How to Apply for Tuberculosis Test for UK Visa in Kenya

Photo by Ivan Samkov

By Uzoamaka

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Looking to travel to the UK from Kenya, and planning to spend more than 6 months in the UK? Then you need to get tested for tuberculosis and obtain a TB test certificate from a UK Home Office approved clinic before you apply for your visa.

This article details how you can apply for tuberculosis test for UK visa in Kenya, approved clinics, cost, and how to make payment. It also answers a couple of questions people frequently ask about the process such as how long it takes to get the result and how long the certificate is valid for. Let’s jump right into it.

A quick guide for reading this article: You can use the table of content box below to navigate through the article if you want to access a particular information.

How do I get a TB test for UK visa?

To get a TB test certificate for your UK visa application, you need to visit a clinic that has been approved to issue TB test certificates for UK visa application.

Approved Clinic for TB test for UK visa in Kenya

In Kenya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the only approved clinic that can issue a TB test certificate for UK visa application. What this means is that if you get a TB test result/ certificate from another clinic, it will not be accepted by the UK Home Office during your visa application.

The table below outlines their address, contact details and operating hours.

IOM Health Assessment Centre Kenya

How do I make an appointment for TB test?

To book your appointment for TB test, you can call or send an email to the clinic. (I have listed their contact details in the table above.) You can also walk into the clinic to book an appointment.

The IOM and UK Government advice that you book an appointment at least 10 weeks before your visa interview date in case your result comes out inconclusive and you need further testing. When booking an appointment for TB test, please mention that you need it for your UK visa application.

How much does TB test cost for UK Visa in Kenya?

TB test fee for UK visa in Kenya depends on the age of the applicant. The table below outlines the test fee for each age group in both USD and KES.

* The fee in KES could change based on USD exchange rate. Please confirm the exact amount with the clinic before making payment. The amounts I have written is what was obtainable at the time of publishing this article.

How do I pay for TB test for UK?

Payment should be made on the day of your appointment with the clinic. An IOM staff will generate and give you an invoice when you go to the clinic for your test. You can proceed to make payment only after you have received the invoice.

There are multiple payment options. You can pay with M-PESA, credit card or make a bank deposit.

For credit card, Visa and Mastercard are the card options.

For bank deposit, CBA bank – the Gigiri branch- is the only bank option.

You can ask for further information regarding payment from the IOM staff when you go to the clinic.

How long does it take to get a TB test result in Kenya?

The answer to this depends on the way the TB test is carried out. If you do a chest x-ray, you’ll get your result the same day- usually within 6 hours. But if you do a sputum test, it takes 8 weeks for the result to come out.

Pregnant women are advised to wait till after they have put to bed before they go for TB test as x-ray testing is not recommendable for pregnant women. Alternatively, they can opt for a sputum test if they do not want to wait.

Sometimes, chest x-ray may be inconclusive, and the applicant will be required to do sputum test instead. This is why it is recommendable to book an appointment at least 10 weeks before your visa application interview date in case your initial TB test comes out inconclusive and you have to do another test.

Documents required for TB test for UK visa

When going to the clinic for your test, go with…

1. Valid passport document or
2. UNHCR/MHA registration documents (this is for refugee applicants).

Frequently asked questions about Tuberculosis Test for UK visa in Kenya

Do I need a TB test for UK visa?

If you are a Kenyan resident and you will be staying in the UK for more than 6 months when you travel there, then you need to need to do a TB test. But if you’ll be applying for a visa that permits you to stay for less than 6 months, then you do not need to test for tuberculosis.

However, some people are exempt from doing a TB test even if they will be staying for more than 6 months. Tap here to know if you fall under that category.

When to take TB test for UK visa

Before applying for your UK visa.

You’ll need to submit your TB test certificate alongside other required documents when applying for your UK visa. So the ideal time to take your TB test is before applying for your UK visa.

If you have any questions about Tuberculosis test for UK visa in Kenya, you are welcome to ask in the comments section below. If you have found this article useful, please share it. Tap on any of the social media icons below to share or copy the link.

Nakutakia mema!

Uzoamaka

Hey there! Thank you for stopping by to learn a bit more about me. My name is Uzoamaka- Uzo for short. I love traveling and reading of people’s adventures. The meaning of my name is the good road. Perhaps, that’s why I love to be on the road, exploring new places and people. Lol. Asides traveling, I love to solve problems, write, and read good novels. My favourite novel in the world is Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (what’s yours?). I also love Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and every novel by Agatha Christie and Mario Puzo that I have read. Now you see why I have a travel blog! I started this blog to inspire people to travel and to help you save money, time and have peace of mind when preparing to travel by providing answers to pressing travel-related questions based on my experience and other people's experiences. So join me as I share practical travel tips, insightful destination guides, and personal reflections, all with the hope of igniting your own wanderlust.