TB Test for UK Visa: South Africa Clinics, Cost, and What to Expect

Applicants coming to the UK for 6 months or more generally need a tuberculosis screening if they have lived in South Africa, Lesotho, or Swaziland for 6 months or more and were living there or another listed country within the last 6 months. Exemptions apply. UK Ancestry applicants who meet those conditions must use a Home Office-approved clinic. If a certificate is required and you attend an unapproved clinic, UKVI will not accept it.

Who Needs a TB Test for a UK Visa?

Applicants who meet the conditions above must provide a TB clearance certificate from an International Organization for Migration (IOM) approved clinic. This can include:

• UK Ancestry visa applicants
• Skilled Worker visa applicants
• Family visa applicants (spouses, partners, dependent children over 11)
• Applicants on other long-term routes where the tuberculosis rules apply

Children under 11 years old do not require a chest X-ray in most cases. They undergo a clinical health questionnaire and examination instead, unless the examining clinician considers an X-ray necessary based on the child's history.

The test must be completed before you submit your visa application. Include the TB clearance certificate with your application and follow the current VFS instructions about any original document or evidence required at the appointment.

IOM-Approved TB Test Clinics in South Africa

The UK government only accepts TB clearance certificates from IOM-approved facilities. As of 2026, there are three approved cities with four listed facilities in South Africa, including two facilities in Pretoria:

Hatmed Medical Centre Hatfield, Pretoria Tel: +27 12 362 7180 This is one Pretoria option for applicants from Gauteng.

Walker Creek Office Park Muckleneuk, Pretoria A second Pretoria facility listed by the IOM, offering an alternative appointment option.

Intercare Century City Cape Town intercare.co.za — the Western Cape option for applicants based in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and surrounding areas.

ENT Centre (Glenwood) Durban For applicants in KwaZulu-Natal. Confirm current contact details on the IOM South Africa page at healthcentres.iom.int/south-africa.

Do not attend any other clinic, hospital, or radiology centre. Only IOM-approved facilities can issue the certificate in the format UKVI accepts.

What the TB Test Involves

For adults (aged 11 and above), the test is a chest X-ray. The radiographer reviews the image for any signs of active or prior tuberculosis. In the large majority of cases, the X-ray is clear and you receive your certificate on the same day or within a day or two.

If the X-ray is inconclusive or shows a shadow that warrants investigation, you will be required to undergo a sputum test. This involves collecting sputum samples over several days, which are cultured in a laboratory. This process can take up to eight weeks while cultures grow. In practice, this is uncommon for otherwise healthy applicants, but it is worth knowing about if you have ever had respiratory illness or have previously been treated for TB.

The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the X-ray or medical exam. Plan the test so it remains valid for your visa application and travel; if further sputum testing is needed, the validity period runs from the medical exam rather than the later sputum result.

Cost of the TB Test in South Africa

The published IOM rate is approximately USD 160 for applicants aged 11 and above and USD 90 for children under 11. Hatmed lists R3,000 for applicants aged 11 and above and R1,500 for children under 11. The exact payment arrangement depends on the approved clinic.

Payment arrangements vary by clinic: some IOM locations require payment before the appointment, while Hatmed lists payment during the appointment. Confirm the current instructions when booking and budget a buffer above the advertised figure.

There is no additional government fee for the TB test — the IOM clinic fee is the only cost. However, you will need to factor in travel to the clinic, which for many South Africans outside Gauteng means travelling to Pretoria or Cape Town.

How to Book an Appointment

Appointments at IOM-approved clinics in South Africa are booked directly with each clinic. For Hatmed Pretoria, call +27 12 362 7180. For Intercare Century City, book through its website. The IOM South Africa page at healthcentres.iom.int/south-africa has the current contact information and should be your first stop to confirm clinic details before booking.

Appointment slots are often available within a few days, though busy periods can stretch this to about 10 days and availability varies by clinic. If you are in Johannesburg, Pretoria is your nearest listed option. Durban and Cape Town applicants have a local clinic each.

Timing the TB Test Within Your UK Ancestry Visa Application

The six-month validity window on the TB certificate creates a sequencing constraint. You need to complete the test close enough to your VFS Global appointment that the certificate is still valid when you enter the UK — but not so early that the certificate expires before you have finished gathering the rest of your documents.

The sensible approach for most Ancestry visa applicants from South Africa is to:

1. Start the unabridged birth certificate and SAPS police clearance applications first (both take months).
2. Order the grandparent's birth certificate from the UK General Register Office early.
3. Book the TB test approximately 3 to 4 months before your planned VFS appointment — early enough to account for any X-ray complications, but recent enough that the certificate will still be valid when you arrive in the UK after processing.

The full sequencing of documents — including when to apply for each certificate relative to your VFS appointment — is covered in the South Africa to UK Ancestry Visa Guide.

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