Guidance

Tuberculosis testing in South Africa

Updated 8 January 2024

Your test must be from a clinic approved by the Home Office and you will need to obtain an medical certificate confirming that you are free from TB. We won’t accept a TB test certificate from a clinic we have not approved.

You do not need a certificate if you:

• are a diplomatic passport holder travelling on official business or on a posting to the UK
• qualify for an exempt visa
• are applying for a certificate of entitlement

There are no approved clinics in Lesotho or Swaziland so if you’re from either of these countries you must travel to South Africa to be tested.

Cape Town

Intercare

Intercare
Cnr Century Way and Park Lane
Grand Central Precinct
Century City
Cape Town

Telephone: +27 21 879 0000

Email: uktb.centurycity@intercare.co.za

Website: http://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register

The following should contact the clinic instead of using this online system:

• applicants with previous registration (those who have done UK TB screening before)
• applicants aged 10 years and under
• applicants booking for family members; you can only book family members who are 11 years old or over

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 3pm

Closed on national holidays.

Durban

ShipMed Medical Services

Shipmed Medical Services
25 Glenwood Drive
Glenwood
Durban

Telephone: +27 31 261 8291

Email: uktb@shipmed.co.za

Website: http://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register

The following should contact the clinic instead of using this online system:

• applicants with previous registration (those who have done UK TB screening before)
• applicants aged 10 years or under
• applicants booking for family members; you can only book family members who are 11 years old or over

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Closed on national holidays.

Pretoria

Hatmed Medical Centre

454 Hilda Street
Hatfield
Pretoria

Telephone: +27 12 362 7180

Email: rina@hatmed.co.za

Website: www.hatmed.co.za

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm

IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre

Walker Creek Office Park
Building 4
Nicholson Street
Muckleneuk
Pretoria

Telephone: +27(0)12 342 2789

Mobile: +27(0)71 607 3631 or +27(0)63 698 8184

Email: uktbsouthafrica@iom.int

Online booking: http://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register

Website: https://southafrica.iom.int/uk-tb-testing

The following should contact the clinic instead of using this online system:

• applicants with previous registration (those who have done UK TB screening before)
• applicants under 11 years old
• applicants booking for family members; you can only book family members who are 11 years old or over

Operating hours:

• Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4:30pm
• Friday, 8am to 12:30pm

Closed on national holidays.

Attending the clinic

You should contact the clinic to book an appointment for a TB screening examination. You should not go to the clinic directly without receiving confirmation of your TB screening appointment through the clinic.

You should make it clear that you need the test for a UK visa application. You can expect to get an appointment within a few days of your request. At busy times you may have to wait 10 days for an appointment, especially during the UK student visa peak season between June and September.

If you need to cancel your appointment, you should contact the clinic and refer to their cancellation policy and procedure.

You’ll be given a chest x-ray to test for TB. If the result of the x-ray is not clear, you may also be asked to give a sputum sample (phlegm coughed up from your lungs).

If your test shows that you do not have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray. Include this certificate with your UK visa application.

You might be asked to undergo further testing if the doctor suspects you have active TB. If this is the case, you will be provided with additional counselling and more information during your appointment.

You will need to provide 3 sputum samples over 3 consecutive days. These samples are then tested in a laboratory; it can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to get a result. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of medical exam and not from the date of the sputum report.

Minors

Applicants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can provide consent and make decisions on their behalf.

Pregnancy

Women of child-bearing age may be requested to provide a urine sample to test for pregnancy before undergoing a chest x-ray. If you are pregnant and undergoing a migration health assessment, you may choose to either:

• proceed with the chest x-ray with a double leaded shielding to protect you and your unborn baby
• opt for sputum testing, where you will be requested to provide a sputum sample on 3 consecutive days
• wait until after giving birth to proceed with the migration health assessment

If you choose to proceed with the chest x-ray, you will be requested to sign an additional consent form.

What you should bring with you

You should bring:

• your passport or UNHCR/MHA registration documents
• proof of payment of the test fee (printed)
• your online booking reference number

If your test is at the Hatmed Medical Centre, you should also bring:

• an original identity document
• a passport photo

If you’d like an appointment with a female clinician, please ask when you schedule your appointment.

Test fees

11 years and above	Below 11 years	Certificate reissue (IOM only)
R3,000	R1,500	R100

The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee. You are unable to pay at the clinic.

Payment details (IOM only)

You must pay your fee using the following banking details before you arrive at the clinic. The booking reference number given must be used on the payment slip.

Bank: FNB
Account type: public recipient
Account name: UN Migration Agency IOM
Account number: 62165532724
Branch: Brooklyn
Branch code: 251345
Swift code: FIRNZAJJXXX

The fee is not refundable if you test positive for TB or decide not travel to the UK, or your visa is refused. For most applicants, this is where the testing process will end and your certificate will then be issued.

Step-by-step procedure (IOM only)

• the medical examination will be processed on Tuesdays (chest x-ray) and on Wednesdays (physical exam)
• all visa applicants must attend the clinic for the assessment with all the required documents
• the initial examination will include a counselling session and signing a consent form
• applicants aged 10 and under will go through a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued
• applicants aged 11 and above will have a chest x-ray done; applicants will then be reviewed by the doctor with the chest x-ray result before a certificate is issued
• additional sputum smears and cultures medical procedures may apply in case of abnormal chest x-ray findings and could take up to 8 weeks to get the final results
• a TB clearance certificate will be issued to the applicant on the day of the examination if the examination result is considered free of active pulmonary TB disease
• if you do not return within 7 days for sputum collection, you will not get a TB clearance certificate
• you will be given further testing or told to contact your own health care provider if the examination results are abnormal but the abnormality is not related to TB disease
• the TB clearance certificate expires 6 months from the chest x-ray date if you had a chest x-ray done, or 6 months from the physical examination date if you don’t need a chest x-ray
• the TB clearance certificate is valid for 3 months if you have been in contact with a family member with active pulmonary TB
• female applicants may be requested to undergo a pregnancy test, in case there is uncertainty as to whether they may be pregnant
• pregnant applicants can decide not to get a chest x-ray examination and instead either give sputum for a TB test on 3 consecutive mornings or delay the TB screening until after giving birth

Read more information on TB screening requirements for people applying for a UK visa in countries where TB is common.