UK TB Test Guide for Nepali Students explains who needs tuberculosis screening, where to use a Home Office-approved clinic in Nepal, what happens during the test, current fees and how long the certificate remains valid. Most applicants who have lived in Nepal and will study in the UK for more than six months need the certificate before submitting their Student visa application.
Information checked on 24 July 2026. Clinic addresses, fees, appointment systems and immigration rules can change, so confirm the live GOV.UK Nepal clinic page before booking.
UK visa TB test facts at a glance
| Item | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Typical Student requirement | Coming to the UK for 6 months or more after living in Nepal for at least 6 months and being there within the last 6 months |
| Accepted clinic | Only a clinic listed as Home Office approved on GOV.UK |
| Standard adult screening | Clinical review and chest x-ray, with sputum testing if the x-ray is unclear or further assessment is needed |
| Children under 11 | Must attend an approved clinic but do not normally receive a chest x-ray |
| Certificate validity | Normally 6 months from the date of the chest x-ray or relevant examination |
| Busy appointment period | June to October; the Nepal guidance says an appointment can take up to 10 days at peak times |
| Treatment cost | Not included in the screening fee if active TB is found |
Who needs a UK visa TB test?
Appendix Tuberculosis requires a valid certificate when an applicant is coming to the UK for more than six months and has been continuously present in a listed country or countries for at least six months, including some period within the six months immediately before applying.
Nepal is on the listed-country schedule. A typical Nepali student applying from Nepal for a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD course therefore needs screening. The rule uses residence and recent presence as well as nationality, so a Nepali citizen living long-term in another country should check their complete travel history instead of assuming the answer.
Does every short course require a TB certificate?
Student entry clearance for a course lasting more than six months normally falls within the screening requirement when the residence conditions are met. A course or visa for less than six months is generally outside this rule, although separate exceptions apply to returning residents and certain family applicants.
Do not decide from the teaching dates alone. Check the actual immigration route and intended permission length on the current GOV.UK service.
Why must the clinic be approved?
UKVI accepts certificates only from medical practitioners approved for this immigration process. A normal hospital chest x-ray, annual health check, laboratory report or certificate from an unlisted clinic does not meet Appendix TB.
Use the live GOV.UK Nepal clinic list. Contact the clinic directly and state that the appointment is for a UK visa TB test.
Approved locations in Nepal
The current Nepal page lists approved services in Jhapa and Kathmandu:
- IOM Resettlement Health Assessment Centre, Damak-11, Jhapa
- IOM Migration Health Assessment Center, Panipokhari, Kathmandu
- Norvic International Hospital and Medical College, Thapathali, Kathmandu
Addresses and contacts can change. Do not rely on an old social-media post or map listing; open the official page on the day you book.
Current Nepal TB test fees
The GOV.UK page updated in November 2025 lists the IOM Jhapa and Kathmandu fee as USD 60 for people aged 11 and over, USD 40 for children under 11, and USD 12 for certificate reissue. IOM takes the equivalent in Nepalese rupees using its exchange rate.
The same page lists Norvic fees as NPR 7,800 for ages 11 and over, NPR 5,200 below 11 and NPR 1,300 for reissue. A urine pregnancy test, when requested for applicants aged 12 to 54, is listed separately at NPR 650.
These figures can change and do not cover TB treatment or every additional investigation. Confirm the amount and accepted payment method with the clinic before travelling.
When should a student book the test?
Book early enough to receive the certificate before the planned online Student visa submission, but remember that the certificate normally has a six-month validity period. A practical time is after the course plan is firm and within the visa preparation window.
The Nepal guidance says appointments are often available within a few days, but waiting can reach 10 days during the June-to-October student peak. An unclear x-ray can lead to sputum testing that takes up to eight weeks, so a last-minute booking is risky.
What to take to the clinic
The current Nepal instructions list:
- Photo identification such as the passport
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- The test fee in the method accepted by the clinic
- Previous screening details, medical notes and x-ray results if there is a history of TB or another lung disease
Use the passport intended for the visa where possible. Ask the clinic whether it needs an offer, UK address, online booking confirmation or extra copy because local intake procedures can change.
What happens at the appointment?
The clinic verifies identity and medical history, asks about relevant symptoms and completes the screening required by the technical instructions. Most applicants aged 11 or over receive a chest x-ray to look for active pulmonary tuberculosis.
The test is designed for active pulmonary TB in the immigration context. It is not a complete medical examination and does not replace care for other symptoms or conditions.
The chest x-ray
A chest x-ray can show lung changes that require further assessment. Remove jewellery or clothing as instructed and tell staff about pregnancy, previous TB, lung disease and any current symptoms. Follow the clinic’s safety process rather than attempting to supply an outside x-ray.
If the result is clear and the clinician is satisfied that active pulmonary TB is absent, the clinic issues the immigration certificate. Keep the certificate and any accompanying records secure.
What if the x-ray is unclear?
An unclear or abnormal x-ray does not by itself establish active TB. The applicant may be asked for sputum samples, meaning phlegm coughed from the lungs. The technical process commonly uses three samples and laboratory culture.
Culture can take up to eight weeks. Follow every appointment and clinical instruction. Do not submit altered evidence or visit another unapproved clinic to obtain a faster-looking result.
What if active TB is found?
A certificate confirming absence of active pulmonary TB cannot be issued while the condition is present. The applicant receives clinical advice and needs appropriate treatment. The Nepal screening fee does not cover treatment.
