TB Test for UK Visa in Pakistan 2026: Clinics, Cost & Process
If you are applying for a UK visa of more than six months from Pakistan — including a Student visa — you must take a tuberculosis (TB) test at a UKVI-approved clinic and include the certificate with your application. It is a simple, quick step, but it must be done at the right clinic, at the right time. Here is exactly how the TB test for a UK visa works in Pakistan in 2026.
Who needs a TB test for a UK visa?
Anyone who has been living in Pakistan and is applying to come to the UK for more than 6 months (180 days) must provide a TB test certificate. This covers virtually all Student visa applicants. Visits of 6 months or less do not require the test.
You must use a Home Office-approved clinic
The UK only accepts TB certificates from Home Office-approved clinics. A test from any other hospital or laboratory will not be accepted, no matter how reputable it is or how modern its equipment. This is the most expensive avoidable mistake applicants make: paying for a chest X-ray at a private hospital, then paying again at an approved clinic because UKVI will not look at the first certificate.
Two providers are approved in Pakistan — the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and AMC — across Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur (AJK). These are the clinics listed by the Home Office as at 20 February 2026:
| City | Clinic | Address | Contact | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre — Clinic 1 | 2nd floor, Maroof International Hospital, F-10, Islamabad | +92 51 111 466 472 uktbappointments@iom.int |
Mon–Thu 8:00am–4:45pm Fri 8:00am–12:30pm |
| Islamabad | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre — Clinic 2 | Ground floor, IDC, Pakland Square, G-8, Islamabad | +92 51 111 466 472 uktbappointments@iom.int |
Mon–Thu 8:00am–4:45pm Fri 8:00am–12:30pm |
| Islamabad | AMC — G-6 Branch | Building 14, Civic Centre, Melody, G-6 Markaz, Islamabad | +92 51 287 3191 / 3192 / 3193 uktbisb@amcpk.com |
Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm |
| Lahore | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre | House No. 70, H-Block, Gulberg III, near D-Ground, Lahore | +92 51 111 466 472 uktbappointments@iom.int |
Mon–Thu 8:00am–4:45pm Fri 8:00am–12:30pm |
| Lahore | AMC | 8-B Chaudhary Ali Anwar Road, Lahore | +92 423 455 6611 / 6612 WhatsApp +92 312 617 8887 uktblhe@amcpk.com |
Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm |
| Karachi | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre | Plot F-14, PECHS Block 6, Shahra-e-Faisal, near KFC, Karachi | +92 51 111 466 472 uktbappointments@iom.int |
Confirm when booking |
| Mirpur (AJK) | IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre | House 66-A, Sector F-2, near MDA Office, Mirpur AJK | +92 51 111 466 472 +92 58 27 432 530 uktbappointments@iom.int |
Mon–Thu 8:00am–4:45pm Fri 8:00am–12:30pm |
The approved list changes from time to time, and clinics are occasionally added or withdrawn. Confirm the current official list on the gov.uk clinics-in-Pakistan page immediately before you book — not from a forum post, an agent's WhatsApp message, or this page. If a clinic is not on the gov.uk list on the day you attend, your certificate will not be accepted, and there is no appeal.
Book the appointment first and arrange any travel around it, rather than the other way round. If you are travelling in from a city without an approved clinic — Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta — factor in an overnight stay, since results are not issued the same day.
What the test involves
- Adults and children aged 11 and over have a chest X-ray. If the X-ray is unclear, you may be asked for a sputum sample, which takes longer.
- Children under 11 normally have a clinical assessment by a doctor rather than an X-ray, unless there are symptoms.
- Pregnant applicants can request an X-ray with additional shielding, or opt for a sputum test instead.
The appointment itself usually takes around 3 to 4 hours. Bring your passport and passport-sized photographs, and check the clinic's current requirements when you book.
How much does the TB test cost?
