Knowledge Centre
Providing rapid medical guidance and expert health insights for informational purposes. Our guides come from a Harley Street clinic, but they do not replace a professional consultation.
Visa medical: what to bring and how long it takes
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam · Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 25/09/2026
Key takeaways
- Your original passport is essential; the clinic cannot complete a visa medical report without it on the day.
- If your sponsor or embassy has issued a specific medical form, send it when you book and bring it on the day; it is checked at the appointment and completed when the required results are available.
- The full appointment takes approximately one hour, including the doctor's consultation, blood draws, urinalysis and a chest X-ray at a partner radiology facility a short walk from the clinic.
- Package prices at 117a Harley Street start from £325, covering consultation, examination, listed laboratory tests, chest X-ray and the signed medical certificate.
- Your signed report is prepared once laboratory and radiology results are back; timing depends on the panel, and expedited processing is available for an extra £100 where the destination allows it.
- A visa medical for another country is not the same as the tuberculosis test for a UK visa, which is taken at a UKVI-approved clinic in the applicant's own country.
A visa medical is the fitness-to-work or residency examination many embassies and sponsors require before a visa is issued, and preparing for it mainly means bringing the right documents. At 117a Harley Street, visa medical packages start from £325 and run as a single appointment covering consultation, examination, laboratory tests and chest X-ray.
What must I bring to a visa medical appointment?
Your original passport is the one document every applicant must bring; the clinic cannot complete the medical report without it on the day. Beyond that, bring any sponsor or embassy-issued medical form if one has been given to you, vaccination records where relevant, particularly recent MMR or yellow fever certificates, and glasses or contact lenses if you wear them for distance vision. If you have an existing health condition, recent surgery, or take regular medication, mention it when booking and bring relevant letters or test results so the report reflects your care accurately; none of these automatically causes a problem with the medical.
What to bring, at a glance.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Original passport | Required; the clinic cannot complete the report without it |
| Sponsor or embassy medical form (if issued) | Confirms the panel of tests matches what your visa needs |
| Vaccination records | Relevant for some destinations, particularly recent MMR or yellow fever |
| Glasses or contact lenses | Needed if you use them for distance vision |
| Details of existing conditions or medication | Lets the doctor record your care accurately in the report |
How does the appointment itself work?
The full appointment takes approximately one hour, and covers a doctor's consultation and physical examination, blood draws, urinalysis where required for your destination, and a chest X-ray. The chest X-ray is performed at a partner radiology facility a five-minute walk from the clinic; the clinic's team arranges the slot for you on the day, and the cost is included in the package price. Any visa documentation you send in advance is checked at the appointment so the panel of tests matches what your destination requires.
How much does a visa medical cost, and what's included?
Package prices start from £325, and all packages include the consultation, examination, listed laboratory tests, chest X-ray and the signed medical certificate. Two of the clinic's most requested destinations:
- Saudi Arabia visa medical: £395 for male applicants, £445 for female applicants (includes a pregnancy blood test). Covers physical examination, urinalysis, chest X-ray, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, liver function tests and bilharzia antibodies.
- Dubai and UAE visa medical: £395 for men, £420 for women (includes pregnancy testing where required). Covers physical examination, chest X-ray, HIV screening and hepatitis B and C screening.
Some sponsors ask for tests beyond the standard panel for a given destination; sending your visa documentation before you book lets the clinic confirm whether any extra tests apply before your visit.
How long does it take to get my signed report?
Your signed medical report is prepared once your laboratory and radiology results are back, and the exact timing depends on the panel of tests and whether you request expedited processing. An additional £100 applies for expedited turnaround where the destination allows it. If you have a fixed submission date, call the clinic on 020 7499 1991 so the appointment and any expediting can be arranged around it.
Does an existing health condition or medication stop me getting a visa medical?
No, not automatically. Existing diagnoses, recent surgery and regular medication do not automatically fail a visa medical; the important thing is to mention them when you book and bring any relevant letters or test results so the doctor can record your care accurately in the report.
Can my employer book several visa medicals at once?
Yes. Corporate accounts are available for HR and global mobility teams, with direct invoicing and payment terms by arrangement, and block bookings can be arranged for a project team mobilising together, with visa documentation for the whole group sent in advance.
Is this the same as the TB test for a UK visa?
No. This article is about the medicals that other countries' embassies and sponsors ask for. UK visa TB tests are taken at UKVI-approved clinics in the applicant's own country.
Sources
Mr Stephen Lingam
Managing Director
Executive leadership
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in for a visa medical?
Book ahead: sending your visa documentation at booking lets the clinic confirm the tests you need, and the team arranges your chest X-ray slot at the partner radiology facility on the day.
What happens if I forget my passport?
The clinic cannot complete a visa medical report without your original passport, so the appointment cannot proceed as a full visa medical without it.
Can a female applicant be tested for pregnancy as part of the panel?
Yes, for destinations where it's required, such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, pregnancy testing is included in the female applicant price.
Do I need to fast before a visa medical?
The clinic will confirm any specific preparation for your destination's panel when you book, so follow the instruction you are given.
Can I get my results faster if I have a tight submission deadline?
Yes, expedited processing is available for an additional £100 where the destination allows it; call the clinic if you have a fixed submission date.
Will a sponsor-specific form be accepted?
Yes, a sponsor or embassy form sent at booking lets the clinic confirm the panel matches what you need, and it is checked and completed at the appointment once the required results are available.
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