UAE Golden Visa Medical Requirements: Tests, Centres, and Renewal Rules (2026)

Meeting the uae golden visa medical requirements is mandatory before GDRFA or ICP issues your 10-year visa. Every applicant aged 18 and older completes this screening in person inside the country. You can't do these tests in your home country through an overseas clinic. The screening happens inside a government-approved medical fitness centre in the UAE once your entry permit or initial approval is active.

At our Business Bay office, we handle this step every week for property owners, executives, and families. Medical checks cause worry for some clients, especially those with old lung scars from childhood infections, but the process follows fixed rules. Knowing what the tests check and how clinics handle irregular results keeps your file moving without delays.

Understanding the UAE golden visa medical requirements and tests

The UAE medical fitness examination checks whether an applicant has specific communicable conditions that pose a public health risk under federal health regulations as of October 2026. The clinic doesn't check cholesterol, blood sugar, liver enzymes, or general fitness. It looks strictly for conditions set by UAE immigration health laws.

The appointment has two parts: a blood draw and a chest X-ray. Both happen during the same visit to an accredited facility, such as a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) medical fitness centre.

Blood test screening parameters

The blood sample screens for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Under UAE federal immigration health regulations as of October 2026, an active HIV finding results in a residency denial for new applicants.

Hepatitis screenings apply to selected employment groups like food handlers, nursery staff, and healthcare workers. For Golden Visa main applicants, including property investors and executives qualifying under the requirements for salaried employees, the blood draw screens for HIV. If a blood screen returns an unclear result, the laboratory automatically re-tests the sample using confirmatory testing before releasing the report.

Chest X-ray for pulmonary tuberculosis

The chest X-ray checks your lungs for signs of active, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis. You stand against the plate, take a breath, and hold it while the technician takes the picture.

If your lungs are clear, the doctor approves your X-ray electronically. If the image shows a shadow, calcification, or scar tissue, the clinic doesn't reject your visa on the spot. Instead, the system marks the file for secondary checks to decide if the mark is an old scar or active infection.

Who must undergo medical fitness screening?

Medical clearance is required for legal adults under UAE immigration rules. Files split into two groups based on age.

Main applicants and adult dependants

Every individual who has reached their 18th birthday must take the medical fitness test. This applies to:

• Primary Golden Visa holders, whether qualified through property, salary, or company ownership.
• Spouses sponsored under the main visa.
• Adult children sponsored under the 10-year residency permit.
• Parents and parents-in-law aged 18 and older.

Each adult receives an individual medical fitness application tied to their unified number (UID) and passport. Results pass directly from the clinic database to immigration. If you want to confirm your file parameters before setting up tests, you can check your Golden Visa eligibility online to verify your category and paperwork.

Rules for children under 18 years old

Children under 18 don't take the medical fitness examination. They don't visit the clinic, give blood, or take X-rays. Their visa moves directly from initial approval to the Emirates ID stage, so child dependant applications don't carry clinic testing charges.

Handling chest X-ray findings: old scars and inactive tuberculosis

A common concern we see across the desk is a mark on the chest X-ray. Clients who had pneumonia, bronchitis, or treated tuberculosis years ago often carry a small fibrous patch or calcification without knowing it.

A scar on an X-ray doesn't mean your visa is rejected. Health authorities check whether the mark is an active disease or dormant, healed tissue.

Follow-up sputum tests and clearance protocols

If the radiologist spots a scar or shadow, your medical certificate is placed on hold. The clinic directs you to a central government preventive medicine unit, such as the DHA referral unit at Muhaisnah in Dubai.

The referral clinic carries out extra checks:

1. Sputum tests over consecutive mornings to check for active bacteria.
2. Rapid molecular lab analysis to detect bacterial DNA.
3. Laboratory cultures to confirm no bacteria grow over the testing period.

If you know you have an old lung scar before your visit, bring your past treatment letters and old imaging reports translated into English or Arabic. The government centre still runs its own tests, but your medical records give the reviewing doctor clear context.

Health certificates and conditional fitness

When the tests show no live bacteria, the authority issues your medical fitness certificate. In some cases, residents with old healed scars receive clearance with instructions for routine checkups at preventive health units. Immigration then clears your file, and your Emirates ID moves to printing.

Is a medical test required for UAE Golden Visa renewal?

Yes. A medical fitness examination is required whenever you renew your 10-year Golden Visa. Long-term residency doesn't come with an exemption from medical renewals.

Ten-year renewal screening rules

Because the Golden Visa lasts 10 years, you don't take annual or biennial medical tests. For a full decade, your residency remains valid without clinic visits. When the decade ends, you repeat the adult medical fitness screening (blood test and chest X-ray) before immigration issues the new 10-year permit.

The renewal test reviews the same public health markers as the first entry test. Passing confirms your ongoing eligibility under UAE rules.

Differences between new issuance and renewals

The clinic visit is identical for new files and renewals, but the registration paperwork differs. On a renewal, you present your existing Emirates ID card rather than an entry permit paper. The clinic ties your test directly to your existing identity record.

For renewals, residents found with healed scars are managed under standard outpatient follow-up protocols rather than immediate exit orders, keeping your residency intact while monitoring your health.

Where to complete the screening: centres and package speeds

In Dubai, medical fitness tests run through Dubai Health Authority centres and approved partner centres. Other emirates handle screening through Emirates Health Services (EHS) or the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC). You can book DHA medical and Emirates ID appointments through our team to fit your schedule.

