Faster health check for Britons moving to France

A new simplified procedure is now in place for health checks of Britons moving to France, a senior official at the Ofii immigration service told The Connexion.

Non-EU citizens moving over, apart from exempt categories such as the passport talent visa for highly-qualified workers – are required to visit the local branch of Ofii for a medical check in the first year.

This includes non-EU retirees, and those on ordinary worker or self-employment visas.

Read also: French residency cards: Key terms to know (and understand)

The check typically includes:

• A general medical examination

• An X-ray of the lungs

• A verification of your vaccination status

• Blood glucose measurement, in some cases

• Urine analysis, in some cases

Now, to free up Ofii staff from extra work since Brexit, British citizens, specifically, are instead sent a form to fill in with their GP, which includes questions on issues such as tuberculosis and serious mental illness.

“It’s specifically for British people, so as to go faster,” the official said. “They weren’t affected before, but there are a lot of them, and it’s been creating more delays. Also, there is very little tuberculosis in the UK [one of the points checked], so it’s not vital to have a lung X-ray.

“So, Ofii sends them a form and they organise themselves to fill it in with their doctor and send it back signed by the doctor, and Ofii sends them the Ofii certificate, which is required for a residency card.”

Individuals are only called back if the form raises specific concerns, he said.

Read also: Long-stay visa in France: when does an obligatory medical apply?

If the visit reveals the need for a specific treatment or vaccination, the Ofii certificate will contain specific mentions and will be sent to the individual’s GP.

This does not present an obstacle to the patient remaining in France, with its only purpose being to ensure a medical follow-up and to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.