The UAE medical fitness test for residence visa is a short health screening that every foreign resident aged 18 or older must pass before a new residence visa is issued or an existing one is renewed. It checks for a small list of communicable diseases, mainly through a blood test and a chest X ray, and the result goes straight to the immigration system.
This guide explains which tests are done, where to take them in each emirate, what each authority charges, how to read your result, and what really happens if a result comes back unfit. It covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, because each one uses a different health authority.
What Is the UAE Medical Fitness Test for Residence Visa?
The UAE medical fitness test for a residence visa is a government screening that confirms an applicant is free from specific communicable diseases, and a fit result is required before the residence visa or its renewal can be completed. The rules come from Cabinet Resolution No. 7 of 2008, amended by Cabinet Resolution No. 75 of 2022, which Dubai Health also cites on its official Medical Fitness Exam page.
The test is not a general health check. Doctors are looking for a defined set of conditions, and the outcome is simply fit or unfit. Most people finish the visit in under an hour and receive the result by SMS and email within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the emirate and the package.
Emirate
Who runs the test
How you apply
Dubai
Dubai Health (Salem and Smart Salem centres)
Salem portal or a typing centre
Abu Dhabi
SEHA and other DoH approved screening centres
SEHA visa screening booking or walk in
Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ
Emirates Health Services (EHS)
EHS website with UAE PASS
Who Needs a Medical Fitness Test in the UAE?
Every foreign national aged 18 or above needs a medical fitness test when applying for a new UAE residence visa and again at each renewal. The EHS service page and the Dubai government portal both set the age at 18 and above.
New employees on a work residence visa, in mainland companies and free zones
Family members aged 18 and over who are sponsored on a residence visa
Investors, partners, freelancers and other self sponsored residents
Domestic workers such as housemaids, nannies and private drivers
Existing residents renewing their residence visa
Children under 18 do not take the residence medical test. Tourists and visit visa holders also do not need it, unless they change status to a residence visa inside the UAE. Cabinet Resolution No. 75 of 2022 also lets the health authority exempt some cases, such as certain sponsored relatives and approved major investors from parts of the screening.
Golden Visa and Green Visa holders are residents too, so they follow the same medical step. Our guide to the types of UAE residence visa explains which category you fall into.
Which Tests Are Included in the Medical Fitness Test?
The medical fitness test includes a blood test and a chest X ray for most applicants, and some job groups get extra tests and vaccines. The exact package can differ slightly between Dubai Health, SEHA and EHS, so check the page of the authority that handles your visa. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 75 of 2022, the screening list depends on whether you are a new arrival or renewing, and on the type of work you do.
Test
Who is tested
What it looks for
Blood test
All applicants
HIV, plus hepatitis and syphilis for listed jobs
Chest X ray
All applicants
Active or past pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)
Physical exam
All applicants
Signs of leprosy and general findings
Pregnancy test
Female domestic workers
Pregnancy status, reported to the employer
The extra hepatitis and syphilis screening applies to jobs with close personal or food contact, such as:
Nannies and housemaids
Nursery and kindergarten supervisors
Barbers and beauty salon staff
Health club and health facility workers
Dubai Health adds that vaccinations are given only for certain profession categories.
Food handlers, such as restaurant and cafe workers, also need an occupational health card. The federal fee schedule treats this occupational check as a separate exam from the residence visa medical, so the two are booked and paid for separately unless a combined service is offered.
No fasting rule appears on the official service pages. If you are pregnant or think you may be, tell the staff before the X ray so the doctor can advise you on the safest option.
Where Can You Take the Medical Fitness Test in Each Emirate?
You take the medical fitness test at a centre run or approved by the health authority of the emirate that issues your visa. The application is usually started at an Amer centre in Dubai or an ICP channel in the other emirates, then the medical step follows.
