Japan Visa TB Screening (JPETS) in the Philippines 2026: Clinics, Cost & Process
Quick Answer: JPETS (Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening) is mandatory for Filipinos applying for a Japan visa or Certificate of Eligibility as a mid- to long-term resident — generally a stay exceeding 3 months. It's done only at designated panel clinics: St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) in Manila, and Nationwide Health Systems (NHS) branches in Makati, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. Cost is ₱7,445 for ages 0-4 (IGRA blood test) and ₱8,755 for ages 5 and up (chest X-ray), confirmed directly on both clinics' fee pages. The TB Clearance Certificate is valid 180 days from the chest X-ray date, and submission has been mandatory for Certificate of Eligibility and visa applications since June 23, 2025.
Table of Contents
- What Is JPETS and Who Needs It?
- Which Clinics Are Authorized to Do JPETS Screening?
- How Much Does JPETS Cost?
- What Does the Screening Involve by Age?
- How Do You Apply, Step by Step?
- How Long Is the TB Clearance Certificate Valid?
- What Happens If You Test Positive for TB?
- Is This the Same as the Korea EPS Medical Exam?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is JPETS and Who Needs It?
JPETS (Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening) is a TB clearance requirement from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for foreign nationals from designated high-burden countries who plan to live in Japan mid- to long-term. The Philippines is one of six target countries — alongside Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and China — chosen because of the proportion of TB cases diagnosed among foreign residents after they arrive in Japan, according to MHLW's official JPETS site.
"Mid- to long-term resident" is a specific Japanese immigration status. Per MHLW's own FAQ, it excludes people granted a period of stay not exceeding 3 months, "Temporary Visitor" status, and "Diplomat" or "Official" status. In practice, this means the screening applies to work visas, spouse/dependent visas, and study visas where the intended stay runs longer than 3 months — not short tourist trips. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines confirms screening for the Philippines began accepting appointments March 24, 2025, with the TB Clearance Certificate becoming a mandatory attachment to Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and visa applications from June 23, 2025 onward.
You cannot get this test done at just any clinic or hospital in the Philippines — it must be performed at a clinic MHLW has specifically designated as a JPETS "Panel Clinic." Bringing a chest X-ray or lab result from an unaccredited facility will not be accepted for your visa application.
Which Clinics Are Authorized to Do JPETS Screening?
As of July 2026, two clinic groups are designated JPETS panel clinics for the Philippines:
| Panel Clinic | Location(s) |
|---|---|
| St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) | Ermita, Manila |
| Nationwide Health Systems (NHS) | AUX (Makati), Baguio, Cebu, Davao |
SLEC began JPETS screening on March 24, 2025 for visa applicants intending to stay in Japan more than 3 months. NHS AUX in Makati confirms the same MHLW designation and offers same-day TB Clearance Certificates for normal results. MHLW's own designated panel clinic list notes that clinics are added over time as they complete accreditation, so always confirm a clinic's current JPETS status before booking — an unaccredited facility's results won't count toward your application, even if it does chest X-rays for other purposes (like a pre-employment medical exam).
Both SLEC and NHS require an appointment booked in advance — walk-ins are generally not accepted for JPETS screening.
How Much Does JPETS Cost?
JPETS fees are not government-subsidized — MHLW's FAQ states plainly that the applicant is responsible for all costs, and fees vary by panel clinic. Fortunately, both authorized clinics publish theirs, and the two match exactly:
| Age Group | Test | SLEC Fee | NHS AUX Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 years | Pulmonary evaluation + IGRA (blood test) | ₱7,445 | ₱7,445 |
| 5 years and up | Pulmonary evaluation + chest X-ray | ₱8,755 | ₱8,755 |
Sources: SLEC Japan Visa Applicant page, NHS AUX Makati, verified July 2026. These fees cover the standard screening, additional chest X-ray views, and sputum examination if TB is suspected — they do not cover treatment costs if you're found to have active or latent TB. NHS Makati accepts cash payment only; confirm accepted payment methods with SLEC directly, since that detail wasn't published on their fee page.
Compare that to the cost of a US visa medical exam at SLEC or a Canada/Australia panel physician exam if you're weighing multiple visa applications at once — JPETS is a narrower, TB-only screening, not a full immigration medical.
What Does the Screening Involve by Age?
The exam differs depending on the applicant's age, based on MHLW's official FAQ and confirmed by both panel clinics:
- Ages 0-4: Pulmonary evaluation plus an IGRA test (interferon-gamma release assay, sometimes marketed as QuantiFERON-TB Gold) — a blood draw, not a chest X-ray, since X-rays are avoided in very young children unless clinically necessary. If the evaluation raises concern for active TB, a chest X-ray is performed the same way as for adults.
- Ages 5 and up: Pulmonary evaluation plus a chest X-ray. Additional X-ray views and a sputum examination are added if the initial films suggest active TB.
Bring any prior chest X-ray films (SLEC asks for films older than 3 months; NHS asks for films 6+ months old) and TB treatment records if you've had TB before — these can affect how the clinic evaluates your results.
How Do You Apply, Step by Step?
- Confirm your Japan visa category requires JPETS. If your intended stay in Japan exceeds 3 months and you're not entering as a Temporary Visitor, Diplomat, or Official, you almost certainly need it.
