TB Test Guide for UK Visa Applications

If you are planning to come to the UK to stay for over six months and are a resident of one of a number of countries specified by the British Government, you will need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test before you are allowed to enter the country.

The purpose of screening for TB is to detect the presence of lung TB and prevent transmission to others when travelling, while also helping with early detection and treatment where the traveller is unaware of their condition.

After you have been screened for TB, if the tests are clear, you will be issued a TB clearance certificate. The certificate confirms you are free of lung TB and is a mandatory requirement before you can apply for a visa to enter the UK.

 

What is the UK TB test?

 

The UK tuberculosis (TB) test is a medical screening required for individuals applying for a UK visa to stay in the country for more than six months. The test is mandatory for applicants from countries where tuberculosis is considered prevalent, as identified by the UK Government. It is part of the UK’s measures to protect public health and prevent the spread of TB.

 

What Does the Test Involve?

 

The TB test typically includes a chest X-ray to check for signs of active tuberculosis in the lungs. If the chest X-ray results are inconclusive or if further investigation is needed, the applicant may be required to provide a sputum sample for laboratory testing.

 

Who Needs the Test?

 

Applicants from designated countries planning to stay in the UK for over six months must undergo the TB test. However, the requirement does not apply to those applying for short-term visas (less than six months) or applicants from countries not listed by the UK as high-risk for TB.

 

Countries where you need a TB test to enter the UK

 

Pre-entry screening is compulsory for those people who wish to come into the UK and stay for over six months if they are a national of one of the following countries, as listed on the .gov website. Screening is not required if you are coming to the UK as a tourist.

 

Letter	Country	Additional Information
A	Afghanistan
	Algeria
	Angola
	Armenia
	Azerbaijan
B	Bangladesh
	Belarus
	Benin	Get tested in another country
	Bhutan
	Bolivia
	Botswana
	Brunei
	Burkina Faso	Get tested in another country
	Burundi
C	Cambodia
	Cape Verde	Get tested in another country
	Central African Republic	Get tested in another country
	Chad
	Cameroon
	China
	Congo	Get tested in another country
	Côte d’Ivoire
D	Democratic Republic of the Congo
	Djibouti	Get tested in another country
	Dominican Republic
E	East Timor	Get tested in another country
	Ecuador
	Equatorial Guinea	Get tested in another country
	Eritrea	Get tested in another country
	Ethiopia
G	Gabon	Get tested in another country
	Gambia
	Georgia
	Ghana
	Guatemala
	Guinea	Get tested in another country
	Guinea Bissau	Get tested in another country
	Guyana
H	Haiti
	Hong Kong
I	India
	Indonesia
	Iraq
K	Kazakhstan
	Kenya
	Kiribati	Get tested in another country
	Kyrgyzstan	Get tested in another country
L	Laos
	Lesotho	Get tested in another country
	Liberia	Get tested in another country
M	Macau	Get tested in another country
	Madagascar
	Malawi
	Malaysia
	Mali	Get tested in another country
	Marshall Islands	Get tested in another country
	Mauritania	Get tested in another country
	Micronesia, Federated States of	Get tested in another country
	Moldova
	Mongolia
	Morocco
	Mozambique
	Myanmar (Burma)
N	Namibia
	Nepal
	Niger	Get tested in another country
	Nigeria
	North Korea
P	Pakistan
	Palau	Get tested in another country
	Papua New Guinea
	Panama
	Paraguay
	Peru
	Philippines
R	Russia
	Rwanda
S	São Tomé and Principe	Get tested in another country
	Senegal
	Sierra Leone
	Solomon Islands
	Somalia	Get tested in another country
	South Africa
	South Korea
	South Sudan	Get tested in another country
	Sri Lanka
	Sudan
	Suriname	Get tested in another country
	Swaziland	Get tested in another country
T	Tajikistan
	Tanzania
	Togo	Get tested in another country
	Thailand
	Turkmenistan
	Tuvalu	Get tested in another country
U	Uganda
	Ukraine
	Uzbekistan
V	Vanuatu
	Vietnam
Z	Zambia
	Zimbabwe

 

 

Do all UK visa applicants need to be tested for TB?

 

If you are planning to come from a country where TB is common and are applying for a long-term visa, then you must be screened. There are specific screening rules that apply to children under the age of eleven and pregnant women.

 

Where the screening takes place

 

The test is taken at your own convenience in your country of residence. It is not done on arrival in the UK. You will need to make an appointment to be screened at a designated and UK government approved clinic in your home country. This is done on behalf of the UK Immigration Authority. You can find a list of approved clinics on the gov.uk website.

Certificates from unapproved clinics will not be accepted.