Dubai: Salem and Smart Salem centres
Dubai Health runs 25 medical fitness centres across Dubai, according to its centre directory. They include Al Karama, Al Quoz, Al Nahda, Al Garhoud, Bur Dubai, Al Muhaisnah, Al Rashidiya, Abu Hail, Zaabeel, JAFZA, DAFZA, DIFC, Dubai Airport and a new Circle Mall JVC centre.
The official Dubai Health directory lists every medical fitness centre, so you can pick the one nearest your home or office. Source: dubaihealth.ae
Dubai Health offers four service speeds, and every result is sent by SMS and email:
Regular service: result within 24 working hours
Premium service: result within 6 working hours
VIP service: result within 2 working hours
Salem Innovative Center: result in about 30 minutes
Dubai Health also runs a Unified Health Screening service. It combines two separate requirements, the residency medical test and the occupational health card check, in one appointment for eligible jobs, so food handlers and similar workers do not need two separate visits.
Abu Dhabi: SEHA and approved screening centres
In Abu Dhabi, SEHA Disease Prevention and Screening Centres handle most residency medical tests, and other centres approved by the Department of Health also offer the service. SEHA lists centres in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, including Mushrif Mall, Al Wahda Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Musaffah.
Abu Dhabi screening follows the Department of Health screening standard, which groups applicants by job and by new or renewal status. Some groups get extra tests, such as hepatitis screening for close contact jobs or a pregnancy test for certain female workers.
Under the same standard, a pregnant applicant does not take the chest X ray during pregnancy. The X ray is postponed until about two months after delivery, with the sponsor’s consent.
SEHA says results arrive within 48 hours, or sooner if you get an SMS. The last application is usually accepted 30 minutes before a centre closes, so plan an early visit at the smaller centres that close at 4pm.
Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain
In the northern emirates, Emirates Health Services (EHS) runs the residency medical test at its medical examination centres and some public health centres. You log in with UAE PASS, book an appointment, pay, and arrive 20 minutes early to check in, as set out on the EHS service page.
EHS sends the report within 24 hours. Check the EHS page for closure notices before you go, because some health centres have paused services or moved them to nearby centres in recent months.
How Much Does the UAE Medical Fitness Test Cost?
The UAE medical fitness test costs AED 260 for most employees at EHS centres, from AED 250 at SEHA in Abu Dhabi and AED 270 at Dubai Health for the regular service, with higher fees for domestic workers, some service jobs and faster packages. The federal fee base comes from Cabinet Resolution No. 4 of 2025, which took effect on 16 March 2025. The amounts EHS lists already include its own charges, and typing or service centre fees are added on top.
EHS category
Who it covers
Fee
Category A
Employees and company workers
AED 260
Category C
Salon, beauty, spa, fitness club and healthcare workers
AED 310
Category B
Private drivers, nannies, housemaids and nursery supervisors
AED 360
In Abu Dhabi, the SEHA visa screening service lists regular screening from AED 250, with higher fees for some job groups and an extra AED 50 for a pregnancy test where required. Faster packages cost more and are offered only at selected centres.
In Dubai, the medical fitness test costs AED 270 for the regular 24 hour service, according to the official Dubai Health price list. Faster packages cost more:
Dubai Health package
Result time
Fee
Regular
24 working hours
AED 270
Premium
6 working hours
AED 700
VIP
2 working hours
AED 1,020
Salem Innovative Center
About 30 minutes
AED 700
Domestic workers pay AED 320 for the regular service and AED 750 for premium, plus AED 50 for the pregnancy test. Result times count official working hours only, and Dubai Health says prices can change, so confirm the amount on the Salem portal before you pay.
How to Do the Medical Fitness Test Step by Step
The medical fitness test takes four simple stages, from the visa application to the result. Here is the usual order in every emirate:
Start the residence visa or renewal application through Amer, ICP or your employer, so you have an entry permit or residence file number.
Book the medical test on the Salem portal in Dubai, through SEHA in Abu Dhabi, or on the EHS website with UAE PASS in the northern emirates.
