Children’s Health Requirements for a UAE Visa
The UAE’s residency and student visas require proof of medical examination from applicants as a part of their application process. However, a medical examination is not mandatory for children under the age of 18 who are applying for a residency visa with their family.
Although your child may be exempt from medical examination, they will still need insurance coverage. The UAE requires that all residents carry valid health insurance. Learn more about the health requirements for your child’s UAE visa and your insurance options in the UAE here.
Essential Documentation for Child Visa Processing
Applicants will need a recent colored photo of their child with a white background, a copy of their passport, and a visa application form when applying for their child’s visas. However, details differ depending on the type of visa.
Usually, there are two types of visas your child can apply for when they are coming to the UAE: a residence visa and a student visa. The requirements of these two types of visas can differ in details, and you should make a careful review of the requirements for a smooth application process.
UAE Residence Visa for Children
If your child is coming to the UAE to live with you, this is the most common type of visa you can apply for. Your child must be sponsored by you or your spouse, who has a valid resident permit in the UAE, such as a work visa, business visa, or partner visa.
Foreign residents can sponsor their children’s residence visa up to the age of 25 for a son and indefinitely for an unmarried daughter and a child with special needs or disability.
A child’s residence visa is tied directly to the validity of their parents’ visa. Therefore, it is crucial that you or your spouse have a valid visa to reside in the UAE, whether it’s a work visa, business visa, or partner visa.
To apply for a residence visa for your child, you will need the following documents:
- A recent color photograph with a white background
- A copy of your child’s passport with at least 6 months of validity
- A medical examination if your child is over 18 years old
Children under the age of 18 are exempted from medical examination.
UAE Student Visa
A student visa is for foreign students who are enrolled in a university, college, research institute, or other types of educational institutions in the UAE.
For students who come to the UAE unaccompanied, the institution will serve as the student’s sponsor. A student visa is renewed on an annual basis, often until the student completes his or her programs.
To apply for a student visa, you will need the following documents:
- A recent color photograph with a white background
- A copy of passport with at least six months of validity
- A medical examination
- A copy of Emirates ID card (if applicable)
Where to Get Medical Examination for UAE Visa
Families should undergo medical check-ups at accredited medical facilities. If you are living in the UAE, Emirates Health Services provides a list of medical examination centers across the UAE that provide check-ups for UAE visa applications.
To undergo check-ups at these centers, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have valid Emirates ID
Medical Examination You Need for UAE Visa
When undergoing medical examination for UAE visa, you will be examined and tested for:
- HIV and AIDS
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Leprosy
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Syphilis
Your examination will include medical procedures such as:
- Physical examination
- Blood test
- Chest x-ray
Failing your medical examination can affect your visa application. There are certain diseases that can get you deported from or denied entry to the UAE. Learn more about them in:
- An Expat’s Guide to Medical Conditions in the UAE and How They Can Affect Your visa Status
- 9 Diseases that are Currently Banned in the UAE
Health Insurance Requirement in the UAE
All residents are required to carry valid health insurance in the UAE. If you’re moving for work, your employer might already provide you with a group health insurance policy. However, your family may not be included in your employer’s policy.
If adding dependents to your employer’s policy is not an option, you will need to secure your own private health insurance plan for your family.
The UAE requires that health insurance plans must cover essential medical care such as:
- Inpatient services
- Outpatient services
- Emergency medical treatment
- Maternity care
- Diagnostic tests and laboratory services
- Prescription medications
- Preventive care (such as screenings or vaccination)
Further reading: How to Get Free Infant Vaccinations as an Expat in the UAE
When purchasing a private health insurance plan, expats usually have two options: a local health insurance plan or an international health insurance plan.
A local health insurance plan will give you coverage while you’re staying in the UAE, though it will not cover you when you travel anywhere else, including your home country. If you plan to relocate to the UAE with limited international travel, this can be a more cost-efficient option for you.
An international health insurance plan can give you coverage everywhere you go, though some plans may exclude a trip to the US. If you are an expat who constantly has to move around or will stay in the UAE only for a certain time of the year, this can provide you with better protection.
On top of the geographical scope of your plans, you might also want to thoroughly comb through your plans, rather than just looking at the premium, to get the benefits that you truly need and at the price that is best for you.
What to Consider When Purchasing Health Insurance for Your Stay in the UAE
Although the price tag might be a good start to finding the health insurance plan that is best for you, you might also want to look at other elements like coverage limits, co-payments, deductibles, and in-network hospitals, for example.
Here are some terms you should familiarize yourself with when purchasing health insurance for your stay in the UAE:
- Coverage Limits: How much your plan will cover you in a year
- Co-payments: How much you have to contribute out of your pocket per visit or per treatment
- Deductibles: How much you have to spend on your medical care before your insurance starts covering you
- Exclusion: Exclusions are circumstances under which your health insurance will not cover you
- In-Network Hospitals: Hospitals can settle their bills directly with your insurer if they are your insurer’s in-network hospitals, allowing you to receive treatment without paying up-front
- Waiting Period: Before your waiting period concludes, you will not be covered by your insurance yet
Find the Best Health Insurance for Your Stay in the UAE
With 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Pacific Prime Dubai is more than happy to assist global expats in finding the right insurance plan for themselves and their loved ones in the UAE.
Our expert insurance advisors can help you find insurance plans that are tailored to your and your family’s needs and your budgets. We leverage our deep relationships with insurers to ensure our clients can obtain the coverage they need and on their own terms.
No need to worry about commitment; our consult is obligation-free. Contact our insurance advisors now for free quotes and plan comparisons!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are health checks for UAE visas?
Applicants are screened for HIV/AIDS, pulmonary tuberculosis, leprosy, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis when undergoing a medical examination for UAE visas.
Are health checks required for UAE visas?
Health checks are typically required for UAE visas, including residence and student visas. However, children under the age of 18 are usually exempt from health checks when applying for UAE visas.
What are the requirements for the UAE’s child visa?
Children must be sponsored by their parents for the UAE’s residence visa. The parents who sponsor the child must have valid residency in the UAE themselves. For student visa, the student must be enrolled in an educational institution in the UAE
Conclusion
Children under the age of 18 are exempt from medical examination when applying for the UAE’s residence visa. Children over the age of 18 and students who are applying for a student visa are required to undergo a medical examination for their residence visa and student visa application.
However, you must make sure your child also carries a valid health insurance plan when coming to the UAE. The UAE requires all residents to carry a valid health insurance plan.
Employers are required to provide their foreign employees with a health insurance plan. However, this insurance plan may or may not allow the addition of dependents.
If your plan does not allow the addition of a dependent, you will have to secure a private health insurance plan by yourself for your child. Without a valid health insurance plan, your visa application or your residency in the UAE might be affected.
Secure a health insurance plan for your stay in the UAE today.
Coming to Pacific Prime, she is ready to utilize her experience for the new pursuit. With a strong passion for storytelling and writing, she hopes her words could help bring people closer to the best international health insurance plan that works for them. After all, as a writer, there is no greater honor than when one’s words can add clarity to the world of the readers.
Apart from writing, she is an avid planespotter. On the weekends, you can expect to find her loitering around the airport, gawking at all the aircrafts taking off and landing. When the weather does not permit planespotting, you can find her huddling on her cozy couch, watching ballet and figure skating as well.
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