How to Book a UK TB Test in Pakistan: Approved Clinics in Four Cities, From PKR 10,000
Book a UK visa TB test in Pakistan: the approved AMC and IOM clinics in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur, PKR fees, what to bring and how long it lasts.
Short answer: If you are going to the UK for 6 months or more from Pakistan, you need a tuberculosis (TB) certificate from a clinic the UK Home Office has approved. In Pakistan the approved clinics are run by AMC and by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur. The test fee listed is PKR 10,000 to PKR 15,000 for adults and children over 11, and the certificate lasts 6 months.
A TB certificate from the wrong clinic, or one that is too old, can hold up a UK visa file. The UK will not accept a certificate from a clinic it has not approved.
We read the UK government's TB test pages and its list of clinics in Pakistan on 13 October 2026. The clinic list was last updated by the UK on 20 February 2026. We did not visit a clinic.
You need the test for a stay of six months or more
The UK requires a TB test if all three of these are true: you are coming for 6 months or more, you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more, and you were living in a listed country within the last 6 months. Pakistan is on the list.
The test is also needed for a stay of under 6 months if you apply as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner on a family visa, or for a returning resident visa after more than 2 years away. See the rules on the UK partner and fiancé visa from Pakistan.
For a student, check the details in UK student visa from Pakistan, and for workers see UK skilled worker visa from Pakistan. A short visit of under 6 months does not need the test.
The test is a chest x-ray and the certificate lasts six months
You get a chest x-ray. If the result is not clear, you may be asked for a sputum sample, which is phlegm coughed up from your lungs. No other test is needed for the visa.
If you do not have TB, you get a certificate valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray. Include the certificate with your visa application. Time your test so the certificate is still valid when you apply.
| Person | What happens |
|---|---|
| Adult | Chest x-ray, then a certificate if clear |
| Child under 11 | Clinician decides if an x-ray is needed; usually not for under 11 |
| Pregnant woman | Shielded x-ray in 2nd or 3rd trimester, a sputum test, or wait until after delivery |
| Sputum test | May cost extra and results can take up to 8 weeks |
All children must see a clinician, who decides whether a chest x-ray is needed. If the clinician finds no TB, the clinic gives a certificate. Children complete a health questionnaire.
Approved clinics are in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur
The UK lists two types of approved clinics in Pakistan. AMC has branches in Islamabad and Lahore. IOM runs Migration Health Assessment Centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur in Azad Kashmir. The IOM appointment line listed is +92 51 111 466 472.
| City | Approved clinic | Fee, under 11 | Fee, 11 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | AMC | PKR 11,000 | PKR 15,000 |
| Islamabad | IOM | PKR 10,000 | PKR 14,000 |
| Lahore | AMC | PKR 11,000 | PKR 15,000 |
| Lahore | IOM | PKR 10,000 | PKR 14,000 |
| Mirpur | IOM | PKR 10,000 | PKR 14,000 |
| Karachi | IOM | No fee listed on the UK page | |
These are the fees listed by the UK on its page. Clinics can change fees, so confirm the amount when you book. The AMC clinics list their hours as Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. The IOM centres list Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 4:45 pm, and Friday, 8 am to 12:30 pm for the centres where a Friday time is given.
Book the test and bring the right papers
Book early, because you need the certificate before you can finish the visa application. Follow these steps.
- Choose an approved clinic in your city from the UK list.
- Book an appointment by phone or email, using the contact on the UK page.
- Fill in the applicant history questionnaire if the clinic asks for it. AMC Lahore lists it as online or downloadable.
- Bring valid photo ID such as your passport or national ID card, plus a photocopy.
- Bring 3 printed passport-size photographs on a white background, if the clinic asks, and the test fee.
- Take the x-ray, collect the certificate and keep the original for the visa application.
The UK page lists the photo and ID items for the Mirpur IOM centre and the confirmation email and questionnaire for AMC Lahore. Ask your clinic what it needs, because the list may differ between clinics.
Avoid clinics that are not on the UK list
The UK says it will not accept a certificate from a clinic it has not approved. The government removed three clinics from the Pakistan list in April 2025, so an old list on a website or a social media post may be out of date.
Check any clinic against the official UK page before you pay. An agent who offers a certificate without an x-ray is not offering a real test. If you meet that offer, use our steps to check a study abroad agent and report fraud. A refused visa because of a wrong certificate is hard to fix, as the steps to review, appeal or reapply after a UK refusal show.
If you also need a Pakistan-side test for a free TB check at a government centre, that is a different service and does not give a UK visa certificate. See where to get a free TB test and treatment in Pakistan.
Common questions
Do I need a TB test for a UK visit visa?
Not for a visit under 6 months. The test is for stays of 6 months or more, and for fiancé and returning resident cases.
How long is the TB certificate valid?
Six months from the date of your x-ray, according to the UK page. Apply before it runs out.
How much does the test cost in Pakistan?
The UK page lists PKR 10,000 to PKR 15,000 for people aged 11 and over, and PKR 10,000 to PKR 11,000 for younger children.
Can I use any hospital?
No. Only clinics approved by the Home Office. A certificate from any other clinic will not be accepted.
What if my x-ray is unclear?
You may be asked for a sputum sample. That test may cost extra and can take up to 8 weeks.
Do children need an x-ray?
All children see a clinician, who decides. Children under 11 do not normally have a chest x-ray.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the UK government's page on who needs a TB test for a visa and its list of approved TB clinics in Pakistan, last updated 20 February 2026. We did not call the clinics, so we did not verify appointment waits or current fees. Karachi shows no fee on the UK page.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
