Medical visa for India from United Arab Emirates
Everything United Arab Emirates patients need for an Indian medical visa — the route you are eligible for, the official fee, the full document list, attendant rules and what happens after you land. Taken from Consulate General of India, Dubai and the Government of India portals, not from agents.
Read this before you apply
BLS and SGIVS no longer handle Indian visas in the UAE
Since 22 July 2026 Indian consular, passport, visa and attestation services in the UAE are handled by Al Hind Tours & Travels at 16 Indian Consular Application Centres. Appointments are booked at consularsevainuae.com and released at 9 am and 9 pm daily. Services are no longer available at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate in Dubai. Several mission PDFs still name BLS and are out of date.
Which visa you can apply for
United Arab Emirates is on India's e-Visa eligible list, so you may apply online for an e-Medical visa — or use the paper Medical (MED) visa if it suits your route better.
Processing time
Normally 3–5 working days after submission, though certain nationalities and categories referred to Delhi take longer with no fixed timeframe.
Validity
Initially six months or the period of treatment. Unlike a tourist visa, a medical visa can be extended inside India with supporting medical documents. For the e-Medical visa the official sources conflict (365 days versus 60 days) — confirm on your grant letter.
Entries
Paper MED-1: single or multiple up to 6 months; multiple for 6 months to 1 year. e-Medical: multiple. Visa on arrival (UAE nationals only): double entry, up to 60 days.
Medical attendant visa
The Medical Attendant (MED-2) visa is co-terminus with the patient's visa, and both UAE missions state it may be granted to the spouse, children, or those with blood relations to the patient. The national cap is two attendants, and the e-Visa route also allows only two.
Vaccination certificates
The UAE is not on India's yellow fever endemic list and not on the polio-affected list. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you have been in an endemic country within the previous 6 days.
Documents you need
As published by Consulate General of India, Dubai. Missing any one of these is the most common reason a medical visa application is rejected.
- 1Online MED-1 application, printed, signed and submitted at an Indian Consular Application Centre
- 2Two recent 51×51 mm passport photographs
- 3Original passport plus a photocopy of the passport and visa page; 6 months validity and two blank facing pages
- 4A referral letter or preliminary medical advice from your hospital in the UAE recommending specialised treatment abroad
- 5Letter from the Indian hospital showing an appointment or willingness to treat you
- 6Photocopy of your valid Emirates ID or UAE residence visa page
- 7Proof of financial standing — return ticket and sufficient funds for your stay and treatment
- 8Yellow fever certificate if you are from, or have visited, an endemic country in the past 6 days
- 9Biometrics captured in person
- 10For former Indian citizens: the cancelled Indian passport and the renunciation certificate
The hospital invitation letter
The UAE route needs TWO letters — a UAE-side referral or preliminary medical advice recommending specialised treatment abroad, plus a letter from the Indian hospital showing an appointment or willingness to treat. The Indian hospital must register on the Medical & Ayush Visa Portal to generate the invitation letter, and must share the generated PDF with both the applicant and the Consulate.
This is the document we handle for you. Send us your diagnosis and reports and we obtain the invitation letter from the hospital in the format your mission requires — at no charge.
Fees and after you arrive
Official fee
e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant are US$80 each plus a 3% bank charge. The paper MED-1 fee is published only in dirhams, and two live official documents disagree — AED 290 / 435 on the current fee sheet, AED 295 / 445 on an older annexure still linked from the Dubai page. Use AED 290 / 435 and confirm before paying. The outsourcing partner charges AED 19 including VAT.
FRRO registration
Register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival if your medical visa is valid for more than 180 days. Registration is done online through e-FRRO — the Dubai page's note that patients need not register personally refers to that, not to an exemption.
Visa on arrival is for UAE nationals only
It is not available to UAE residents, only to Emirati citizens who have previously held an Indian e-Visa or paper visa. It covers medical purposes, lasts up to 60 days with double entry, and costs Rs 2,000 — but unlike MED-1 it cannot be extended or converted. The official sources also disagree on whether six or nine airports accept it, so verify before booking.
Non-UAE nationals must normally apply where they live
To apply for a regular visa in the UAE you must be resident there. Casual visitors who are not normally resident should apply in their country of residence or origin. This matters because many medical travellers from the UAE are Indian-origin or third-country residents.
Every figure on this page comes from official Government of India or Indian mission sources, last checked 2026-08. Visa rules change without notice — always confirm on the official portal before you pay or travel. Navaid.in is a medical-travel facilitator, not a visa agent, and does not submit visa applications on your behalf.
Questions United Arab Emirates patients ask
Can United Arab Emirates patients get an e-Medical visa for India?
Yes. United Arab Emirates is on India's e-Visa eligible list, so you can apply online for an e-Medical visa. e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant are US$80 each plus a 3% bank charge. The paper MED-1 fee is published only in dirhams, and two live official documents disagree — AED 290 / 435 on the current fee sheet, AED 295 / 445 on an older annexure still linked from the Dubai page. Use AED 290 / 435 and confirm before paying. The outsourcing partner charges AED 19 including VAT.
How much does the Indian medical visa cost?
e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant are US$80 each plus a 3% bank charge. The paper MED-1 fee is published only in dirhams, and two live official documents disagree — AED 290 / 435 on the current fee sheet, AED 295 / 445 on an older annexure still linked from the Dubai page. Use AED 290 / 435 and confirm before paying. The outsourcing partner charges AED 19 including VAT.
How long does it take?
Normally 3–5 working days after submission, though certain nationalities and categories referred to Delhi take longer with no fixed timeframe.
How many attendants can travel with the patient?
The Medical Attendant (MED-2) visa is co-terminus with the patient's visa, and both UAE missions state it may be granted to the spouse, children, or those with blood relations to the patient. The national cap is two attendants, and the e-Visa route also allows only two.
What must the hospital invitation letter contain?
The UAE route needs TWO letters — a UAE-side referral or preliminary medical advice recommending specialised treatment abroad, plus a letter from the Indian hospital showing an appointment or willingness to treat. The Indian hospital must register on the Medical & Ayush Visa Portal to generate the invitation letter, and must share the generated PDF with both the applicant and the Consulate.
Do I have to register with the FRRO after arriving?
Register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival if your medical visa is valid for more than 180 days. Registration is done online through e-FRRO — the Dubai page's note that patients need not register personally refers to that, not to an exemption.
Do I need any vaccination certificates?
The UAE is not on India's yellow fever endemic list and not on the polio-affected list. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you have been in an endemic country within the previous 6 days.