Fees are set by each provider and depend on the applicant's age. As published on gov.uk (20 February 2026):
| Provider | Under 11 years | 11 years and over |
|---|---|---|
| IOM (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Mirpur) | PKR 10,000 | PKR 14,000 |
| AMC (Islamabad, Lahore) | PKR 11,000 | PKR 15,000 |
IOM is the cheaper of the two at both age bands, though the difference is small enough that appointment availability and travel distance usually matter more. The fee is payable at the clinic, and each family member who needs a test pays separately — a family of four can therefore expect a bill in the region of PKR 45,000–60,000. Confirm the current price when you book, as providers revise their fees periodically.
How long does the certificate take, and how long is it valid?
Results are usually ready within 2 to 5 working days. If you are clear of infectious TB, you receive a certificate that is valid for 6 months from the date of your X-ray. You must apply for your UK visa before the certificate expires — so time your test to fall within six months of your planned application, not too early.
What happens if your X-ray is not clear
Most applicants are cleared on the chest X-ray alone and collect a certificate within a few working days. If the radiologist sees anything they cannot rule out, the clinic will ask for sputum samples instead of issuing a certificate immediately. Sputum culture is slow by nature: samples are collected over several mornings and then cultured, which can add up to eight weeks to the process.
An unclear X-ray does not mean you have tuberculosis, and it does not mean your visa will be refused. Old, healed scarring from a childhood infection is a common reason for further testing. What it does mean is that your timeline changes completely — so if you are asked for sputum samples, tell your university straight away. Deferring to a later intake is usually possible; missing your course start date without warning anyone is not.
If active infectious TB is diagnosed, you will be referred for treatment. You can reapply and be re-screened once treatment is complete and you are no longer infectious.
Timing your test around your visa application
The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of your X-ray, and it must still be valid on the day you submit your visa application. That creates a window rather than a deadline, and both ends of it matter.
Test too early and the certificate can expire before your CAS is issued or before you are ready to apply — particularly if your university is slow to confirm, or if you are waiting on financial documents to complete the 28-day bank statement requirement. Test too late and a request for sputum samples can push you past your course start date.
For a September intake, a test in May or June usually works well: comfortably inside the six-month window at the point of application, with enough slack to absorb a sputum referral. Book the appointment as soon as you have an unconditional offer rather than waiting for the CAS.
Common mistakes that delay applications
- Using an unapproved hospital. The certificate is worthless for UKVI purposes and the money is not refundable.
- Letting the certificate expire. Six months runs from the X-ray date, not the date the certificate is printed or collected.
- Testing before the rest of the application is realistic. If your funds will not be seasoned for another two months, the clock is already running.
- Forgetting dependants. Every family member coming with you for more than six months needs their own test and their own certificate.
- Name mismatches. The name on the certificate must match your passport exactly. Check it before you leave the clinic.
Step by step
- 1. Book an appointment at an approved IOM or AMC clinic in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi or Mirpur.
- 2. Attend with your passport and photos; pay the fee.
- 3. Have your chest X-ray (or assessment for under-11s).
- 4. Collect your certificate within a few working days.
- 5. Include the certificate with your UK visa application, and apply within 6 months.
The TB certificate is one item on the wider UK Student visa documents checklist. If you are planning your move, start with our study in the UK from Pakistan guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a TB test required for a UK student visa from Pakistan?
Yes. Any visa of more than 6 months from Pakistan requires a TB test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic, which you submit with your application.
Where can I get the TB test in Pakistan?
Only at Home Office-approved clinics run by IOM or AMC. IOM has centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur (AJK); AMC has centres in Islamabad and Lahore. Certificates from any other hospital or lab are not accepted by UKVI.
How much does the UK visa TB test cost in Pakistan?
It depends on the provider and the applicant's age. IOM charges PKR 10,000 for under-11s and PKR 14,000 for ages 11 and over. AMC charges PKR 11,000 and PKR 15,000 respectively. Each person tested pays separately.
How long is the TB certificate valid?
Six months from the date of your chest X-ray. You must apply for your visa before it expires.
Do children need a TB test?
Children aged 11 and over have a chest X-ray. Children under 11 usually have a clinical assessment instead, unless symptoms are present.
Planning your UK Student visa from Pakistan? Global Pathways guides you through every step — CAS, funds, the TB test and the application itself — so nothing is missed. Book a free consultation.