Health comes first. Tell the university promptly that medical and visa timing may change without sharing more private detail than necessary. After successful treatment, follow the approved clinic’s instructions for reassessment.
Previous TB or lung disease
A past TB diagnosis does not automatically make a future UK visa impossible. Bring previous treatment records, screening reports and x-rays where available so the approved clinician can understand old lung changes.
Hiding history can delay assessment when the x-ray shows an abnormality. Give accurate dates and treatment information; the clinic decides what further testing is medically required.
TB testing for children
Every child who needs screening must attend an approved clinic. Children under 11 do not normally receive a chest x-ray. A parent or guardian completes the health questionnaire, and the clinician assesses symptoms, contact history and risk.
If the clinician is satisfied, a certificate is issued for the child’s visa application. A child can still need further examination or imaging when the clinical assessment indicates it.
TB testing during pregnancy
Tell the clinic before any x-ray. GOV.UK says a pregnant applicant may choose an x-ray with additional shielding in the second or third trimester, a sputum test, or to wait until after delivery. Sputum testing can involve an extra fee and a wait of up to eight weeks.
The Nepal page notes that applicants aged 12 to 54 may be asked for a urine pregnancy test. Discuss the medical options with the approved clinician; an education agent should not choose on the applicant’s behalf.
How long is the certificate valid?
Appendix TB requires the certificate to have been issued within the six months immediately before the visa application and not to have expired. The public testing guide normally describes validity as six months from the chest-x-ray date.
Check the exact expiry printed on the certificate. If the visa application or decision is delayed significantly, UKVI can require a new valid certificate in circumstances described by the rules.
Check the certificate before leaving
Verify:
- Name and date of birth
- Passport or identity details
- Clinic and practitioner information
- Screening or x-ray date
- Certificate expiry
- Confirmation concerning active pulmonary TB
Report an error to the issuing clinic immediately. Do not edit the PDF or paper document yourself.
How to use the certificate in the visa application
Include the valid TB certificate with the Student visa evidence when required. Keep the original available for biometrics and travel. The certificate does not replace the passport, CAS, financial evidence, ATAS or other documents.
The UK Student visa documents guide shows how TB fits into the complete file.
Should the certificate be carried when travelling?
Keep the original certificate in hand luggage with other key immigration and university records. Border or health staff can ask to see evidence, and carrying it avoids dependence on a checked bag or internet connection.
Before travel, also verify the eVisa and passport link using the UK pre-departure checklist.
TB test versus general health screening
The visa TB process screens for active pulmonary tuberculosis. It does not confirm that a person has no other illness, does not provide routine vaccination records and does not establish future NHS entitlement.
Prepare ongoing medicines and health records separately. The UK Student healthcare guide covers IHS, GP registration and medical preparation.
TB test and the application timeline
Place screening before the final visa submission because the certificate is part of the evidence. Coordinate it with the CAS, 28-day financial period and any ATAS application. Those workstreams have different expiry and processing windows.
A student should not wait for the CAS to start every preparation task. Use the UK Student visa application timeline after it is available in this cluster.
Scams and unsafe shortcuts
- Buying a certificate without attending an approved clinic
- Using an x-ray from a normal hospital as visa evidence
- Paying an agent to guarantee a clear result
- Editing an expiry date or passport number
- Hiding previous TB or lung disease
- Skipping sputum appointments after an unclear x-ray
- Sending payment to a personal account without clinic verification
UKVI and clinics can verify evidence. False medical documents can create serious immigration and legal consequences.
Step-by-step TB test checklist
- Confirm the requirement. Check intended stay and recent residence history.
- Open the official Nepal list. Select a currently approved clinic.
- Book directly. State that the test is for a UK visa.
- Prepare documents. Take passport, photos, fee and relevant medical records.
- Disclose health information. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, symptoms and past lung disease.
- Complete all tests. Attend sputum collection when required.
- Check the certificate. Correct errors before using it.
- Submit within validity. Include it in the Student visa evidence.
- Carry the original. Keep it in hand luggage for travel.
Common TB test mistakes
- Testing at a clinic not listed by the Home Office
- Booking during the peak period with no time for further tests
- Using a certificate after its printed expiry
- Forgetting passport photos or previous lung records
- Assuming children do not need to attend
- Failing to tell the clinic about pregnancy
- Confusing a clear TB test with complete medical fitness
- Leaving the certificate out of the visa upload
Frequently asked questions
Do Nepali students need a TB test for the UK?
Most applicants who lived in Nepal for at least six months, were there within the last six months and will come to the UK for more than six months need a valid certificate.
How long is the UK visa TB certificate valid?
It is normally valid for six months from the chest-x-ray or relevant examination date. Use the exact expiry printed on the certificate.
Can I use any hospital in Nepal?
No. UKVI accepts the certificate only from a clinic currently approved by the Home Office and listed on GOV.UK.
Do children under 11 need a chest x-ray?
They must attend an approved clinic, but they do not normally have a chest x-ray. The clinician reviews a health questionnaire and decides whether further assessment is needed.
What happens if my x-ray is unclear?
The clinic may require sputum samples and laboratory culture. Results can take up to eight weeks, so allow time before the visa deadline.
Related guidance in Nepal
For a visible second review of TB timing and the complete Student visa file, use the MKS Education UK visa guidance. Students preparing for IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT or SAT can compare options at MKS Prep. The approved clinician and UKVI remain the final authorities for screening and immigration evidence.