TB screening for IND residence permit — Leiden

If you've recently received your residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) and are required to have a tuberculosis screening, the official IND TB screening is performed by the GGD (regional public health service), not by general practices. HeyDoc can help with general GP registration and other primary-care questions, but not replace the GGD appointment for this legal screening.

Below is how the process usually works and where to book.

Who needs TB screening

Most non-EU/EEA migrants receiving a Dutch residence permit are required to have a TB screening within three months of arrival. This typically applies to:

• Knowledge migrants and labour migrants from non-low-incidence countries
• Family reunification visa holders
• Some study permit holders (depending on country of origin)
• Asylum seekers

Citizens of EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, and a list of "low-incidence" countries (most of Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, etc.) are exempt.

Your IND letter will state explicitly whether the screening is required. If it doesn't mention it, you don't need it.

Where the screening is done

In Leiden and surrounding areas, the official IND TB screening is conducted by:

GGD Hollands Midden

• Address: Parmentierweg 49, 2316 ZV Leiden
• Phone: 088 - 308 3000
• Website: ggdhm.nl

You receive an invitation by post from the GGD after the IND notifies them. The appointment is free of charge — you do not pay for the screening.

Do not attempt to do the official screening through a GP. It will not be recognised by the IND and you'll have to do it again at the GGD.

What HeyDoc can do for you in this process

While the official screening goes through the GGD, your GP plays a useful supporting role:

• Symptom triage. If you're worried about respiratory symptoms while waiting for your GGD appointment, we can assess and advise.
• Latent TB management. If your GGD screening shows latent (non-active) TB requiring treatment, ongoing care is often coordinated through your GP and the GGD jointly.
• Repeat or follow-up tests. If you've had a previous positive screen elsewhere and need follow-up imaging or blood tests, we can arrange these.
• Other health checks for new arrivals. General health assessment, vaccination updates, repeat prescriptions for chronic conditions, mental health support during the transition.
• Confirmation letters and translations. Help interpreting GGD letters, IND requirements, and medical paperwork in English.

Other "medical" requirements for IND

The TB screening is the only standard medical screening required for most residence permits. There is no general medical fitness exam for residency in the Netherlands.

Specific permit categories sometimes require additional documentation:

• Aviation, military, diving, certain transport licences — separate occupational medical exams (organised outside routine TB screening; ask if you have a specific employer form)
• Marriage / partnership permits — no medical requirement
• Knowledge migrant permits — no medical requirement beyond TB
• Study permits — no medical requirement beyond TB

If your employer or sponsor is asking for a "medical certificate" that isn't covered above, send us the requirements before booking — we'll tell you what's actually needed and what isn't.

What to do when you arrive in Leiden

A practical checklist for your first month:

1. Register at the gemeente to get your BSN.
2. Arrange health insurance (Dutch basisverzekering or international expat policy).
3. Register with a GP — needed for everything below. HeyDoc registration form.
4. Wait for your GGD letter if TB screening applies to you. Don't proactively contact GGD; they will contact you.
5. Update your routine vaccinations if needed (we can do this).
6. Bring your existing prescriptions to a first GP visit so they can be continued.

Frequently asked questions

I haven't received a GGD letter, but my IND permit said I need TB screening. What now? Wait at least 6 weeks after your BRP registration. If nothing arrives, call GGD Hollands Midden directly at 088 - 308 3000.

Can I refuse the TB screening? Officially, the screening is voluntary, but failure to comply can affect your residence permit. The screening itself is non-invasive (chest X-ray for adults) and free.

Is the screening on my permanent medical record? The result goes to the GGD and (for positive results) to your GP. It does not appear in your IND file beyond compliance confirmation.

I have a positive screen — what happens next? Most follow-up after screening is arranged by the GGD according to national protocols. Coverage depends on your insurance product — confirm with your insurer if you have questions about costs.

I had TB in my home country and was treated. Do I still need screening? Bring your treatment records. The GGD will assess whether further screening is necessary. In most cases of completed treatment, follow-up is reduced.

Where can HeyDoc help if not the screening itself? General health support during your move, registration as your ongoing GP, mental health support if the move is stressful, ongoing care for chronic conditions you're being treated for at home, and orientation in the Dutch healthcare system in English.

Register with HeyDoc as your GP

Whether or not TB screening applies to you, registering with a GP early is the most important step for accessing healthcare in the Netherlands.

→ Register as a patient → Ask a question

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HeyDoc is a registered general practice — Lammenschansweg 15B, 2313 DH Leiden. We do not perform official IND TB screenings. Those are done at GGD Hollands Midden, Parmentierweg 49, Leiden.