TB certificate for UK visa India: cost and UK approved centres

A tuberculosis (TB) certificate is a medical document confirming that you’ve been screened for TB at a UK approved TB test centre in India and that you don’t have active TB in your lungs. For most long‑term visas, the UK Home Office won’t look at your application without this document, so understanding the UK visa TB test India, TB test for UK visa in India, cost of TB test for UK visa in India, UK approved TB test centre in India, TB certificate for UK visa India process is essential before you book anything else.

What exactly is a TB certificate?

Your TB certificate is issued after a chest X‑ray (and sometimes extra tests) at a clinic authorised by the United Kingdom government. It:

• confirms your identity and the date you took the test
• states whether you’re free from active pulmonary TB
• is signed and stamped by the panel physician

If the rules for your visa route say you need a TB test, you must include the original TB certificate with your UK visa application. Photocopies or scans on their own aren’t accepted.

When you type “uk visa tb test india tb test for uk visa in india cost of tb test for uk visa in india uk approved tb test centre in india tb certificate for uk visa india” into a search engine, you’re usually trying to find 3 things at once: what the test is, where you can do it, and how much it’s likely to cost.

Table of contents

• Who actually needs a TB certificate from India?
• What the UK visa TB test in India actually involves
• UK‑approved centres and typical TB test costs in India
• Typical TB test cost range in India for a UK visa
• What affects the cost of a TB test for a UK visa in India?
• Official UK-approved TB test clinics in India for visa applicants
• Step 1: Use the official UK visa TB clinic list
• Step 2: Book your TB test appointment
• Documents you must carry to the clinic
• What to expect during your TB test visit
• How long is a TB certificate valid for UK visas?
• Common mistakes to avoid with TB certificate timing

Who actually needs a TB certificate from India?

You usually need a TB certificate if:

• you’re applying in India for a UK visa that normally lasts more than 6 months (for example, work, spouse or partner, or student visas)
• you’ve been living in India or another country on the UK’s high‑TB‑incidence list for at least 6 months

You usually don’t need a TB certificate for standard visitor visas under 6 months, or if you already have settled status in the UK and you’re just returning. But rules do change, so it’s worth checking the latest guidance on the official UK government website before you pay for a TB test.

What the UK visa TB test in India actually involves

When you book a TB test for a UK visa in India, you’re booking a short medical screening at a clinic that the United Kingdom Home Office has officially approved. A panel doctor will usually:

• check your passport and visa type
• ask you a few basic health questions
• send you for a chest X‑ray (and sometimes further tests if anything looks unclear)

If everything is clear, the clinic issues a TB certificate in the exact format accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You then upload or submit this with your visa application as proof that you do not have active pulmonary TB.

UK‑approved centres and typical TB test costs in India

You must use a UK approved TB test centre in India-a standard hospital report is not accepted for a UK visa. These centres are on the official UKVI list and use panel doctors trained to follow the UK rules.

Each centre sets its own fees, so the TB test for UK visa in India cost can vary by city and clinic. As a rough guide, big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata often charge a bit more than smaller cities, and adult tests usually cost more than children’s.

You pay the clinic directly on the day of your appointment. This fee is separate from any UK visa charge, and you will not get it back if your visa is refused or if you decide not to travel.

The cost of your TB test for a UK visa in India is not fixed nationwide. Each UK-approved TB test centre in India sets its own fee (in line with Home Office guidance), so you will notice small but clear differences when you compare cities and clinics.

Typical TB test cost range in India for a UK visa

As a general guide, most adults pay around ₹2,000-₹4,000 for the chest X‑ray and TB certificate needed for UK visa requirements. Tests for children are often a bit cheaper-especially for younger children who may not need an X‑ray-but the clinic can add extra charges if further tests are required.

You pay this fee directly to the clinic. It is completely separate from your UK visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge or any service fees charged by a visa centre in India or in the UK.

What affects the cost of a TB test for a UK visa in India?

• Clinic location – centres in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru can be more expensive than clinics in smaller cities or regional areas.
• Age and medical needs – if the panel physician decides you need extra tests before they issue your certificate, your total cost is likely to increase.
• Peak season demand – around UK university intakes (usually late summer and early autumn), some centres may adjust prices or charge higher admin fees due to higher demand.
• Repeat or replacement certificates – if your certificate expires before you travel, or you lose it, you usually need a fresh assessment and have to pay the fee again.

Official UK-approved TB test clinics in India for visa applicants

If you’re applying for a UK visa from India and planning to stay for 6 months or more, you usually need a tuberculosis (TB) test from a UK-approved clinic. The official list of clinics is kept up to date on GOV.UK and is the only source you should rely on for authorised centres, contact details, opening hours and current test fees.

