UK updates TB clinic information in Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador: residence history still determines the screening question

What changed in the clinic publications

On 19 October 2026 UKVI updated clinic information for Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador. The changes concern a Colombian clinic’s fee information, details for a Bolivian clinic and an Ecuadorian clinic’s address and fees. They do not establish a newly enacted universal testing requirement.

These are practical changes with potential application consequences. An old saved list can lead someone to the wrong address, an outdated fee or a provider whose current position has not been checked. Confirm the approved clinic and appointment instructions on the country page immediately before booking.

Nationality is not the whole eligibility test

The general official screening guidance links the requirement to the intended stay, residence history and specified routes, with exceptions. In the ordinary longer-stay case, the published test considers residence of six months or more in a listed country and residence there or in another listed country within the last six months.

The guidance also identifies some shorter-stay route situations, including fiancé or proposed civil-partner family applications and Returning Resident applications. A visitor’s casual recollection of a friend’s testing experience is therefore a poor substitute for checking the person’s own route. Different application types may produce different answers.

Why a move to Georgia does not instantly settle the issue

Consider an applicant who lived for a substantial period in a listed country and recently moved to Tbilisi. The residence-history element does not disappear merely because the current application address is in Georgia. Record actual dates and countries before deciding whether screening is required.

Equally, a person should not buy a test solely because a passport was issued by a listed country if the published criteria do not apply to their circumstances. The assessment is about the rule and facts together. Keep a dated travel and residence chronology, with evidence where necessary, rather than relying on labels such as expatriate or tourist.

Certificate timing and application evidence

The general guidance says a negative-screening certificate is normally valid for six months from the chest x-ray date. Check identity details and the application timetable before submission. Clinical questions, pregnancy, children’s testing and inconclusive results should be addressed through the approved clinic and the official instructions, not improvised by an agent.

A certificate addresses a specified screening requirement; it does not prove eligibility for the visa’s other conditions. Preserve the original result, payment evidence and appointment correspondence, and verify that the submitted application contains the required document. If a fee or provider dispute arises, those records help distinguish a clinic-service problem from an immigration decision.

Before paying for screening

• Confirm the visa route and planned duration.
• Write down residence in listed countries and the relevant dates.
• Check the current approved provider, address and fee.
• Allow for certificate validity and any additional clinical steps.

Legal check date

Sources and law checked on 23 October 2026. Later developments are not reflected automatically. Application of the rules depends on the individual facts.