Do I need a TB test for my UK visa?

You need a TB test if you've lived for at least 6 months in one of the listed high-incidence countries (around 100 countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Philippines, most of Sub-Saharan Africa) and you're applying for a UK visa for more than 6 months.

Where do I get a TB test?

Only at clinics specifically approved by the Home Office. The list is published per country on gov.uk. You cannot use your local GP or hospital — only the named clinics. Most countries have one or two approved clinics, usually in major cities.

How long is a TB test valid?

Six months from the date of issue. Apply for your visa within this window; if it expires before your application is decided, you'll need to retake the test.

How much does the TB test cost?

Costs vary by country — typically £75-£150. The clinic fee is the only cost; no government component. Payment is direct to the clinic at the appointment.

TB Test Certificate for UK Visa: Who Needs It and How to Get One

TL;DR

You need a TB (tuberculosis) test certificate for UK visas longer than 6 months if you've lived for 6+ months in one of about 100 high-incidence countries. The test must be done at a Home-Office-approved clinic listed on gov.uk for your country, costs £75-£150, and is valid for 6 months.

Do you need one?

You need a TB test if all of these are true:

You're applying for a UK visa with leave longer than 6 months (Visitor visa for less than 6 months → no TB test)
You've lived for at least 6 continuous months in one of the listed countries
Your last departure from a listed country was less than 6 months before your application

Listed countries include: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Mongolia, China (mainland), and most of Sub-Saharan Africa. The full list updates periodically; always check gov.uk for the current version.

You don't need one if

You're applying for a Visitor visa for ≤6 months
You've lived continuously in a non-listed country (UK, US, Canada, Australia, EU, etc.) for 6+ months immediately before applying
You're returning to the UK on indefinite leave to remain after a short overseas trip
You're a child under 11 (in many but not all categories — check the listed-country page)

Where to get tested

Only Home-Office-approved clinics in your listed country can issue the certificate. Common approved providers include:

IOM (International Organization for Migration) — operates clinics in many countries
Knightsbridge clinics in some Asian countries
Country-specific clinics named on the per-country gov.uk page

You cannot use:

Your local GP or family doctor
Public hospitals in your country
Private hospitals not named on the approved list
UK clinics (the test must be done in the country you're applying from)

Most countries have 1-3 approved clinics, usually in capital cities or major airports. Search the per-country page on gov.uk for current locations and contact details.

What the test involves

Chest X-ray — primary screening for active pulmonary TB
Follow-up tests if the X-ray is unclear (sputum sample, IGRA blood test)
Pregnant women — alternative tests available; tell the clinic in advance
Children under 11 — interview-only in many cases (no X-ray)

Most adults complete the test in a single appointment of 30-60 minutes. The certificate is usually issued within 1-2 working days; some clinics can issue same-day for an extra fee.

What the certificate looks like

The Home Office TB test certificate is a single A4 sheet with:

IOM / approved-clinic letterhead and stamp
Your full name, date of birth, passport details
Test date and result (pass / refer for treatment)
Clinic doctor's signature
Validity period (6 months from issue)
Unique reference number

Keep the original physical certificate. Scan it as PDF for the visa application. The original is sometimes requested at the visa application centre during biometrics.

How long it's valid

6 months from the date of issue. Apply for your visa within this window so the certificate is still valid when UKVI processes the decision. If you expect the application to take longer than the certificate's remaining validity, get the test closer to your expected application date.

If your certificate expires before a decision and UKVI requests an updated test, you must retake it.

Common issues

Travel to a clinic — applicants in remote areas often need to travel to the capital city; budget time and cost for this
Booking lead time — popular clinics in busy seasons (September student-visa rush) may have 4-6 week waitlists
Recent recovery from active TB — you can still get a UK visa but additional documentation is required
Old positive X-ray scars without active disease — the clinic notes this; usually no impact on the visa

What to include in your bundle

The TB test certificate as a PDF scan of the original
Place it in the "Travel & medical" category when bundling

Use our free Bundler to merge it with your other supporting evidence in the canonical UKVI order. Use the Checklist generator to confirm whether you need this certificate based on your country.