Category: Migration

Most permanent residence applications need a medical exam, and it cannot be done by your own doctor or at any clinic in the UAE. Each country appoints its own doctors, known as panel physicians, and each has its own rules on when you must be examined. Getting the timing wrong can cost you weeks, or force you to pay for a second exam. This guide explains how it works for Canada, Australia, the US and the UK when you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere else in the UAE.

On this page

• How immigration medicals work
• Quick comparison by country
• Canada
• Australia
• United States
• United Kingdom: the TB test
• What to bring
• What happens at the exam
• Cost
• After the exam
• Mistakes to avoid
• Questions people ask

How immigration medicals work

• Only approved doctors. Each country publishes its own list of approved doctors and clinics in the UAE. A report from any other clinic is rejected.
• The clinic sends the results. For Canada and Australia, the clinic uploads your results directly to the immigration authority through a system called eMedical. You do not carry a sealed report.
• The doctor does not decide. The panel physician examines you and records the results. The immigration authority decides whether you meet the health requirement.
• Every family member. Usually every person on the application needs an exam, including children, even if some family members are not moving with you.
• Your passport does not matter here. Where you live decides which clinic list you use. Living in the UAE, you use the UAE clinics.

Quick comparison by country

Canada

• When: after you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). IRCC advises against doing it before an ITA.
• Why timing matters: you have 60 days from your ITA to submit, and the medical must fit inside that time. Book an appointment as soon as you are invited.
• What you upload: the clinic gives you an Upfront Medical Report form (IMM 1017B), which you upload with your application as proof of the exam.
• Validity: results are generally valid for 12 months from the exam date. If you do not become a permanent resident in that time, you may need a new exam.
• Where: use IRCC’s panel physician search on canada.ca and choose United Arab Emirates. IRCC-approved doctors are listed in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

For the full Canadian process, see Canada PR from the UAE.

Australia

• HAP ID first. You cannot book without a HAP ID, a health identifier from Home Affairs. You usually get it in ImmiAccount after lodging your visa application, together with the list of exams you need.
• Upfront option. If you have not lodged yet, you may be able to get a HAP ID through the My Health Declarations service and do the exam early.
• Where: outside Australia, you must use a Home Affairs approved panel physician. Find the list for the UAE on the Home Affairs website.
• Which tests: Home Affairs decides based on your age, visa type and history. Common tests are a medical exam, a chest X-ray and blood tests. Your HAP ID letter lists exactly what you need.
• Deadline: your request letter gives a timeframe. If you cannot meet it, tell Home Affairs through ImmiAccount.

You can check whether the clinic has submitted your results using your HAP ID in eMedical. For the full process, see Australia PR from the UAE.

United States

For US immigrant visas processed at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, you must have the medical exam with one of the embassy’s designated doctors in the UAE before your interview. The embassy lists these doctors in its medical exam instructions, with clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Results from other clinics are not accepted.

• Book as soon as you receive your interview date.
• Bring your vaccination records. US immigrant visa applicants must meet vaccination requirements, and missing vaccines can be given at the exam.
• Follow the embassy’s instructions for that specific interview, as requirements are listed in the appointment documents.

US visitor visas do not need a medical exam. See our US visa appointment guide.

United Kingdom: the TB test

The UK does not ask for a full immigration medical. It asks some applicants for a tuberculosis (TB) test if they are coming for more than 6 months.

Whether you need it depends on where you live, not your passport. You need a TB test if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and either live in a country on the UK’s TB list, or lived in a listed country for more than 6 months and moved to an unlisted country within the last 6 months.

The UAE is not on the list. So if you have lived in the UAE for more than 6 months, you usually do not need a TB test, even if your passport is from a listed country such as India, Pakistan or the Philippines. If you moved to the UAE recently from a listed country, you may need one, and GOV.UK lists approved TB testing clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

A UK TB certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the X-ray.