Visit the centre with your original passport or Emirates ID, a photo and your e visa or residence copy.
Complete registration, the blood draw and the chest X ray, plus any vaccine your job category needs.
Wait for the result by SMS and email, then continue to Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping.
Dubai Health’s official customer journey matches these steps: apply on the Salem portal, visit the centre, give blood and take the X ray, then get the result. Source: dubaihealth.ae
Your employer or sponsor can check the visa progress after the medical step. Our guide on how to check UAE visa status online shows the official ways to follow your file.
Documents Required for the Medical Fitness Test
The documents for the medical fitness test are short: an identity document, a photo and proof of your visa application. Each authority words the list slightly differently.
Document
Dubai Health
EHS
Original passport or Emirates ID
Yes
Yes
Recent photo, white background
Yes
One photo
E visa or entry permit copy
Yes
Not listed
Emirates ID for renewals
Usually
Required
Companies sending more than 10 workers to an EHS centre must also bring delegate cards. In Dubai, keep the registration form or application number from the Salem portal, because the centre uses it to find your file.
How to Check Your Medical Fitness Test Result
Your medical fitness test result is sent by SMS and email, and Dubai residents can also track it on the Dubai Health medical fitness check page. EHS issues results within 24 hours, while SEHA in Abu Dhabi gives a 48 hour window.
Dubai: use the Dubai Health medical fitness check service with your application details
Abu Dhabi: watch for the SEHA SMS, which can arrive before the 48 hour limit
Northern emirates: the EHS report arrives by email and SMS within 24 hours
If no result arrives after the promised time, call the authority before you book another test. Dubai Health answers on 800 60, and a repeat test is rarely needed when the first one simply has not synced.
What Happens If You Fail the UAE Medical Fitness Test?
Failing the UAE medical fitness test means the residence visa cannot be issued or renewed for the disease that was found, but the rules differ by condition. Cabinet Resolution No. 75 of 2022 sets out what happens in each case.
Finding
New visa
Renewal
HIV positive
Not issued
Not renewed
Leprosy
Not issued
Not renewed
Active or old TB
Unfit
Fit subject to treatment, 1 year visa
Hepatitis in listed jobs
Unfit unless job changes
Unfit unless job changes
For tuberculosis at renewal, a resident who follows treatment with preventive medicine services can be declared fit subject to treatment, and the residence permit is issued for one year only. Stopping treatment can lead to an unfit result at the next renewal.
For hepatitis in the listed close contact jobs, the visa purpose can be changed to a different profession within 30 days of being told the result. Syphilis cases must complete treatment before a fitness certificate is issued.
A first abnormal finding is not always a final result. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health standard sets extra checks before a decision:
A suspected TB case is sent for further tests, such as a sputum test, within 3 working days
An abnormal chest X ray is reviewed by a second and a third reader
The applicant can contact the screening centre to understand the result and the next steps
If you receive an unclear or unfit result in any emirate, speak to the screening authority or your treating doctor before making visa decisions.
An unfit result also affects your stay timeline. Read our guide to the UAE visa grace period so you know how long you can legally stay while your options are sorted.
Medical Fitness Test for Visa Renewal
The medical fitness test is repeated at every residence visa renewal for residents aged 18 and above. TB screening at renewal is the main reason, because the rules require all residents to be checked again rather than only new arrivals.
Start the medical test early in the renewal window, as the result can take up to two days and the Emirates ID step follows it. Our UAE residence visa renewal guide covers the full renewal timeline and fees.
Medical Fitness Test vs Health Card: What Is the Difference?
The medical fitness test and the health card are two different things: the test is a visa screening, while the health card gives access to government health services. Passing the medical test does not give you a health card, and a health card does not replace the visa medical.
Workers in food, beauty and similar jobs may also need an occupational health card, which is why Dubai now offers the combined Unified Health Screening. For public health card rules in the northern emirates, see our EHS health card guide.
