UAE medical visa fees reach AED 2,000 guarantee as clinics sponsor treatment visitors

UAE medical treatment visa applicants need a licensed healthcare sponsor, core identity documents, a medical report and fee payments that can include a AED 2,000 financial guarantee for multiple-entry applications.

The update matters most for clinic COOs and finance teams in Dubai, where the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) processes medical visas linked to licensed facilities. It also affects insurers and patients in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, where federal services sit under the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Healthcare licensing still sits with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the northern emirates.

What the visa requires

Legit.ng reported on 24 September 2026 that the UAE listed seven requirements for medical treatment visa applicants and their companions, citing ICP guidance. The requirements include a passport, personal photograph, medical report, healthcare facility letter, travel ticket evidence, companion approval where relevant, and an extra personal identity document for nationals of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

Official UAE guidance is narrower on some pages. GDRFA Dubai lists one personal photo, a passport copy valid for at least 6 months, and a medical report. Its terms require an approved medical report, a host letter stating the reason for the visit, the required security deposit, medical insurance and a matching entry type for patient escorts.

The UAE Government portal states that foreign patients enter under the sponsorship of the medical establishment where they will receive treatment. In Dubai, GDRFA grants single-entry and multiple-entry medical visas for 90 days or 180 days. For companions, extension depends on a certified medical report showing the patient still needs treatment and the companion is needed in the UAE.

Fee lines operators should reconcile

GDRFA Dubai lists a AED 200 fee for a 90-day single-entry medical visa and AED 500 for a 180-day single-entry visa, plus 5% VAT. The same page also lists AED 300 for a 90-day visa and AED 900 for a 180-day visa under another fee line, so clinics should verify the final charge in the GDRFA or Amer transaction screen before quoting patients.

• AED 1,000: GDRFA Dubai security deposit for one entry.
• AED 2,000: GDRFA Dubai security deposit for several travels.
• AED 20: security deposit service fee.
• AED 40: security deposit collection and reimbursement fee.
• 48 hours: expected completion time shown by GDRFA Dubai.

ICP’s federal service page lists an AED 100 application fee, AED 100 monthly issuance fee for single entry, AED 200 monthly issuance fee for multiple entry, and AED 100 smart service fee. It also lists financial guarantees of AED 1,000 for single entry and AED 2,000 for multiple entry, with a AED 20 guarantee deposit fee.

The practical issue is price disclosure. A clinic quoting a foreign patient for a procedure in Dubai should separate government visa fees, refundable guarantees, insurance, escort costs and treatment deposits. In Abu Dhabi, insurer teams at Daman and Thiqa should check whether a visiting patient has a policy that pays in the UAE or needs self-pay clearance. In Dubai, insurer and TPA teams, including Sukoon, should treat the visa as an access document, rather than proof of medical cover.

Why clinics and insurers should care

For clinics, the medical treatment visa is now a front-office control point. The sponsor must be a licensed UAE healthcare facility, so DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence status should be checked before accepting international patient bookings. A mismatch between the sponsor, medical report and treatment plan can delay entry and turn a confirmed procedure slot into unused theatre or consultant time.

For patients, the main financial risk is confusion between a fee and a guarantee. A multiple-entry case can show AED 2,000 as a guarantee before treatment costs begin. Patients should ask the clinic for the government receipt, the expected refund process, and the exact visa duration before paying any third-party agent.

For operators, the next step is simple. Build a medical-travel checklist that records regulator, visa type, patient passport validity, medical report date, host letter, insurance evidence, escort status and deposit receipt. Patients and referral teams can use the UAE Open Healthcare Directory to find licensed clinics and providers before starting a treatment visa file.