What to bring

Check the clinic’s own list when you book. Usually you need:

• Your passport, the same one used in your application
• Your Emirates ID
• Your HAP ID (Australia), appointment letter (US) or application details (Canada)
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
• A list of medicines you take
• Medical reports for any past or current condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, TB treatment or surgery
• Vaccination records, especially for US immigrant visas and for children
• Passport photos, if the clinic asks

What happens at the exam

The exact tests depend on the country and your age, but usually include:

1. Identity check against your passport, and a photo
2. A medical history questionnaire
3. A physical exam: height, weight, blood pressure, eyesight, heart and lungs
4. A chest X-ray, usually for adults and older children
5. Blood and urine tests, depending on age and country

Answer the medical history questions honestly. Hiding a condition is misrepresentation, which can lead to refusal and a ban. Having a condition does not automatically mean refusal: each country assesses it against its own rules.

Cost

You pay the clinic directly. Prices are set by each clinic and differ by country program, age and the tests required. The immigration fee you pay to the government does not include the medical.

When you call to book, ask for the total price, including the X-ray, blood tests and any vaccinations, and whether children cost less. Compare a few approved clinics if more than one is listed near you.

After the exam

• For Canada and Australia, the clinic submits results electronically. Keep any receipt or form the clinic gives you.
• If something needs checking, the immigration authority may ask for further tests or a specialist report. Respond quickly.
• The clinic will usually not tell you whether you passed. The immigration authority decides.
• Watch the validity. Canada’s results are generally valid for 12 months and the UK TB certificate for 6 months. If your application takes longer, you may need to repeat the exam.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using a clinic that is not on the official list. The report will not be accepted.
• Following old advice for Canada. Express Entry now needs the exam before you submit.
• Doing the Canada medical before your ITA. It may expire before you are invited.
• Booking Australia without a HAP ID. The clinic cannot find your case without it.
• Using a different passport. Use the passport in your application, or tell the authority if it changed.
• Forgetting family members. Each person needs their own exam, unless the authority says otherwise.
• Paying an agent to “arrange” a medical. You book directly with the approved clinic.

Questions people ask

Can I do my Canada immigration medical in Dubai?

Yes, with an IRCC-approved panel physician listed for the UAE. For Express Entry, do it after your Invitation to Apply and before you submit your application.

Do I need a medical before submitting Express Entry?

Yes. Since 21 August 2025, Express Entry applicants must complete an upfront medical exam and upload proof with their application, unless an exemption applies.

How do I get a HAP ID for Australia?

Home Affairs gives it to you in ImmiAccount after you lodge, or you may get one upfront through the My Health Declarations service before lodging.

Do Indians living in Dubai need a UK TB test?

Usually not, if they have lived in the UAE for more than 6 months. The UK rule depends on where you live, and the UAE is not on the TB test list.

How long is an immigration medical valid?

For Canada, generally 12 months from the exam date. A UK TB certificate is valid for 6 months. Australia and the US set validity through your case, so follow your instructions.

Can my family doctor do the exam?

No. Only doctors approved by the destination country can do immigration medicals.

Related guides

• Canada PR from the UAE: Express Entry step by step
• Australia PR from the UAE: 189, 190 and 491 visas
• UAE police clearance certificate for immigration

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Arrange your health examinations: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• GOV.UK — Tuberculosis testing in the UAE: gov.uk
• US Department of State — Abu Dhabi immigrant visa instructions: travel.state.gov
• IRCC — medical exams for permanent residence and the panel physician search: canada.ca
• Express Entry upfront medical requirement from 21 August 2025, as reported by CIC News

Last checked 5 October 2026. Rules and clinic lists are rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.

Express Entry is Canada’s main route to permanent residence, and it is open to every nationality. Your passport does not decide whether you can apply. What changes things for UAE residents is that you are applying from outside Canada, and in 2026 that matters more than ever: most invitations are going to people already working in Canada or to specific job and language categories. This guide explains who is really being invited, how to qualify, what it costs, and how to prepare the UAE documents that slow most applicants down.

On this page

• The 2026 reality for applicants in the UAE
• What your passport decides and what your UAE residence changes
• The three Express Entry programs
• Federal Skilled Worker eligibility
• The CRS score and how draws work
• Realistic routes from the UAE
• Proof of funds from a UAE bank
• What it costs
• Step by step from the UAE
• UAE documents that cause delays
• How long it takes
• Mistakes and scams
• Questions people ask

The 2026 reality for applicants in the UAE

Many older guides describe Express Entry as a simple points race: get a high score, get invited. That is no longer how it works.

