Health, insurance & clearances
TB testing, vaccination and insurance requirements, police clearance and the health surcharge.
5 UK resources in this topic
Requirements & how-to guidance
- Travel or health insuranceGuidance
Because most people who come to the UK for more than six months pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which unlocks NHS access, private health insurance is generally not a UK visa requirement — but short-term visitors, who are not entitled to free NHS care for most treatment, should consider travel or health insurance.
- Health & vaccination requirementsGuidance
If you are applying to come to the UK for six months or more and have been living in a listed country, you must usually take a tuberculosis (TB) test at a UK-approved clinic and submit the resulting certificate with your visa application.
- Police clearanceGuidance
A police clearance (criminal record) certificate is only required for certain UK visa applications — mainly Skilled Worker applicants (and their adult partners) coming from overseas to work in health, education, therapy or social-care roles — and the rules depend on the specific route and job.
Guides & explainers
- UK Tuberculosis (TB) Test Rules for Visa Applicants (2026)Guide
Find out the essential UK Tuberculosis (TB) Test Rules for Visa Applicants (2026) before your journey to the UK.
- What is the immigration healthcare surcharge? (UK)Guide
The immigration healthcare surcharge is a fee that must be paid by all applicants and family members who are visiting the UK for over 6 months