The GOV.UK guidance focuses on practical information rather than medical advice. You can use it to check which clinics are approved, where they are in India and what they currently charge for TB screening. You can find the latest list here: UK visa: TB test clinics in India on GOV.UK.

• Note: the GOV.UK page is a directory, not a booking service. You’ll need to contact clinics directly or visit their websites to confirm up-to-date costs, how to book your appointment and how long your TB certificate will be valid for your UK visa application.

Finding a genuine UK approved TB test centre in India-and actually getting a slot-is where many people get stuck with the whole “UK visa TB test India TB test for UK visa in India cost of TB test for UK visa in India UK approved TB test centre in India TB certificate for UK visa India” process. Here’s how to keep it simple and avoid delays to your UK visa application.

Step 1: Use the official UK visa TB clinic list

Start by checking the official list of UK-approved TB clinics for India on the UK government website-not random Google results or ads. Make sure:

• the clinic is listed under India and clearly marked as approved for UK visa TB tests
• you choose the city that’s most practical for you to travel to
• you note the exact clinic name, address and contact details

Only certificates from these centres are accepted for a TB certificate for UK visa India application-anything else will be rejected. You can usually find the latest list by searching “UK government TB test India visa” and only clicking links that go to gov.uk.

Step 2: Book your TB test appointment

Next, contact the clinic directly using the phone number or email on the official list. When you book, ask for:

• a “UK visa TB test” specifically (not just a general health check)
• the current TB test for UK visa in India cost and what’s included (X‑ray, consultation, certificate, any repeat tests)
• available dates and times-aim for at least a few weeks before your UK visa appointment

Most centres will confirm your slot by email or SMS. Keep this confirmation safe-it’s useful to show at reception and helps you stay organised as you move through the rest of your UK visa steps.

When you arrive for your UK visa TB test in India, the process is usually straightforward and well organised. Knowing what happens step by step can make it much less stressful-especially if you’re working to a tight UK visa application deadline.

Documents you must carry to the clinic

Keep everything together in a small folder so nothing goes missing. Most UK approved TB test centres in India will ask for:

• your original passport (essential-copies are rarely accepted)
• 1-2 recent passport-size photos (check the clinic’s exact size requirements before you go)
• appointment confirmation (printed or saved on your phone)
• previous TB test or medical reports, especially if you have any lung-related medical history
• local ID (such as Aadhaar or PAN), if the clinic asks for it when you register

If you forget your passport, the clinic will almost certainly refuse to test you. That can push back your TB certificate and delay your UK visa timeline, so double-check your documents before you leave home.

What to expect during your TB test visit

When you get to the UK approved TB test centre in India, you usually register at reception and pay the fee for the TB test for UK visa in India. In most cases, the cost of the TB test for UK visa in India is confirmed when you book your appointment.

After registration, a nurse or doctor will usually:

• ask you some basic health questions and check if you have any TB symptoms
• send you for a chest X‑ray-this is the main screening step for the TB test
• arrange further tests (such as sputum tests) if your X‑ray is unclear or shows any possible TB changes

Once the checks are complete, you either wait at the centre to collect your TB certificate for UK visa India or return on the next working day to pick it up. Timing varies by clinic, so check this in advance and plan your travel and UK visa appointment around when your TB certificate will be ready.

TB certificate validity is one of the easiest areas to slip up on-and it can delay your whole UK visa application if you get it wrong. When you’re planning your UK visa TB test in India, including the cost and choosing a UK approved TB test centre in India, timing really matters.

How long is a TB certificate valid for UK visas?

In most cases, your TB certificate for UK visa applications from India is valid for 6 months from the date of your X‑ray or medical examination. The exact expiry date is printed on your certificate.

• if you apply for your UK visa after the 6‑month date, the certificate is treated as expired
• the Home Office looks at the date you submit your online visa application and attend biometrics-not your planned travel date to the UK
• if your certificate expires while your visa is being processed, that is usually fine, as long as it was valid on the date you applied

Common mistakes to avoid with TB certificate timing

• Taking the test too early – doing the test 7-8 months before you plan to apply means you’ll almost certainly need to repeat it and pay the TB test for UK visa in India cost again.
• Confusing visa appointment and travel date – book your TB test so the certificate is still valid on your visa application and biometrics date, not just your flight date.
• Using a non‑approved clinic – even if the report is recent, the UK will not accept it unless it is from a UK approved TB test centre in India.
• Uploading the wrong page – you must upload or submit the official TB certificate with your photo and clinic stamp, not just the X‑ray report.
• Spelling or passport number errors – if your name, date of birth or passport number are wrong, ask the clinic to correct them straight away.

Getting the timing and paperwork right saves you stress, extra clinic visits and another round of fees.