Canada now runs mostly targeted draws. Each draw invites one group: people with Canadian work experience, French speakers, healthcare workers, trades workers, provincial nominees and so on. By late September 2026, the largest shares of invitations this year had gone to Canadian Experience Class draws and French-language draws, followed by healthcare.

The Canadian Experience Class needs skilled work experience inside Canada, so most people living in the UAE cannot use it. That leaves you with the targeted categories and provincial nominations. On 1 October 2026, for example, a trades draw invited 3,500 candidates with a minimum score of 476.

What your passport decides and what your UAE residence changes

The three Express Entry programs

Express Entry is a system, not a visa. It manages applications for three federal programs. You must qualify for at least one to enter the pool.

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW). For skilled workers with experience outside Canada. This is the program most UAE residents use.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Needs at least one year of skilled work in Canada. Usually not available if you have only worked in the UAE.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST). For qualified tradespeople. It needs a valid Canadian job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in your trade.

Federal Skilled Worker eligibility

To enter the pool through FSW, you need all of the following:

1. Work experience. At least one year of continuous, paid, full-time work (or the same hours part-time) in the last 10 years, in one skilled occupation. Skilled means TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC). Work done in the UAE counts.
2. Language. At least CLB 7 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening and speaking) on an IRCC-approved test.
3. Education. A Canadian credential, or a foreign degree or diploma with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organisation.
4. 67 points on the FSW selection grid (see below).
5. Proof of funds, unless you are exempt.

The 67-point FSW grid

This grid only decides whether you can enter the pool. It is separate from the CRS score that ranks you once you are in.

Language tests you can take in the UAE

IRCC accepts these tests for Express Entry:

• English: IELTS General Training (not Academic), CELPIP-General and PTE Core (not PTE Academic)
• French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada

Results are valid for two years. Check each provider’s website for test dates and centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Booking the wrong version of a test is a common and expensive mistake.

Educational Credential Assessment

If your degree is from outside Canada, you need an ECA from an organisation IRCC has designated, such as World Education Services (WES). The report is valid for five years. Many universities in India, Pakistan and elsewhere must send transcripts directly to the assessing organisation, which can take weeks, so start this early.

The CRS score and how draws work

Once you are in the pool, IRCC ranks you with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), out of 1,200 points. Points come from:

• Core factors: age, education, language ability and Canadian work experience
• Skill transferability: combinations such as strong language plus a degree, or strong language plus foreign work experience
• Additional points: a provincial nomination (600), strong French, a brother or sister in Canada, or education in Canada

IRCC holds draws throughout the year. Each draw sets a minimum score for the group being invited. If you are selected, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Realistic routes from the UAE

If you live and work in the UAE, these are the routes worth checking, in order:

1. Category-based draws. IRCC selects categories each year. For 2026 they include healthcare and social services, trades, education, STEM, and French-language proficiency, plus some new categories that need Canadian experience. If your UAE work experience is in an eligible occupation, you may be invited at a lower score than the general pool. The minimum experience in the category occupation is now one year.
2. French. French-language draws have invited large numbers in 2026, often at lower scores. Strong French also adds CRS points in every draw.
3. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Provinces can nominate Express Entry candidates who match their labour needs. A nomination adds 600 points, which almost guarantees an invitation in the next PNP draw. Each province has its own streams and rules.
4. Raising your score. Retaking a language test to reach CLB 9 or higher is often the single biggest gain available to someone outside Canada.

Proof of funds from a UAE bank

FSW and FST applicants must show they can support themselves and their family in Canada. You are exempt if you are authorised to work in Canada and have a valid job offer, which rarely applies to UAE residents.

These are the IRCC amounts in force from 7 July 2025. IRCC updates them each year. Count yourself, your spouse and all dependent children, even those not moving with you.

From a UAE bank, you need an official letter from each bank where you hold the money. It should be on the bank’s letterhead and show your account numbers, the date each account was opened, the current balance and the average balance for the past six months. A normal statement printout is not enough on its own.

