Booking a UK visa TB test in Chennai? Start with the approved list
If your UK visa application requires tuberculosis screening, the certificate must come from a clinic approved by the UK Home Office. Chennai currently has two clinics on the official list. This guide explains their published fees, contact details, documents, test process and certificate validity.
At a glance
UK Visa TB Test Chennai 2026: Quick Facts
This is a visa-specific TB screening, not a routine health check. A certificate from a hospital that is not on the Home Office list will not satisfy the UK visa requirement, even if that hospital is otherwise well known.
UKVI eligibility
Do You Need a TB Test for Your UK Visa?
Under current GOV.UK guidance, you will normally need a TB test when all three of the following statements apply:
You are coming to the United Kingdom for six months or more.
You have lived for at least six months in India or another country on the Home Office list.
You were living in India or another listed country within the last six months.
Most Indian applicants for a long-term UK Student visa meet these conditions. The rule is based on recent residence, not nationality alone. For example, a non-Indian citizen who recently lived in India may need the test, while an Indian citizen who has been living in a non-listed country may have a different position.
A person coming for less than six months may still need a test when applying as a Returning Resident or for a family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner. Use the official checker for your exact visa route.
Official list updated 5 August 2026
Home Office-Approved TB Test Centres in Chennai
The latest GOV.UK India list shows two approved centres in Chennai. Fees below are the amounts published by GOV.UK on the date this guide was checked; call the clinic to confirm availability and the final charge.
Apollo Medical Centre
Address: VCT Building, 36/2 Gandhi Mandapam Road and Ranjith Road, opposite AMM Matriculation School, Kotturpuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600085.
- Published fee: ₹2,200 for applicants below 11 and ₹2,200 for applicants aged 11 or above
- Telephone: 044 4040 1066 / 044 2829 3333
- Email: Immigration_kotturpuram@apollohospitals.com
Global Emigration Medical Services (GEMS)
Address: 3 Dr MGR Salai, near Palmgrove Hotel, Tirumurthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034.
- Published fee: ₹2,000 below age 11; ₹2,200 for age 11 and above
- Telephone: 81210 21578
- Email: gems.chennai24@gmail.com
- Published hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm
Contact an approved clinic directly and say that you require tuberculosis screening for a UK visa. Never send passport scans or payments to an unverified WhatsApp number.
Appointment guide
How to Book a UK Visa TB Test Appointment in Chennai
- 1
Choose an approved centre
Use the current GOV.UK India list rather than a general search result or ordinary hospital directory.
- 2
Contact the clinic directly
Tell the team that the appointment is for a UK visa TB test. Ask for the available date, current fee and payment method.
- 3
Confirm the document checklist
Requirements can differ slightly by centre. Apollo, for example, publishes a requirement for an original passport, a passport bio-page copy and three passport-size photographs.
- 4
Record your appointment details
Save the date, reporting time, clinic address and any reference number. Arrive early enough for registration.
- 5
Check the certificate before leaving
Confirm that your name, date of birth, passport number and other personal details match the passport used for the visa application.
Prepare before the visit
Documents to Carry to the Chennai TB Test Centre
Current passport
Take the passport you will use for your UK visa application.
Photo identification
Carry a valid national identity document containing your photograph if requested.
Test fee
Confirm the current charge and accepted payment methods with the clinic.
Previous medical records
If you have had TB or another lung condition, take previous screening details, medical notes and X-ray results where available.
Apollo-specific published checklist: original passport, one photocopy of its bio-data page and three passport-size photographs. Confirm the checklist directly if you choose GEMS.
At the clinic
What Happens During the UK Visa TB Test?
Apollo advises applicants to allow approximately one to two hours for the medical check-up on the appointment day. This is a clinic estimate, not a guaranteed duration for every applicant or every approved centre.
You may be asked to provide sputum samples. Results can take up to eight weeks, and additional clinic charges may apply. There is no official UKVI “7-Day Rule” for this process, so follow the instructions given by the approved clinic.
Plan the application date
How Long Is a UK Visa TB Certificate Valid?
If the test shows that you do not have TB, the approved clinic issues a certificate valid for six months from the chest X-ray date. Include the certificate with your UK visa application. Check the X-ray date and personal details as soon as you receive it.
Do not take the test unnecessarily early, but do not leave it until the final days before submitting the visa application. Students should coordinate the test with their CAS and intended Student visa application timeline. If your UK CAS is delayed, follow this CAS processing and solutions guide while keeping the TB certificate validity in view.
Special circumstances
TB Testing for Children and Pregnant Applicants
Children
Every child who requires screening must attend an approved clinic and complete a health questionnaire. A clinician decides whether an X-ray is needed; children under 11 do not normally have one.
Pregnancy
GOV.UK lists options including an X-ray with additional shielding during the second or third trimester, a sputum test that may take up to eight weeks, or waiting until after delivery. Discuss the options with the approved clinic and your healthcare professional.
Other Tamil Nadu options
What If Chennai Is Not Convenient?
The official list also includes approved centres in Coimbatore. At the time of checking, GOV.UK listed KG Hospital, KG Specialty Centre and Kovai Medical Center and Hospital. Addresses, operating hours and fees are available on the live India clinic page.
Applicants elsewhere in India can find approved clinics in cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and others. Do not assume every branch of a listed hospital is approved—the exact facility and address must appear on GOV.UK.
Open the complete official India clinic list ↗Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I take a UK visa TB test in Chennai?
The current Home Office list includes Apollo Medical Centre in Kotturpuram and Global Emigration Medical Services (GEMS) in Nungambakkam. Recheck the GOV.UK list before booking.
How much is the UK visa TB test in Chennai in 2026?
GOV.UK currently lists ₹2,200 at Apollo for both age groups. At GEMS it lists ₹2,000 for applicants below 11 and ₹2,200 for applicants aged 11 or above. Confirm the current amount directly with the clinic.
Can I book the TB test online?
Booking arrangements depend on the clinic. Apollo’s published page asks applicants to make a prior appointment by telephone and says its general online appointment route is not available for this medical. Contact your chosen approved centre directly.
How long does the test take?
Apollo advises allowing one to two hours on the appointment day. Waiting time and the process may differ at GEMS or if further medical checks are required.
Do children under 11 need a chest X-ray?
They must attend an approved clinic if they require TB screening, but children under 11 do not normally have an X-ray. The clinic’s clinician makes the decision after assessment.
What happens if my chest X-ray is unclear?
The clinic may request sputum samples. GOV.UK warns that results can take up to eight weeks, so allow additional time before the intended visa submission or travel schedule.
How long is the certificate valid?
A clear TB certificate is valid for six months from the date of the chest X-ray and must be included with the UK visa application.
Can I use a TB certificate from any Chennai hospital?
No. UKVI accepts a certificate only from a clinic approved by the Home Office for UK visa TB screening.
Related guidance
Continue Your UK Application Research
Primary references