UAE amends medical test system for expatriates coming for work and residency

Salam Abu Shehab, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued 9 Cabinet decisions, including amending some provisions of Cabinet Resolution No 7 for 2008 regarding the system of medical test for expatriates coming for work or residence. The decisions were published on the latest edition of the Official Gazette.

Regarding the health fitness test, the Resolution No 75 for 2022 amends some provisions of Cabinet Resolution No 7 for 2008 regarding the medical test for expatriates coming for work or residence.

The decision obligates expatriates coming for work or residence to have the medical tests decided before. The conditions of issuing or renewing the residency  is based on the type of infection and the category of the tested persons.

These tests include: AIDS test, which is conducted for all categories of arrivals to the UAE for residency when issuing residency for the first time or upon renewal. Residency is not issued or renewed for positive cases.

Upon a decision of the Minister or the head of the health authority, according to the circumstances, it is permissible to exempt some cases from the health fitness test, according to what is appropriate.

Viral hepatitis is also tested for those coming to the country to work for the first time and upon renewal of residency.

This is done for five categories: babysitters, domestic servants, nursery and kindergarten supervisors, workers at barbershops and health clubs, and workers at health facilities.

Residency is not issued or renewed for positive cases unless the purpose of the residence visa is changed within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of notification of the result of the test. Three doses of the vaccine is given to all negative cases of new arrivals of the above-mentioned categories.

Regarding the pulmonary tuberculosis test, it is limited only to all new arrivals. The cases proved to be old or active are considered healthily unfit and residency is not issued.

The tuberculosis test must be done by all residents when renewing their residency, and if it is proved they have old or active tuberculosis, the person is considered healthy, provided that he is followed up by the preventive medicine departments. He is then given a certificate of health fitness in which the phrase “subject to treatment” is mentioned, according to which he is given a residence permit for one year only, provided that he is followed up during the year.

If the patient does not adhere to the treatment, he is considered unfit and the concerned authorities are notified and his residence is not renewed.

Every member of the diplomatic and consular corps is exempted from the condition of health fitness for an old and active tuberculosis disease, when issuing residency for the first time and considered healthy.

The exception is made on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or his authorised representative.

Relatives of the resident expatriate, the husband, wife, children who are sponsored by him, or those studying inside the UAE and on the educational establishment’s sponsorship and parents who are on his sponsorship.

Major investors are also excluded based on the approval of the competent health authority, and upon the recommendation of the competent economic authority in the concerned emirate, besides other categories determined by a competent committee.

Regarding the pregnancy test, domestic workers must be subject to it before issuing a health certificate, free from diseases, and in the event that pregnancy is affirmed, the employer has the option to allow the female to work or not, after admitting in writing the result of the test.

A leprosy test must also be conducted for new arrivals and upon renewal of residency. Residency is not issued or renewed for positive cases for all groups.

As for the syphilis test, it is limited to the five previously mentioned categories, whether for new arrivals to reside or when renewed, provided that the necessary treatment is given to positive cases before giving them a health fitness certificate.