This is your guide to tuberculosis (TB) screening for the UK. It will inform you about what you need to know about TB and TB screening requirements for the UK.

Although almost all cases of TB can be treated and cured, delays in diagnosis and other factors mean that it is a serious infection which kills an estimated 1.8 million people each year. TB rates are rising in the UK. The cases of TB in England rose by 10.7% in 2023 compared to 2022. This rise signals a rebound of TB cases to above the pre-COVID-19-pandemic numbers. TB can affect any part of the body, but a risk of transmission only arises where the disease is in its active form in the lungs or larynx (throat). Therefore, pre-entry screening for the UK only covers active TB in the lungs.

Why I need to be screened

The purpose of TB screening is to detect the presence of lung TB or laryngeal TB and prevent the individual getting worse and passing on the infection to others.

Pre-entry screening is compulsory for those who wish to stay in the UK for over 6 months and are travelling from a country where TB is common.

Screening is not required if you are travelling to the UK as a tourist.

You will be issued with a TB clearance certificate by your doctor if no TB is found on screening. The certificate states that you are free of lung TB and is needed before you can apply for a visa for the UK.

The benefit to me of being screened before my arrival to the UK

It is better for your health to detect TB and start treatment early.

It is also better to take the test at your convenience in your country, and not having to screen on arrival. This helps to reduce your time at the UK borders, where previously you would have to undergo screening.

Where the screening will take place and who is responsible for the screening process

You will be screened at a designated clinic approved by the UK’s Home Office. It will be carried out in your home country, on behalf of UK immigration authorities.

A list of approved clinics is available from Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants.

What I should take to my appointment

You should take 2 official documents as proof of identity, and one of these must be your passport. In addition, you will require 2 recent passport-sized photos, payment for your TB testing and your medical records, if appropriate.

If you have had TB in the past, you should provide details of your previous diagnosis and treatment, if possible.

How much I will have to pay for TB screening

You will pay a clinic fee, which varies from country to country. The fee covers the consultation, the X-ray and the certificate. It is possible that additional costs may occur if further tests (such as a sputum test) are required. The clinic fees are in addition to the cost of your visa application

The screening process

Step 1:

Before screening can begin, you will need to complete the Informed Consent Form in the clinic.

Then the doctor will ask you about your current complaints, previous illnesses (including TB) and whether you have had a relative or friend with TB.

Your doctor may carry out a physical examination where appropriate.

Step 2: (Chest X-ray)

Thereafter you will have a chest X-ray that detects changes to the lungs which may indicate lung TB.

For the X-ray, you will need to remove your clothes from your top half and will be given a gown to wear.

The X-ray usually takes place on the same day, and your results should be ready for collection within 24 hours.

If your doctor does not suspect TB after the consultation and X-ray, you will be issued with a TB certificate.

Step 3: (Sputum test)

If your X-ray is not completely normal, your doctor will ask you to provide 3 samples of sputum (coughed up phlegm from the lungs). This will be done in the clinic, and you therefore have to attend clinic on 3 mornings.

The samples will then be analysed under a microscope, and sometimes the TB bacteria can be seen with a special stain.

However, often the TB bacteria only grow in a culture of the sample. Therefore, all samples will be cultured. The final diagnosis can take up to 2 months.

If you still have any concerns regarding the screening process, please speak to your doctor or nurse at the clinic. All above steps can be explained to you clearly at the clinic.

Visa applicants who need to be screened for TB

All applicants for long term visas from countries where TB is common must be screened.

Specific screening guidelines apply for children aged under 11 and pregnant women.

Details and exemptions can be found in the UK Technical Instructions or on the Home Office website.

The whole family can be screened together

If you are intending to travel to the UK with your family, the clinic should be able to organise screening of all family members on the same day.

How long the certificate is valid for

A TB certificate is valid for 6 months from the date that it is issued.

After entry to the UK, health authorities may contact you to offer a screening test for latent (inactive) TB. This is in addition to the pre-entry screening to prevent a reactivation of this form of TB.

How testing positive for TB will affect my visa application

If you test positive for TB, your doctor will refer you for antibiotic treatment immediately. You cannot be issued with the certificate right away but may re-apply following the completion of treatment.

Your doctor will report the diagnosis of lung TB to the local, regional or national authorities as per your country’s requirements. Your doctor will also have to report your diagnosis to the UK health authorities.

Once you completed your treatment (usually after 6 months), you will be eligible to be re-screened at an additional fee. Prior to applying for your visa, you will require a valid screening certificate from an approved clinic, confirming that you are free from lung TB.

If you are found to no longer have lung TB, the certificate can then be issued, and you should include it with your visa application. A previous TB diagnosis will have no effect on the visa process, if subsequently certified free of TB.

TB can be cured

Whilst untreated, TB can be lethal. It is treatable and curable with a combination treatment of antibiotics for a minimum of 6 months. Usually, within the first 2 to 4 weeks of treatment you should start to feel better, and you will no longer be infectious.

However, it is crucial you complete the whole course of antibiotics to cure the TB.

Failure to do so can lead to the TB returning in a form that is resistant to the usual drugs and more difficult to treat.

Who can view my data

All information will remain strictly confidential and will be handled under the UK Data Protection Act 1998.

Your clinical data will only be shared between healthcare professionals and civil servants if necessary for public health and quality assurance purposes and will not be passed on to anyone else.