• The money must be yours and available to use. Borrowed money does not count.
• Property, cars and gold do not count.
• A sudden large deposit will be questioned. Build the balance gradually and keep the source clear.
• IRCC converts your dirhams to Canadian dollars, so keep a buffer above the minimum.
• You must still have the funds when you land in Canada.

Our guide to UAE bank statements for visas explains how UAE banks issue stamped statements and letters.

What it costs

IRCC government fees, from 30 April 2026:

A single applicant pays CAD 1,590 in IRCC fees plus CAD 85 for biometrics. You can pay the right of permanent residence fee with your application or later, when IRCC asks.

Other costs you will pay in the UAE and elsewhere:

• Language test fee
• Educational Credential Assessment fee and courier charges
• Medical exam at an IRCC-approved clinic
• UAE police certificate, and police certificates from other countries you have lived in
• Visa application centre service fee for biometrics
• Translations, if any document is not in English or French

Step by step from the UAE

1. Find your NOC code. Use the NOC search on canada.ca. Match your actual duties, not just your UAE job title.
2. Take an approved language test. Aim higher than CLB 7 if you can. Every level above it adds CRS points.
3. Get your ECA. Start this at the same time as the language test.
4. Check your FSW points and CRS score with IRCC’s tools on canada.ca.
5. Create your Express Entry profile on the IRCC portal. It is free and stays in the pool for 12 months.
6. Collect documents while you wait. Get your UAE work reference letters and police certificates now, not after an invitation.
7. Watch draws and provincial streams. Check whether any province is inviting people in your occupation.
8. Receive an ITA. You then have 60 days to submit a complete application.
9. Do your upfront medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician in the UAE. Since 21 August 2025, Express Entry applicants must complete it before submitting, and upload the Upfront Medical Report form (IMM 1017B) the clinic gives you. Book as soon as you are invited, because it must fit inside your 60 days. Do not do it before an ITA: results are valid for only 12 months.
10. Submit and pay. Upload every document and pay the fees online.
11. Give biometrics at the Canada visa application centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi after you receive the instruction letter.
12. Receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), and a visa in your passport if your nationality needs one to travel.
13. Land in Canada before your COPR expires.

The biometrics process in the UAE is the same one used for visitor visas. See our Canada visitor visa guide for the visa centre details.

UAE documents that cause delays

Work reference letters

This is where many UAE applicants run into trouble. A standard UAE salary certificate or experience certificate is not enough. IRCC wants a reference letter from each employer, on company letterhead, signed, with the company’s contact details, showing:

• Your job title or titles, with dates
• Your main duties
• Whether the job is full-time or part-time, and hours per week
• Your annual salary and benefits
• The dates you worked there

Many UAE HR departments only issue a fixed template. Ask early and explain exactly what you need. The duties must match the NOC code you claimed. If a previous employer has closed or will not cooperate, prepare other evidence such as contracts, payslips and your Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) records.

Our UAE employer NOC letter templates cover a different letter, but the advice on dealing with HR applies here too.

UAE police certificate

You and every family member aged 18 or older need a police certificate from each country where you lived for six months or more in a row since age 18, within the last 10 years. That usually means the UAE and your home country.

IRCC accepts a UAE certificate under any of its names: Police Clearance Certificate, Criminal Clearance Certificate or Good Conduct Certificate. You can apply while you live here, through the Ministry of Interior or your emirate’s police service. Choose immigration or overseas use as the purpose.

Medical exam

Medical exams must be done by an IRCC-approved panel physician. Find the current list for the UAE on canada.ca. A general clinic or hospital report is not accepted. For Express Entry, the exam is now done after your ITA and before you submit, and every family member on the application needs one. See our immigration medical exam guide for what to bring and how to book.

How long it takes

Check IRCC’s processing-time tool for the current figure. Do not resign from your UAE job or end your tenancy until you have your COPR.

