If you are applying from Pakistan to come to the UK for 6 months or more, you need a TB test certificate from a clinic approved by the Home Office. In Pakistan the approved clinics are run by IOM (in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur) and by AMC (in Islamabad and Lahore). The test is a chest x-ray, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray.
Who needs a TB test
GOV.UK says you need a TB test if all of these apply:
- you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more;
- you have lived in a listed country, such as Pakistan, for 6 months or more; and
- you were living there (or in another listed country) within the last 6 months.
So students, spouses and skilled workers applying from Pakistan will almost always need one. You also need a test for a shorter stay if you are applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, or for a Returning Resident visa. Visitors coming for less than 6 months do not need one. Accredited diplomats, and returning UK residents who have been away for 2 years or less, are exempt.
Approved TB clinics in Pakistan
Your test only counts if it is done at a clinic on the Home Office list. You cannot use a result from any other hospital or laboratory. The GOV.UK list for Pakistan (last updated February 2026) shows:
| City | Clinic | Fee aged 11+ | Fee under 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre (two sites: Maroof International Hospital and IDC Pakland Square) | PKR 14,000 | PKR 10,000 |
| Islamabad | AMC, G-6 Markaz | PKR 15,000 | PKR 11,000 |
| Lahore | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre, Gulberg III | PKR 14,000 | PKR 10,000 |
| Lahore | AMC, Chaudhary Ali Anwar Road | PKR 15,000 | PKR 11,000 |
| Karachi | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre, PECHS, Shahra-e-Faisal | PKR 14,000 | PKR 10,000 |
| Mirpur (AJK) | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre, Sector F-2 | PKR 14,000 | PKR 10,000 |
Fees, addresses and opening hours can change, so check the GOV.UK page for the latest details and contact numbers before you book. There is no approved clinic listed for Peshawar, Quetta, Multan or Faisalabad, so applicants from those cities travel to the nearest listed centre.
What to bring
The GOV.UK list sets out what some clinics ask for. It is sensible to bring the same to any clinic:
- your original passport (the one you will use for your visa application);
- a photocopy of your passport or ID;
- 3 recent printed passport-size photographs;
- the fee, and your appointment confirmation;
- for children, the child’s passport, and a parent to go with them.
What happens at the appointment
The clinic checks your identity and takes a chest x-ray. GOV.UK says you do not need any other test for TB. If the x-ray result is not clear, you may be asked for a sputum sample (phlegm coughed up from your lungs), which takes longer to process. If the test shows you do not have TB, you are given a certificate to include with your visa application.
If you are pregnant, you can choose an x-ray with an extra shield (in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters), a sputum test instead (which may cost extra and can take up to 8 weeks), or to wait until after the birth.
How long the certificate is valid
The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray, not the date you collect it. Time the test so the certificate is still valid when you submit your application. If you test too early, before your CAS, sponsorship or finances are ready, you may have to pay for a second test.
Children
All children must be seen by a clinician at an approved clinic, who decides whether an x-ray is needed. Children under 11 will not normally have a chest x-ray, and the clinics charge a lower fee for them. If TB is ruled out, the child gets their own certificate. Each child in a family application needs one.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Getting a chest x-ray at a local hospital. It will not be accepted.
- Letting the certificate pass its 6-month limit while waiting for other documents.
- Attending with a different passport from the one used on the visa form.
- Forgetting that children need their own clinic visit and certificate.
- Assuming a fiancée visa does not need a test because the stay is short.
The TB certificate is one piece of a wider bundle. Our guides to the UK spouse visa and student visa requirements show where it fits, and our supporting documents guide covers the rest.
FAQ
Do I need a TB test for a UK visit visa?
Not for a normal visit of less than 6 months. You do need one if you are coming for 6 months or more, or applying as a fiancé or fiancée.
Is IOM the only approved provider in Pakistan?
No. IOM runs approved centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur, and AMC runs approved clinics in Islamabad and Lahore. Either is fine, as long as the clinic is on the current GOV.UK list.
My test was 5 months ago. Can I still use it?
Only if the certificate is still within 6 months of the x-ray date when you apply. If it will expire before you submit, book a new test.
What if the x-ray shows a problem?
You may be asked for a sputum sample, which takes longer. You only get a certificate once TB has been ruled out, so allow extra time before any course start or travel date.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.