UAE Visa Medical Test: What's Included, Cost & Where to Go

The UAE visa medical fitness test includes four components. First, a chest X-ray to screen for active pulmonary tuberculosis — the UAE uses digital X-ray technology and results are read by a radiologist on-site. Second, a blood draw covering: HIV 1 & 2 antigen/antibody (4th generation), Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Antibody (anti-HCV), and VDRL/RPR for syphilis. Third, a basic physical examination by a doctor — blood pressure, weight, and a general health assessment. Fourth, a leprosy skin examination. The results are uploaded directly to the UAE healthcare regulator electronic health system and are not handed to you in paper form; your employer or PRO will access them via the UAE healthcare regulator portal.

Note: Some nationalities may face additional requirements. The UAE healthcare regulator website publishes an updated country-specific list. If a positive result is returned for any communicable disease, the applicant is typically notified by the centre and referred for further evaluation. HIV-positive individuals are generally not granted a UAE residence visa under current federal policy.

The UAE has 26 UAE-approved medical fitness centres operating across all emirates as of 2026. In Dubai, AMER centres, ICA-approved typing centres with medical wings, and some UAE healthcare regulator health centres handle visa medicals. In Abu Dhabi, Seha's health screening centres (including those in Al Ain) are the primary option for the UAE healthcare regulator-jurisdicted residents. In Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain, the UAE healthcare regulator-accredited private polyclinics handle most visa medicals.

Important: You cannot get the visa medical at a standalone diagnostic lab, hospital, or clinic that is not specifically UAE-approved for medical fitness testing. If you attempt to do so, the results will not be accepted by the immigration system. Always verify the centre is listed on the UAE healthcare regulator Tasheel portal before booking.

Some approved centres offer walk-in service (7 AM–9 PM), while others require an appointment through the UAE healthcare regulator online system. Bring your original passport, passport-sized photo, and Emirates ID (for renewals) or visa copy (for new applicants).

Government medical fitness centres charge a standardised fee of available at competitive rates for the base medical test. Add the X-ray (contact lab for current pricing), blood draw fees (contact lab for current pricing), and the UAE healthcare regulator e-platform fee (contact lab for current pricing) and the total typically lands between contact the lab for pricing and contact the lab for pricing. Private UAE-approved centres may charge up to contact the lab for pricing.

Domestic worker visa medicals are slightly different — employers typically arrange them through typing centres and the bundled cost is often contact the lab for pricing including the biometrics appointment. Company account holders (PROs) often get preferential rates at approved centres.

If you are doing the individual blood tests separately at a standalone lab prior to attending the fitness centre (which is not standard practice and generally not accepted), costs for the four blood tests individually would be: HIV test contact the lab for pricing Hepatitis B contact the lab for pricing Hepatitis C contact the lab for pricing VDRL/Syphilis contact the lab for pricing. However, these private lab results are not accepted in lieu of the official medical fitness test.

The medical fitness test is mandatory for: all new residence visa applicants (employment, family, investor, retirement, student), all residence visa renewals (typically every 2–3 years), domestic worker visa applications, and golden visa applications. Tourists on visit visas and short-term business visitors are exempt.

Children under 18 are generally exempt from the full medical fitness test requirement when joining a parent on a family visa. The sponsoring parent's visa application covers the household.

For visa renewals, the test must be completed within 60 days of the renewal application date. Many employers schedule renewal medicals 90 days before visa expiry to allow time for reprocessing if any issues arise. Some free zones have their own approved medical providers — check with your free zone authority.

Most approved centres process standard visa medicals in 3–5 business days (not including weekends). Urgent processing (1–2 days) is available at some centres for an additional fee of contact the lab for pricing. Results are uploaded electronically to the UAE healthcare regulator system and are accessible to your employer, PRO, or typing centre immediately upon upload.

You will receive an SMS notification when your results are ready. If you passed, a medical fitness certificate is issued in the UAE healthcare regulator portal. If there is a flag on any test result, you will receive a separate notification and may be referred to a government hospital for confirmatory testing.

Medical fitness certificates are valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If your visa is not stamped within 3 months, you may need to redo the medical. This is particularly relevant for new recruits arriving from abroad.

Arrive early on weekday mornings (7–8 AM) to avoid long queues. Many approved centres process 200–500 tests per day and queues can form by 9 AM. Wear comfortable clothing with easily rolled-up sleeves for the blood draw. If you are fasting (some centres require fasting for certain nationalities or test types), confirm with the centre in advance — the standard visa medical does not require fasting.

Do not eat a heavy meal before the chest X-ray if possible, though fasting is not required. Inform the doctor if you are taking anti-TB medication, antiretroviral therapy, or hepatitis treatment — this will affect how your results are interpreted.

Bring original documents only — photocopies are typically not accepted at government-approved centres. Passport, visa (if renewal), Emirates ID (if renewal), and a passport photograph (usually 35x45mm white background).