Centres operate with different processing speeds:

• 24-hour VIP fast track: Blood and X-ray results are processed and sent to the GDRFA system within 24 hours. Our package fee is 5000, including pick-up and drop-off.
• Urgent package (2 to 3 days): Lab results release on an expedited schedule. Our urgent package fee is 3000, including pick-up and drop-off.
• Normal package (3 to 7 days): Standard batch processing. Our normal package fee is 1500.

Summary comparison of medical requirements and fees

The table below outlines testing rules, government fees, and turnaround times for each applicant group under the 10-year Golden Visa.

Applicant Category	Mandatory Screenings	Government Fee	Typical Result Turnaround
Main Applicant (New 10-Year)	Blood draw (HIV) and Chest X-ray (TB)	9978	Standard: A few days VIP: Same day / 24 hours
Adult Dependant (Aged 18+)	Blood draw (HIV) and Chest X-ray (TB)	4215	Standard: A few days VIP: Same day / 24 hours
Child Dependant (Under 18)	Exempt (No medical examination required)	3895	No clinic visit needed
Renewal Applicant (10-Year)	Blood draw (HIV) and Chest X-ray (TB)	9034	Standard: A few days VIP: Same day / 24 hours

Golden Visa government fees and medical inclusions

Knowing official costs ahead of time helps you budget accurately. Government fees for Golden Visa files cover medical testing vouchers alongside residency issuance and physical cards.

Main applicant fee breakdown

For a new 10-year Golden Visa main applicant, the government fee is 9978. This charge covers:

• Dubai Land Department (DLD) and administrative approvals for real estate files, or ministry clearance.
• Residence visa issuance.
• Emirates ID card valid for 10 years.
• Standard DHA medical fitness examination.

See our complete breakdown of Golden Visa government fees to check how government costs apply across different visa routes.

Dependant charges for adults and minors

Dependant fees vary based on whether the applicant requires medical testing:

• Adult dependants (aged 18 and older): The government fee is 4215 per person. This covers visa issuance, the 10-year Emirates ID, and the medical screening.
• Child dependants (under 18 years): The government fee is 3895 per child. Minors don't take medical tests, so their charge covers visa issuance and the Emirates ID.
• Visa renewal: Renewing a main applicant 10-year Golden Visa costs 9034 in government fees, which includes the renewed medical test and updated Emirates ID.

If you're applying for the first time, check the eligibility criteria for 10-year residency so your property deeds, salary certificates, or company documents are in order before booking your clinic slot.

Preparation checklist for your medical examination appointment

Arriving at a medical centre with missing documents leads to cancelled appointments. To finish your test in one visit, bring these items:

1. Original passport: You must present your valid original passport. Clinics reject photocopies and phone screenshots.
2. Entry permit or status change document: Bring a printout of your Golden Visa entry permit or inside-country change of status sheet. The reception desk needs the unified number (UID).
3. Active UAE mobile number: Provide a local number to receive test completion SMS updates and the digital certificate link.
4. Two passport-sized photographs: Keep two color photos with a white background in your pocket, even though many centres capture digital photos at reception.
5. Appropriate clothing: Wear a plain shirt without metal zippers, snaps, or metal embroidery. You'll take off jewelry and metal chains before the chest X-ray.

You don't need to fast before a Golden Visa medical test. You can eat and drink normally, as the lab doesn't run glucose or lipid panels. Drink water before your appointment to make the blood draw straightforward.

How medical screening fits into the complete visa timeline

The medical test takes place in the middle of your application sequence:

1. Document review: Title deeds, salary certificates, or audit reports are submitted for initial immigration clearance.
2. Entry permit or status change: Authorities issue an electronic entry permit if you arrive from abroad, or issue an internal change of status if you're already in the country.
3. Medical fitness screening: You attend your DHA or EHS clinic appointment for your blood test and X-ray. Results come through within 24 hours to 5 days, depending on the service tier you select.
4. Emirates ID biometrics: Once medical results clear in the federal portal, you attend an ICP centre for fingerprints and photo capture. If you completed biometrics on a recent UAE residency visa, ICP often waives this step.
5. Residency issuance: Immigration issues your electronic 10-year residency permit, and ICP sends your physical Emirates ID via courier.

If you notice a spelling discrepancy between your passport and entry permit, correct it through immigration before visiting the clinic. Reception desks can't modify visa records, and testing must match your passport details exactly.

Frequently asked questions

What medical tests are required for the UAE Golden Visa?

Applicants aged 18 and older take two tests: a blood test screening for HIV and a chest X-ray checking for active pulmonary tuberculosis. The clinic does not check cholesterol, blood sugar, or general fitness.

Do children need a medical test for the UAE Golden Visa?

No. Children under 18 years old do not undergo any medical fitness examinations or blood tests. Their visas progress straight to Emirates ID processing once the primary applicant is cleared.

What happens if my chest X-ray shows an old lung scar?

A scar does not mean automatic rejection. The clinic will refer you to a central preventive medicine unit for follow-up sputum and lab tests. Once doctors verify the scar is inactive and there is no active infection, your fitness certificate is approved.

Do I have to retake the medical test when renewing my 10-year Golden Visa?

Yes. Every adult renewing their 10-year Golden Visa must retake the medical fitness screening (blood test and chest X-ray) before immigration issues the new permit.