TB Test for UK Visa in Nigeria: IOM Lagos, Abuja, and What to Expect

Applicants who have lived in Nigeria or another listed country for six months or more and were there within the last six months generally need TB screening for a visa of more than six months. Exemptions apply in some circumstances; where a test is required, it must be from an approved clinic.

This is not a complex medical test, and for most applicants the result is straightforward. But the process has specific timing requirements that can derail your application if you plan it badly — particularly if your chest X-ray requires a follow-up sputum test.

Approved Clinics in Nigeria

The Home Office maintains a list of approved TB testing clinics worldwide. In Nigeria, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) runs the primary network, with three clinic locations:

IOM Lagos — Ikeja No. 1 Isaac John Street, at the corner of Isaac John Street and Oduduwa Way, GRA Ikeja. This is the busiest location due to Lagos's population density and the concentration of UK visa applicants in the city.

IOM Abuja — Asokoro Located on Hassan Musa Katsina Road in the Asokoro district. Serves applicants from Abuja and the broader North-Central and northeastern states.

IOM Benin City The Benin City clinic is another approved option. Check its current appointment availability and travel costs before choosing it, as wait times vary by season.

Private alternatives exist. Q-Life Family Clinic at Plot 155a, Prince Ade Odedina Street, off Sinari Daranijo, Victoria Island (Lagos), and St. Nicholas Hospital at 57 Campbell Street, Lagos Island, are Home Office-approved and may offer different appointment availability — but at higher cost. IOM fees are standardized; private clinic fees are higher.

Fees in 2026

IOM fees are quoted in USD, but payment is made in Naira before the examination at the UN exchange rate. Book through the clinic's current online or telephone process and confirm the Naira amount before attending.

Private clinics charge in naira. If USD payment is a logistical challenge, the private clinics eliminate the currency conversion step, though the higher naira cost may offset that convenience.

What the Test Involves

The primary test is a chest X-ray. This takes a few minutes at the clinic. For the vast majority of applicants, the X-ray is clear and the certificate is issued the same day or within 48 hours.

If the X-ray shows any abnormality — consolidation, infiltrates, or other findings that could be consistent with active TB — the clinic moves to a sputum test. This involves collecting sputum samples over three consecutive days. The samples are then sent to a laboratory for culture and sensitivity testing, which takes up to eight weeks.

This is the timing risk that matters. If you test three months before your planned submission and the X-ray is clear, the certificate may still be valid for submission, but check the six-month validity window. If you test two weeks before your CoS expiry and the X-ray is unclear, the sputum culture alone will take longer than your remaining window.

The certificate is valid for six months from the date of the X-ray. It must be valid at the time you submit your visa application — not at the time your visa is granted.

Timing the Test Against Your Application

The smartest approach is to book the TB test as soon as you have a serious job prospect, even before a formal CoS is issued. The test does not require a CoS number to initiate. The six-month validity window gives you ample time — if you test in month one of job searching, the certificate is valid through month seven, which covers most realistic CoS-to-submission timelines.

Applicants with a history of lung conditions, past TB treatment, or regular exposure to high-density environments (hospital wards, certain factory settings, crowded urban housing) should test at the very beginning of the process — at least three months before their planned submission date — to allow for sputum culture results if needed, without those results pushing past the CoS expiry.

The June to September period is peak season for UK visa applications in Nigeria, driven by the student visa cycle. IOM Lagos appointment wait times during this window can extend to 10 days or more. If your timeline falls in this window, book ahead of when you think you need to. Missing a slot and rebooking for 10 days later can eat significantly into a CoS clock that started three months earlier.

Appointment Availability and Booking

Book directly through the IOM Nigeria health assessment portal or by calling the clinic locations:

• IOM Lagos (Ikeja): +234 (0) 201 465 6600
• IOM Abuja (Asokoro): +234 (0) 201 465 6600

Outside peak periods, appointments may be available within a few days, but confirm current availability with the clinic before making travel plans.

When you call, confirm that the centre has your specific age group's testing protocol available on that date, especially for child applicants, and ask about the typical turnaround for clear X-ray results.

What the Certificate Looks Like

The clinic issues a medical certificate. Follow the current clinic and UKVI instructions on whether it is provided physically or electronically, and retain it for your visa evidence. Upload or submit it as your application instructions direct; if VFS offers document scanning for your appointment, treat that as a service rather than a substitute for following the online upload instructions.

The certificate references the clinic's Home Office approval number, confirming to UKVI that the test was conducted at an approved location. Do not obtain a TB clearance from any clinic not on the Home Office's approved list — a certificate from an unapproved clinic will not be accepted.

The Nigeria → UK Skilled Worker Guide covers the TB test scheduling in the context of the full document timeline, including how to book and run it in parallel with any required police certificate and Ecctis or IELTS preparation so that you reach your VFS appointment date with all required documents ready.

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