Hurry up, Dubai NRIs! Health insurance now mandatory for getting visas
- DNRD has made health insurance mandatory for issuance and renewal of visas.
- The government is yet to announce the new deadline for residents to have health insurance.
- Approximately 98% of Dubai’s residents have obtained health insurance.
FollowEven as the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has extended the deadline for all residents of the Emirate to have health insurance, the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has made the insurance coverage mandatory for issuance of new visas and renewals. The new policy is being implemented since January 1.
Â
Speaking to the Khaleej Times, Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, a DHA official, said, “New visas will now not be issued or renewed for residents unless they have the insurance." The DHA has yet to specify a new deadline; previously, the last date was December 31. Yousuf cautioned that existing Dubai visa holders should not delay buying insurance given the new deadline.
Â
The mandatory health insurance scheme was first introduced in January 2014 and gradually extended to various sections. Sponsors who did not take insurance coverage for their dependents were required to pay a fine of Dh 500 per person per month; as the deadline has been extended, the fine is not being collected at present. The deadline was extended as insurance providers struggled to cope with the rush of customers in December.
Â
The DHA claims that by December, more than 4 million residents (98% of Dubai’s population) have been insured. Officials claim that the 2% of residents who are yet to be covered include spouses, elderly parents and domestic workers. Residents have complained that insurance companies were frequently rejecting applications of senior citizens.
