Tuberculosis (TB) Test for UK Visa
If you’re applying for a UK visa, you may need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test as part of your visa application.
If you have any unanswered questions regarding the TB test or its validity, Total Law can assist you. As qualified immigration lawyers, we can provide guidance to help you obtain your TB test certificate and UK visa efficiently and accurately. Call us today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online.
When is a Tuberculosis (TB) Test Required?
The UK government requires visa applicants from certain countries to take a TB test. If applicable, you will need to pass the test and provide a valid TB certificate for your visa application to be successful. A list of countries is available on the UK government’s official website.
Adults
You will need to take a TB test if you:
- Have lived in any of the listed countries for six months or more
- Intend to stay in the UK for more than six months
- Have lived in a listed country within the last six months
If you have lived in a listed country for less than six months, you will still need to take a TB test if you are applying for a:
- Returning Resident visa
- Family visa (fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner)
If you’re already in the UK and did not provide a TB test certificate when you came, you will need to take a TB test if you are applying for or extending a:
- British National (Overseas) Visa
Children
All children will need to see a clinician at a UK government-approved clinic. You will need to fill out a health questionnaire on behalf of your child so that the clinician can decide whether or not they need to be tested.
If the clinician decides that your child does not have TB, you will be issued a certificate that you must include with your child’s UK visa application.
Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant and need to provide a TB test certificate, you may wish to wait until after the delivery of your baby. If you choose to go ahead with the test whilst pregnant, you will be given two testing options to choose from.
Exemptions
You do not need to take a TB test if you are:
- Coming to the UK on a scheme to support people from Ukraine
- A returning UK resident who has been out of the country for less than two years
- A diplomat accredited to the UK
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The Tuberculosis (TB) Test Requirement Explained
Why Do I Need a TB Test?
A Tuberculosis (TB) test is a mandatory medical screening test for those applicable, required by the UK government as part of a UK visa application. The listed countries are considered (by the UK government) as countries where TB is more prevalent, and so, in the interest of public health in the UK and to prevent the spread, a test and a valid certificate are required.
How Long is the TB Test Certificate Valid For?
The TB test certificate is valid for six months from its issue date. Sometimes further screening is offered after you enter the UK to test for inactive (or latent) TB. This helps prevent this type of TB from reactivating.
What Happens If I Test Positive for TB?
If the results of your screening test show a positive result, you must undergo treatment and reapply after its completion. You should not apply for your UK visa until you have secured your TB test certificate.
Consequences of Not Providing a Valid TB Certificate
If you are required to provide a valid TB certificate as part of your UK visa application and you fail to do so, your application will be refused. It is therefore highly important to obtain your valid TB certificate before you apply for your UK visa.
Countries Where You Need TB Test to Enter the UK
The list of countries where a TB test is generally required for visas longer than 6 months. You must take a TB test if you are coming to the UK from any of the countries listed below:
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Angola |
| Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bangladesh |
| Belarus | Benin | Bhutan |
| Bolivia | Botswana | Brunei |
| Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cambodia |
| Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad |
| Cameroon | China | Congo |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Djibouti |
| Dominican Republic | East Timor | Ecuador |
| Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia |
| Gabon | Gambia | Georgia |
| Ghana | Guatemala | Guinea |
| Guinea Bissau | Guyana | Haiti |
| Hong Kong | India | Indonesia |
| Iraq | Kazakhstan | Kenya |
| Kiribati | Kyrgyzstan | Laos |
| Lesotho | Liberia | Macau |
| Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia |
| Mali | Marshall Islands | Mauritania |
| Micronesia, Federated States of | Moldova | Mongolia |
| Morocco | Mozambique | Myanmar |
| Namibia | Nepal | Niger |
| Nigeria | North Korea | Pakistan |
| Palau | Papua New Guinea | Panama |
| Paraguay | Peru | Philippines |
| Russia | Rwanda | São Tomé and Principe |
| Senegal | Sierra Leone | Solomon Islands |
| Somalia | South Africa | South Korea |
| South Sudan | Sri Lanka | Sudan |
| Suriname | Swaziland | Tajikistan |
| Tanzania | Togo | Thailand |
| Turkmenistan | Tuvalu | Uganda |
| Ukraine | Uzbekistan | Vanuatu |
| Vietnam | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
The Tuberculosis (TB) Test Process
Where Do I Take the Test?
Tests should be completed before you enter the UK, and on behalf of the UK Immigration Authority, you must take the TB test in your home country.
This must be at an approved clinic; a full list of which is available on the UK government’s official website. Certificates issued by non-approved clinics will not be accepted.
If a clinic is not available in your home country, you may need to travel to a neighbouring country to take the test.
What Happens During the Test?
For adults and children over 11 years old, the TB test is usually a chest X-ray that checks the lungs for signs of active tuberculosis.
If the results are inconclusive, the applicant can be required to take a sputum test. A sputum test is where a phlegm sample (coughed up from the lungs) is sent for laboratory testing.
Pregnant women can choose which test to take. If a chest X-ray is chosen, an extra shield is used during the procedure as added protection.
Tuberculosis (TB) Tests for Visa Application Costs
You must fund the cost of your medical examination at a medical facility authorised by the UK government yourself. Any costs incurred are an additional fee to that of your visa application, and clinics should be paid directly. Clinic fees vary depending on your location and country, but some examples are as follows:
UK
Adult: £160
Child under 11: £100
Tanzania
Adult: $130
Child under 11: $90
USA
Adult: $130
Child under 11: $100
If your test result is positive, you will need to undergo further treatment, which will likely incur an additional fee. You should check with your clinic to determine the full cost of your physical examination and any additional testing required for your treatment plan.
How Can Total Law Help?
Our expert lawyers at Total Law can help you with any part of a UK visa application, including obtaining your TB medical certificate to support your application. It is worth remembering that without a TB test medical certificate, your application is likely to be refused.
Our team of qualified professionals can explain and advise you on all immigration rules and regulations surrounding your visa application. We can answer any questions relating to the TB test requirements and help you with all aspects, including how to access a medical facility authorised by the UK government.
No matter your circumstances or how small your query, get in touch today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You should be able to get your TB test with your family, subject to the clinic’s availability. You can check your options directly with your chosen clinic when you book your appointment.
That depends on where you’re from and how long you’re going to stay in the UK. If you are required, as part of your visa application, to take a TB test, you will not usually be allowed to enter the UK without one. There are, however, some rare exceptions, and so it is always wise to consult with an immigration professional to discuss your personal circumstances beforehand.
A TB test in Uganda for a UK visa is 130 USD for anybody 11 years and older and 60 USD for children under 11 years. To find out the cost in Uganda shillings, you will need to check the current exchange rates, as these can fluctuate.