- Book an appointment with SLEC (through slec.ph) or an NHS branch (Makati, Baguio, Cebu, or Davao). NHS Makati's booking contacts are published on nhsgroup.ph/makati.html; confirm current contact details with your chosen clinic before traveling there.
- Bring your documents: appointment confirmation, valid passport (with at least 6 months validity per SLEC), prior chest X-ray films if applicable, and — for minors — a birth certificate, authorization letter, and parent/guardian ID copies.
- Undergo the exam — pulmonary evaluation plus IGRA or chest X-ray depending on age.
- Receive your TB Clearance Certificate. NHS Makati states normal results are issued same-day; confirm turnaround time with SLEC directly since it wasn't specified on their published page.
- Submit the certificate with your Certificate of Eligibility or visa application at the Japanese Embassy or through your employer/petitioner in Japan.
How Long Is the TB Clearance Certificate Valid?
The TB Clearance Certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of the chest X-ray, per MHLW's JPETS FAQ. That window shortens to 90 days if you had close contact with an active TB case within the two months before your screening. Time your appointment so the certificate doesn't expire before your visa or COE application — and definitely before your actual travel date — is finalized.
What Happens If You Test Positive for TB?
If your screening suggests active TB, MHLW's FAQ is direct about the next step: you need to seek treatment at a medical facility first. Once treatment is complete, you can be screened again at a panel clinic, and you'll need to bring a Tuberculosis Treatment Report documenting that the course was finished. There's no shortcut around this — a TB Clearance Certificate cannot be issued while active TB is unresolved. For where to get free TB treatment in the Philippines while you sort this out, see our TB-DOTS free treatment guide.
Is This the Same as the Korea EPS Medical Exam?
No — JPETS and the medical exam for Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS) are entirely different systems. Korea's EPS medical requirement is handled through DOH-accredited Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME) clinics in the Philippines, following Philippine and Korean labor/immigration rules for OFWs, not a TB-specific screening under Japan's MHLW framework. If you're applying for work in Korea under EPS, you'll go through a general PEME exam at a DOH-accredited PEME clinic rather than SLEC or NHS's JPETS-specific screening — don't confuse the two processes or assume one exam satisfies both countries' requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JPETS?
JPETS (Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening) is a mandatory TB clearance exam required by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for Filipino nationals applying for a Certificate of Eligibility or visa to live in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident — generally a stay exceeding 3 months.
How much does JPETS cost in the Philippines?
₱7,445 for children ages 0-4 (IGRA blood test) and ₱8,755 for anyone age 5 and up (chest X-ray), based on published fees at both SLEC and Nationwide Health Systems as of July 2026. These cover the screening itself, not any TB treatment that may follow.
Where can I get JPETS screening done?
Only at MHLW-designated JPETS panel clinics: St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) in Ermita, Manila, or Nationwide Health Systems branches in Makati, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. Results from any other clinic will not be accepted for your visa application.
Do tourists visiting Japan need JPETS?
No. JPETS applies to mid- to long-term residents — people staying more than 3 months. Short-term Temporary Visitors, Diplomats, and Officials are explicitly excluded under MHLW's definition.
How long is the TB Clearance Certificate valid?
180 days from the date of your chest X-ray, or 90 days if you had close contact with an active TB case within two months before screening.
What if my JPETS test comes back positive for TB?
You'll need to complete treatment at a medical facility first, then get re-screened at a panel clinic with a Tuberculosis Treatment Report showing the treatment was completed. A certificate cannot be issued while active TB is unresolved. Free treatment is available through DOH's TB-DOTS program.
Is JPETS the same as the medical exam for a Korean work visa?
No. Korea's EPS work visa medical exam is done through separate DOH-accredited PEME clinics under a different framework entirely. JPETS is specific to Japan and TB screening only — it doesn't substitute for or overlap with Korea's EPS medical requirement.
Can children under 5 skip the chest X-ray?
Yes, in most cases. Children ages 0-4 are screened with an IGRA blood test instead of a chest X-ray. A chest X-ray is only added for that age group if the initial evaluation raises concern for active TB.
Conclusion
JPETS is a narrow but strict requirement: if your Japan visa or Certificate of Eligibility is for a stay longer than 3 months, you need a TB Clearance Certificate from an MHLW-designated panel clinic — SLEC in Manila or an NHS branch in Makati, Baguio, Cebu, or Davao — and nowhere else will do. Budget ₱7,445 to ₱8,755 depending on age, book ahead, and time your appointment so the 180-day certificate window covers your actual application and travel dates.
Related guides:
- US Visa Medical Exam Philippines — SLEC's other major visa screening line
- Canada/Australia Visa Medical Exam Philippines — panel physician requirements for other destinations
- TB-DOTS Free TB Treatment Philippines — where to get free treatment if you test positive
- Pre-Employment Medical Exam (PEME) Cost Philippines — the separate exam OFWs need for Korea EPS and other overseas work
- eTravel Health Declaration Philippines — a separate step needed before you actually fly
Need to find a clinic for other pre-travel or visa requirements? Search ClinicFinderPH for accredited facilities near you.