UK TB Test for Nepali Students: Clinics, Fees, Validity

Yes, a UK TB test for Nepali students is required for a Student visa. Nepal is on GOV.UK’s list of countries where a tuberculosis test is required if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more, and the test must be done at one of three Home Office approved clinics in Nepal: IOM in Kathmandu, IOM in Damak (Jhapa), or Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of your chest x-ray, and you include it with your visa application.

Last checked: 17 October 2026. Clinic fees are set by the clinics and can change; confirm when you book.

UK TB test for Nepali students: key facts

Who needs a TB test for a UK visa?

According to GOV.UK’s tuberculosis test page, you need a TB test if all three of these are true:

• you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more;
• you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more; and
• you have lived in a listed country within the last 6 months.

Nepal appears on the official list of countries where you need a TB test, along with India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. A UK bachelor’s or master’s degree is longer than 6 months, so almost every Nepali student applying for a UK Student visa from home will need the test.

GOV.UK lists only a few exemptions: accredited diplomats, returning UK residents who have not been away for more than 2 years, and people coming on the Ukraine schemes. A normal student from Nepal does not fit any of these.

The rule also applies to family members. If your spouse or child is applying with you as a dependant and staying 6 months or more, they need their own certificate. GOV.UK says all children must see a clinician at an approved clinic, who decides whether an x-ray is needed. Children under 11 will not normally have a chest x-ray.

Approved TB test clinics in Nepal

GOV.UK is clear: certificates from clinics that are not approved by the Home Office are not accepted. A normal hospital chest x-ray, however good, will not count. The GOV.UK page for Nepal lists three clinics:

If you live in Pokhara, Butwal, Chitwan or elsewhere, you will need to travel to Kathmandu or Damak. There are no other approved clinics in Nepal on the GOV.UK list today.

How much does the UK TB test cost in Nepal?

The fee is paid directly to the clinic. It is separate from, and on top of, the £558 Student visa fee and the immigration health surcharge. These are the fees GOV.UK publishes for Nepal:

Two extra points from the same GOV.UK page: Norvic may charge women aged 12 to 54 Rs 650 for a urine pregnancy test, and the test fee does not cover TB treatment if you need it.

For the full picture of what a UK student visa costs from Nepal, see our UK student visa cost guide.

Step by step: getting your TB certificate

1. Plan the timing. The certificate lasts 6 months from the x-ray date. It must still be valid when you apply, so do not take the test too early. A sensible time is once your CAS is close and you know roughly when you will apply.
2. Book by phone or email. Contact the clinic and say the test is for a UK visa application. GOV.UK says appointments are usually available within a few days, but from June to October (the student peak season) you may wait up to 10 days.
3. Ask for a female clinician if you prefer. Mention it when you book.
4. Bring the right documents. Your passport (or other photo ID), two recent passport-size photos, and the fee. If you have had TB or another lung disease before, bring earlier screening details, medical notes and x-rays if you can.
5. Have the chest x-ray. If the result is not clear, you may be asked for a sputum sample. GOV.UK says no other TB tests are required for the visa.
6. Collect your certificate. If your result is clear, you get a certificate valid for 6 months from the x-ray date.
7. Include it with your visa application. GOV.UK says to include the certificate with your application. Keep a copy for your own records.

If you are pregnant

GOV.UK gives pregnant applicants three choices: an x-ray with an extra shield to protect the baby (in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters), a sputum test instead, or waiting until after delivery. A sputum test may cost extra and results can take up to 8 weeks, so plan this well before your course start date.

Nepal-specific tips

• Book early for the September intake. June to October is when most Nepali students apply, and GOV.UK itself warns of waits of up to 10 days.
• Outside the valley? Students from eastern Nepal may find IOM Damak easier to reach than Kathmandu. Check its working days by phone first.
• Ignore “TB packages”. You do not need anyone to arrange the test for you. You can contact the clinic yourself, and the official fee is published on GOV.UK.
• Applying for the January intake? If your x-ray was for an earlier plan, check whether the 6 months will have run out by your application date.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a non-approved hospital. The certificate will be rejected. Use only the three clinics on GOV.UK.
• Testing too early. A test done in January will not cover an application in August.
• Forgetting dependants. Each family member coming for 6 months or more needs their own certificate (children see a clinician who decides on the x-ray).
• Not mentioning past TB. Bring your old records. Hiding past illness only creates delays.
• Leaving it to the last week. A sputum test, if needed, takes much longer than an x-ray.

What to do next

Once your TB test is booked, the next big items are your CAS, your bank funds and your visa form. Our study in the UK from Nepal guide walks through the full process, and the bank balance guide explains the money you must show. You can also build a free study plan to keep your dates in order.

Frequently asked questions

Is a TB test required for a UK student visa from Nepal?
Yes. Nepal is on GOV.UK’s list, so if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more and have lived in Nepal for the last 6 months, you need a TB certificate from an approved clinic.

Where can I do the UK TB test in Nepal?
Only at the Home Office approved clinics GOV.UK lists for Nepal: IOM Migration Health Assessment Center in Lazimpat, Kathmandu; IOM in Damak, Jhapa; and Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali, Kathmandu.

How long is the UK TB certificate valid?
6 months from the date of your chest x-ray. It must be valid when you submit your visa application.

What is the UK TB test fee in Nepal?
For applicants aged 11 and over, GOV.UK lists USD 60 at the IOM clinics (paid in rupees at IOM’s rate) and Rs 7,800 at Norvic. Under-11s cost USD 40 or Rs 5,200. Confirm when you book.

How soon can I get a TB test appointment in Kathmandu?
GOV.UK says usually within a few days, but up to 10 days during the busy June to October season.

Do children need a TB test for a UK dependant visa?
All children must see a clinician at an approved clinic, who decides whether they need an x-ray. Children under 11 will not normally have one.

Related guides

• UK CAS and Credibility Interview: Guide for Nepali Students
• Graduate Visa vs Skilled Worker Visa After a UK Degree
• IELTS vs PTE for Nepali Students in 2026: Which to Take

Sources

• Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants – GOV.UK
• Countries where you need a TB test for your UK visa application – GOV.UK
• Tuberculosis testing in Nepal: approved clinics and fees – GOV.UK
• Student visa – GOV.UK
• Foreign exchange rates – Nepal Rastra Bank (selling rate, 17 Oct 2026)

Last checked: 17 October 2026. This is general information, not medical or immigration advice. Check GOV.UK and the clinic before you book.