 

Things you will need to take to the appointment

 

You will need to take two official documents proving your identity, one of which must be your passport. Besides this requirement, you will also need two recent passport sized photographs, payment for your TB screening test, and your medical records. If you have previously had a TB test, you should provide details of the previous results, diagnosis, and any treatment you may have received.

 

How much does a TB test UK cost?

 

The clinic fee varies from country to country and covers the consultation, chest X-ray, and the TB clearance certificate. If further tests, such as sputum tests, are thought to be necessary by your doctor, additional costs may be incurred. The clinic fees for the TB test are in addition to the cost of your visa application to the UK Home Office.

 

What is the TB test procedure?

 

Although almost all cases of TB can be treated and cured, delays in diagnosis and other factors mean it remains a serious condition. TB can affect any part of someone’s body, but the risk of transmission only happens when the active disease is in the lungs. This means that pre-entry screening only covers active TB in the lungs. This is a type of TB affecting the lungs and can be difficult to diagnose. You may have a chest X-ray to look for changes in the appearance of your lungs that may suggest TB. Samples of phlegm are also often taken and checked for the presence of TB bacteria.

Before screening begins, you will be required to complete the Informed Consent Form at the clinic. The doctor will then ask you about any current health complaints, worries or symptoms you may have, previous illnesses (including TB) and treatment, and whether you have had a friend or relative with TB. If the doctor considers it appropriate they may carry out a physical examination.

 

Chest X-ray

 

You will be given a chest X-ray that can identify any changes in your lungs, which may indicate lung TB. Your results are generally ready to be collected within 24 hours. If your doctor does not think you have TB (following consultation and chest X-ray), they will issue you with a TB certificate.

 

Sputum Test

 

If your chest X-ray shows areas of concern, or if the test results are inconclusive, your doctor will ask you to provide three samples of sputum (phlegm coughed up from the lungs). This is done in the clinic on three consecutive mornings, so you should be prepared to attend the clinic. The samples you provide will then be analysed under a microscope. Sometimes the TB bacteria can be seen with a special stain process. However, more often the TB bacteria will grow in a culture of the sample you have provided, therefore all samples will be cultured. It is important to note that in these cases, the final diagnosis can take around two months to get.

 

Are there any exemptions to taking a TB test UK?

 

There are certain circumstances where you do not have to undergo TB screening. You will not need to take a TB test UK if you are a diplomat accredited to the UK, you are a UK resident returning to the UK providing you have not been away for over two years, or you lived in a country for at least six months where TB screening is not required by the UK and you have not been away from that country for over six months.

 

Can a whole family be screened together?

 

If you are intending to come to the UK with your family, the clinic should allow screening of all your family members on the same day.

 

Children and pregnant women

 

All children who are coming to the UK and applying for a visa from a listed country are required to show they are free of TB and will need to see a doctor to confirm this.

Children under the age of eleven will not usually be required to have a chest X-ray, however, the child must be taken to an approved clinic to complete a health questionnaire. If the doctor decides your child does not have TB, they will give you a certificate which you should include within your child’s UK visa application.

Pregnant women can request a chest X-ray with an extra shield to protect them and their unborn child in the second and third trimesters or take a sputum test instead. If they decide to take the sputum test, there may be an additional fee and they could have to wait up to eight weeks for the results. Alternatively, they can wait until after the child is born and take the chest X-ray then.

 

How long is a TB certificate valid for?

 

A TB clearance certificate is valid for six months from the date it is issued. After you have entered the UK, health authorities may contact you to offer a further screening test for inactive – or latent – TB. This is in addition to the pre-entry screening you had in your home country and is to prevent reactivation of this type of TB.

 

Testing for latent TB

 

Latent TB is where someone has been infected with TB, but they do not display any symptoms. For example, if you have been in close contact with someone who is known to have active TB, you may need to have a test or if you have recently spent time or live in a country where TB levels are high.

The Mantoux test is commonly used to test for latent TB. It involves injecting a tiny amount of PPD tuberculin into the skin of your forearm. This may also be called the tuberculin skin test (TST). If you have a latent TB infection, your skin will have a sensitivity to the PPD substance and a small red bump will develop at the injection site, typically around 48 to 72 hours after having the test.

If your skin has a particularly powerful reaction, you may need to go on to have a chest X-ray to confirm if you have active TB. If your skin does not react to the test, you do not have latent TB infection. Although if you have previously received a BCG vaccination, you could have a mild skin reaction to the test, but this does not necessarily mean you have latent TB.

