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UK Visa Desk
Sheesh Mahal, Patiala, Punjab

Procedure from Punjab

Tuberculosis test for a UK visa from Punjab

Direct answer

Anyone applying from India for a UK visa of more than 6 months must submit a tuberculosis certificate from a clinic approved by the Home Office. The certificate is valid for 6 months and costs roughly ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 at Indian clinics.
Photo: Keshuseeker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, Visa counsellors, Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, Patiala. Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024. Last verified .

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Check whether your route needs it

    Student, Child Student, Partner, Fiancé, Child, Parent of a Child Student, Adult Dependent Relative, India Young Professionals Scheme, Innovator Founder, Global Talent and High Potential Individual all need the certificate because the stay is over 6 months. Standard Visitor and Marriage Visitor do not. Dependants of any long-stay applicant need their own certificate.

  2. Step 2: Find an approved clinic on gov.uk

    Search gov.uk for 'tuberculosis test for a UK visa India'. The page lists approved clinics by city, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar among others. The list changes, so use it on the day you book rather than a list copied by an agent.

  3. Step 3: Book and carry the right papers

    Book directly with the clinic. Take your passport, two passport photos, and your UK application reference if you already have one. Children under 11 are usually assessed clinically without an X-ray. Tell the clinic if you are pregnant; a different procedure applies.

  4. Step 4: Attend the X-ray

    The chest X-ray takes a few minutes. Most clinics give the result the same day or the next day. If the X-ray shows shadows, the clinic asks for a sputum sample on three mornings and the result then takes up to 8 weeks for culture. Plan for that delay if you have a history of chest infection.

  5. Step 5: Collect the certificate

    The clinic issues the Home Office TB certificate with its unique number, your passport details and the date. Check every detail against your passport before you leave. A spelling error means a new certificate.

  6. Step 6: Upload it with the application

    Scan the certificate and upload it to the VFS document portal or hand the original to the VFS centre with your other papers. Keep the original for the airport in case the border officer asks.

  7. Step 7: Watch the 6-month validity

    The certificate must be valid on the date you submit the online application. If your CAS or sponsor letter is delayed and the certificate expires, you need a new test. Book the test close to the time you expect to apply, not months ahead.

  8. Step 8: Budget for the cost

    Clinics set their own prices. Expect roughly ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 for an adult X-ray and certificate, more if a sputum test is needed. Confirm the fee when booking; prices are not fixed by the Home Office.

Where to go

Approved clinic, Chandigarh tricity

See the gov.uk approved clinic list for the current clinic and address in Chandigarh or Mohali, Chandigarh

Clinic names and addresses change; the gov.uk list is the only valid source

Approved clinic, Ludhiana

See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Ludhiana, Ludhiana

Verify on gov.uk before booking

Approved clinic, Jalandhar

See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Jalandhar, Jalandhar

Verify on gov.uk before booking

Approved clinic, Amritsar

See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Amritsar, Amritsar

Verify on gov.uk before booking

Approved clinics, New Delhi

Several approved clinics in New Delhi; see the gov.uk list, New Delhi

Useful when Punjab slots are full

Questions

Do I need a TB test for a UK visitor visa?

No. The test is required only for applications for a stay of more than 6 months. A Standard Visitor visa, even a 10-year multiple-entry one, allows a maximum 6-month stay, so no test.

Can I use an X-ray from a government hospital in Patiala?

No. Only a clinic on the Home Office approved list can issue the certificate. Any other X-ray, however good, is ignored.

How long is the certificate valid?

6 months from the date of issue. It must be valid on the day you submit the online application form.

Do children need a test?

Yes if the child is coming for more than 6 months. Children under 11 usually have a clinical assessment and a questionnaire rather than an X-ray. The clinic decides.

What if the clinic finds something on the X-ray?

You give sputum samples on three mornings. If they are negative after culture, which takes up to 8 weeks, the certificate is issued. If positive, you are treated first and apply after a clear result.

Is the TB test the same as the UK medical?

There is no general UK visa medical. The TB certificate is the only health document most routes need, apart from the health surcharge payment.

  • Punjab licence: 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024valid to 22 July 2029
  • CIN: U52291PB2024PTC060508Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd