# Tuberculosis test for a UK visa from Punjab 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. Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/procedure/tb-test-for-uk-visa · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST. ## Steps 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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. ## Places - Approved clinic, Chandigarh tricity, See the gov.uk approved clinic list for the current clinic and address in Chandigarh or Mohali, Chandigarh - Approved clinic, Ludhiana, See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Ludhiana, Ludhiana - Approved clinic, Jalandhar, See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Jalandhar, Jalandhar - Approved clinic, Amritsar, See the gov.uk approved clinic list for Amritsar, Amritsar - Approved clinics, New Delhi, Several approved clinics in New Delhi; see the gov.uk list, New Delhi ## FAQ **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. --- UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed. We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.