a medical doctor’s statement indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental health to travel to study abroad and is free of contagious diseases.
A medical certificate is a different document than a Medical History. Your country may also require an Apostille and the medical certificate is needed as part of that process. Be aware that the Medical Certificate may require a notary for the doctor’s signature, not the student or parent. So be prepared to find a mobile notary if necessary.
- This certification usually has to be within a specified time frame prior to your arrival in the host country.
- In general, they include:
- Precautionary tests for communicable and non-communicable diseases are becoming part of the visa process to ensure that applicants who may be infected are identified before they reach the port of entry.
- Medical test requirements vary depending on the criteria of the country whose visa you are seeking. In general, countries require a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests for infectious diseases. Chest X-ray and blood tests are not usually required for children under the age of 15.
- Each country imposes its own documentation fees. They can vary greatly from country to country. In some cases, the VISA may be temporary, and the student MUST present themselves at a specified government office upon arrival to obtain the permanent document. Failure to do this can result in expulsion from the country.