Practical Tips Before Your Medical Test Appointment
A little preparation can save you a second visit to the medical fitness centre.
Book the earliest slot, because smaller centres close in the afternoon and stop taking applications 30 minutes before closing
Carry the original passport or Emirates ID, not only a photo on your phone
Choose a faster package only if your visa deadline is close, since the regular result usually arrives within one to two days
Keep the payment receipt and application number until the result arrives
Domestic workers should go with the sponsor or carry the sponsor details, as fees and tests differ for this category
UAE Medical Fitness Test: Latest Updates
These are the main changes to know as of October 2026:
February 2026: Dubai Health launched Unified Health Screening, which combines the residency medical test and the occupational health check in one appointment for eligible jobs.
March 2026: Dubai Health updated its medical fitness pages and now lists 25 centres, including Circle Mall JVC and Abu Hail.
16 March 2025 onwards: Cabinet Resolution No. 4 of 2025 set the new federal medical examination fees, and EHS now lists AED 260, AED 310 and AED 360 by category.
November 2025: EHS announced temporary closures and service transfers at some health centres, so check the EHS page before visiting.
October 2026: the current Dubai Health price list sets the regular medical fitness test at AED 270, premium at AED 700 and VIP at AED 1,020.
Conclusion
The UAE medical fitness test is a quick, mandatory step for every resident aged 18 and above, at each new visa and every renewal. Book through Dubai Health, SEHA or EHS depending on your emirate, carry your original ID and photo, and expect your result within 24 to 48 hours.
If a result is unfit, the outcome depends on the condition, and TB or hepatitis cases often have a route forward. For more visa and health guides, browse our UAE health and insurance guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a medical fitness test in the UAE?
Every foreign resident aged 18 or above needs a medical fitness test for a new residence visa and at each renewal. Children under 18 and visit visa holders do not take it. Some sponsored relatives and approved investors can be exempted from parts of the screening by the health authority.
How much is the UAE medical fitness test for a residence visa?
The UAE medical fitness test for a residence visa costs AED 260 for most employees at EHS centres, AED 310 for salon and healthcare workers and AED 360 for domestic workers, plus service fees. SEHA in Abu Dhabi starts at AED 250, and Dubai Health charges AED 270 for the regular service, rising to AED 700 for premium and AED 1,020 for VIP.
What diseases are checked in the UAE medical test?
The UAE medical test checks for HIV, tuberculosis and leprosy for all applicants. Hepatitis and syphilis are added for close contact jobs such as nannies, housemaids, salon staff and health workers, and female domestic workers also take a pregnancy test.
How long does the medical fitness result take?
The medical fitness result takes up to 24 hours at EHS and up to 48 hours at SEHA in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, the regular result takes up to 24 working hours, premium 6 working hours, VIP 2 working hours, and the Salem Innovative Center about 30 minutes.
Do I need a medical test to renew my UAE residence visa?
Yes, you need a medical test to renew a UAE residence visa if you are 18 or older. TB screening is repeated at every renewal, and the result must be fit before the renewal and Emirates ID can be completed.
Can I get a UAE visa if I have TB?
A new applicant with active or old TB is declared unfit, but a resident found with TB at renewal can be declared fit subject to treatment and receive a one year residence permit. Following the treatment plan is required to stay eligible.
Can I do the medical test in a different emirate?
You should take the test with the health authority linked to the emirate that issues your visa, because each authority sends results to its own immigration system. Ask your sponsor or the typing centre before booking in another emirate.
Anees is a UAE-based content creator, writer, and SEO professional with over 12 years of experience. Since 2014, he has published research-backed guides on UAE visas, labour laws, jobs, traffic fines, and government services, all verified against official sources. He is certified in SEO by HubSpot Academy and Digital Marketing by Google Digital Garage.
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Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only, based on publicly available UAE laws and regulations. It does not constitute legal advice. Always verify with official UAE government sources or a qualified legal professional.
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