There is a new blood test for TB that is becoming more widely available and is called the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). The IGRA may be used to help diagnose latent TB if:

 

• You have had a positive Mantoux test
• You previously had a BCG vaccination – as discussed above, the Mantoux test may not be reliable in such cases
• You have recently moved to the UK from a country where TB is common
• As part of a health check when you register with a GP in the UK
• You are going to have treatment that will suppress your immune system (immunosuppressant treatment)
• If you have come to the UK to be a healthcare worker

 

 

How will testing positive for TB affect my visa application?

 

If you test positive for TB, you will be referred straightaway by your doctor for antibiotic treatment. Although you will not be issued with a clearance certificate, you can reapply following successful completion of your treatment. Your doctor will report your diagnosis of lung TB to your local, regional or national authorities following the requirements of your country. Your doctor will also report your diagnosis to the UK health authorities.

After completing your treatment (generally after six months), you are eligible for re-screening. This will incur an additional fee. Prior to applying for your UK visa, you will need a screening clearance certificate from an approved clinic, confirming you are now free of lung TB.

If you no longer have TB, the certificate will be issued and you can then include it within your visa application. A previous diagnosis of TB will not have any adverse effect on the visa process if you are subsequently certified free of TB.

 

Need assistance?

 

DavidsonMorris’ immigration lawyers advise on all aspects of UK visa applications, including entry requirements such as TB testing. For specialist advice, contact us.

 

TB test for the UK FAQs

 

Who needs to take a TB test for a UK visa?

Applicants from countries where tuberculosis is common must take a TB test if they are applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than six months.

 

How do I know if my country requires a TB test?

The UK Government provides a list of countries where TB testing is mandatory. You can check this list on the official UK Visas and Immigration website.

 

Where can I take the TB test?

The test must be taken at an approved clinic in your country of residence. Using an unapproved clinic may result in your application being rejected.

 

What happens during the TB test?

A chest X-ray is conducted to detect signs of tuberculosis. If the X-ray is inconclusive, you may be asked to provide a sputum sample for further testing.

 

How long is the TB test certificate valid?

The TB test certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.

 

What should I do if I test positive for TB?

If you test positive for active TB, you will need to undergo treatment and be cleared before you can apply for a visa.

 

How much does the TB test cost?

The cost varies depending on the clinic and country. Applicants should check with their local approved clinic for the exact fees.

 

Can children take the TB test?

Children under 11 are usually not required to have a chest X-ray but may need to undergo a physical examination instead.

 

Do I need to take the test if I’m applying for a short-term visa?

No, the TB test is only required for visa applicants planning to stay in the UK for more than six months.

 

What documents are needed for the TB test?

You will need your passport or an official identification document, and you may also need to provide proof of your visa application or intention to apply.

 

What happens if my certificate expires before my visa is granted?

If your certificate expires, you will need to retake the test and submit a new certificate with your application.

 

Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Tuberculosis (TB)	A bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body.
TB Test	A medical examination required for visa applicants from certain countries to confirm they do not have active tuberculosis.
Chest X-Ray	A diagnostic imaging test used to check for signs of tuberculosis in the lungs.
Sputum Sample	A sample of mucus coughed up from the lungs, used for laboratory testing if the chest X-ray is inconclusive.
UK Visa	A document granting permission to enter or stay in the UK for a specific period and purpose.
High-Risk Countries	Countries identified by the UK Government as having a high prevalence of tuberculosis, requiring TB testing for visa applicants.
Approved Clinic	A medical facility authorised by the UK Government to conduct TB tests for visa applications.
TB Test Certificate	An official document issued after the test, confirming the applicant is free from active TB.
Validity Period	The six-month duration for which the TB test certificate is valid after being issued.
Short-Term Visa	A visa allowing a stay in the UK for less than six months, which does not require a TB test.
Immigration Health Requirement	Health-related conditions, such as the TB test, imposed by the UK Government for certain visa applicants.
Medical Clearance	Confirmation that an applicant is free from active tuberculosis and eligible to proceed with their visa application.
Visa Refusal	A decision by the UK Government to deny a visa application, which may occur if TB test requirements are not met.
Prevalent TB Countries	Nations listed by the UK Government as having a significant presence of tuberculosis, requiring TB testing for visa applicants.
Children and TB Testing	Specific rules for children under 11, who may undergo a physical examination instead of a chest X-ray.
Immigration Rules	The legal framework governing the entry and stay of individuals in the UK, including health requirements like TB testing.
Reapplication	The process of submitting a new visa application, often necessary if a TB test certificate expires or if active TB was detected and treated.
Public Health Protection	Measures taken by the UK Government, such as TB testing, to safeguard the health of residents and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Visa Application Process	The procedure for applying for a UK visa, which may include mandatory TB testing for eligible applicants.