Medical tourism in UAE is growing vigorously each passing year. This is attributed to its state-of-art infrastructure as well as the governments initiatives to facilitate the process of medical visa to the UAE. Here is detailed information you must go through before applying for a medical visa to UAE.

You may also consult Ortil Health to ease down the process of visa application and provide all other facilities during the treatment.

Process of getting UAE Medical Treatment Visa

People who want to get healthcare services in the UAE need to get a Patient Entry Permit from the visa-issuing authorities if they belong to one of the visa-required countries. The good news is that you do not need to visit the UAE embassy to get a medical visa. It is your sponsor (the hospital from which you will get the treatment) that will arrange the patient entry permit. Please note that the hospital needs to have a license and the required registration.

Documents needed for Medical Treatment Visa/Patient Entry Permit:

01. A copy of your current valid passport

02. A letter from the hospital stating the reason behind your visit

03. Proof of your financial status

04. Medical insurance document that can cover your stay and treatment in the UAE

Validity and Extension of Patient Entry Permit

The patient entry permit is usually valid for 90 days after entering the country. However, once the visa is issued, you have to enter within 60 days. For extension, your hospital (i.e) can apply for the extension for only one time with a certificate that the patient needs further medical treatment.

Based on the number of times you can enter the UAE, there are two types of patient entry permits:

01. Single entry allows you to enter the UAE only once and stay for 90 days.

02. Multiple-entry, that allows you to make multiple entries for up to 90 days.

Visa for the patient attendant to the UAE

In case you also need to bring along someone to accompany you, they need to acquire UAE Patient Companion Entry Permit. This is also applied by the hospital from you which you are taking the treatment. However, it is mandatory for both the patient as well as the attendant to enter the country together. Here is a list of documents that your companion needs to submit:

01. Copies of the current valid passport

02. Health insurance proof

03. Proof of financial assurance

There are certain countries that do not need a medical treatment visa to receive healthcare services in the UAE. Here is a list of the following countries that can travel visa-free for a certain period of time.

Countries eligible for visa-free stay up to 180 days - Residents of Mexico are eligible to enter the UAE without any visa for 180 days.

Countries eligible for visa-free stat up to 90 days - The following countries are eligible to stay in the UAE for 90 days within any 180-day time period:

01. EU member states (excluding the UK and Ireland)

02. Honduras

03. Iceland

04. Liechtenstein

05. Montenegro

06. Norway

07. Russia

08. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

09. Switzerland

Countries eligible to enter the UAE for up to 90 days without a visa:

01. Argentina

02. Barbados

03. Brazil

04. Chile

05. Nauru

06. Paraguay

07. Serbia

08. Solomon Islands

09. Seychelles

10. Uruguay

Countries eligible for visa-free stay up to 30 days:

01. China

02. Japan

03. Macau

04. Ukraine

Countries eligible for visa on arrival (for a duration of either 30 or 90 days)

01. Andorra (valid for 30 days)

02. Australia (valid for 30 days)

03. Bahamas (valid for 90 days)

04. Brunei (valid for 30 days)

05. Canada (valid for 30 days)

06. Costa Rica (valid for 90 days)

07. El Salvador (valid for 90 days)

08. Hong Kong (valid for 30 days)

09. Ireland (valid for 30 days)

10. Kazakhstan (valid for 30 days)

11. Malaysia (valid for 30 days)

12. Maldives (valid for 90 days)

13. Mauritius (valid for 30 days)

14. Monaco (valid for 30 days)

15. Mongolia (valid for 30 days)

16. New Zealand (valid for 30 days)

17. San Marino (valid for 30 days)

18. Singapore (valid for 30 days)

19. South Korea (valid for 90 days)

20. United Kingdom (valid for 30 days)

21. United States (valid for 30 days)

22. Vatican City (valid for 30 days)

Countries eligible for entering the UAE only with a passport or ID:

01. Bahrain

02. Kuwait

03. Oman

04. Saudi Arabia

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the validity and extension process for a Patient Companion Entry Permit?

A. This is similar to the Patient Entry Visa. In a routine case, the validity of the patient companion entry permit is 60 days as far as entering the country after getting the visa is concerned. The attendant can however stay for up to 90 days. The extension can happen only once and a certificate is needed by the hospital mentioning that the patient needs further treatment in your presence.

Q. How is the medical visa application process different for Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

A. For Dubai, your hospital or sponsor needs to apply through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. Conversely, for Abu Dhabi and other seven Emirates, the visa needs to be applied through the online platforms of the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship.

United Arab Emirates is recognized as one of the leading medical tourism in the gulf region. UAE is gaining popularity because of its world class infrastructure, internationally accredited medical facilities and well experienced practitioners. To have a pleasant and hassle-free journey to the UAE and get treatment from world-class hospitals, consult Ortil Health.