Mistakes and scams

• Paying for a job offer. Job offers add no CRS points in 2026, and selling job offers is fraud. Fake offers can lead to refusal and a five-year ban for misrepresentation.
• Trusting a CRS score without a category. Your score only matters against the draws you are eligible for.
• Using a salary certificate as a reference letter. It does not show duties or hours.
• Leaving out family members. Every dependant counts for proof of funds and must be declared, even if they are not moving.
• Taking IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. Neither is accepted for Express Entry.
• Using unlicensed agents. You can apply yourself. If you pay someone for advice, check they are licensed with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants or a Canadian law society. Agents promising guaranteed PR are not telling the truth.

Questions people ask

Can I apply for Canada PR from Dubai without a job offer?

Yes. Most Federal Skilled Worker applicants have no job offer. Since March 2025, a job offer adds no CRS points anyway. What matters is your score and whether you fit a category or provincial stream that is inviting candidates.

Does living in the UAE help my Express Entry application?

UAE work experience counts as foreign work experience if it is in a skilled occupation. Living in the UAE does not add points by itself, and it means the Canadian Experience Class is usually not available to you.

Does my nationality affect Express Entry?

No. There are no nationality quotas or restricted countries. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and other passport holders use the same system and the same points.

How much money do I need for Canada PR from the UAE?

A single Federal Skilled Worker applicant must show at least CAD 15,263 in settlement funds under the table in force from July 2025, plus about CAD 1,675 in IRCC fees and biometrics, plus costs for tests, assessment, medicals and police certificates.

What CRS score do I need in 2026?

There is no single score. It depends on the draw. In September and early October 2026, minimum scores ranged from under 200 in a small category for physicians with Canadian experience, to around 475 in healthcare and trades draws, to around 520 in Canadian Experience Class draws.

Can I get the UAE police certificate after I leave the UAE?

Yes, but it is slower and more complicated. Get it while you still live here if you can.

Related guides

• Canada visitor visa from Dubai
• UAE bank statements for visa applications
• UAE employer NOC letter templates

Sources

• IRCC — Express Entry: canada.ca
• IRCC — Express Entry rounds of invitations: canada.ca
• IRCC — 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: canada.ca
• IRCC — proof of funds, fees list, police certificates and panel physicians: canada.ca
• IRCC fee changes effective 30 April 2026, as reported by VisaHQ and others
• Express Entry 2026 category updates: Fragomen

Last checked 5 October 2026. Fees, fund amounts and draw patterns are rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.

Australia’s skilled visas are open to every nationality, and work experience gained in the UAE counts towards them. The hard part in 2026 is not eligibility. It is competition: most permanent places this year are planned for people already in Australia, and invitation scores for many occupations are well above the minimum. This guide explains the three main skilled visas, how the points test works, what it costs, and how to prepare the UAE documents that skills assessors and Home Affairs ask for.

On this page

• The 2026 reality for applicants in the UAE
• What your passport decides and what your UAE residence changes
• The three skilled visas: 189, 190 and 491
• Basic eligibility
• The points test
• Invitation scores in 2026
• English tests you can take in the UAE
• What it costs
• Step by step from the UAE
• UAE documents that cause delays
• Points test changes coming
• Mistakes and scams
• Questions people ask

The 2026 reality for applicants in the UAE

Australia plans 185,000 permanent visa places for 2026–27. More than 70% are in the skilled stream. But roughly 129,590 places are planned for people already in Australia, which leaves about 55,110 for applicants overseas, including you.

The places for the visas most UAE residents use did grow this year:

What your passport decides and what your UAE residence changes

The three skilled visas: 189, 190 and 491

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189). Permanent from day one. No sponsor needed. You compete directly on points in national invitation rounds.
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Permanent from day one. A state or territory must nominate you, which adds 5 points. You usually commit to living in that state at first.
• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). A provisional visa for up to five years. A state, territory or eligible relative in a regional area sponsors you, which adds 15 points. It can lead to permanent residence later through a separate visa if you meet income and residence conditions. Places for this category were cut sharply in 2026–27.

There is also the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), which now has the largest share of skilled places. It needs an Australian employer to sponsor you, and most people reach it after working in Australia on a temporary work visa, so it is rarely a direct route from the UAE.

Basic eligibility

For the 189, 190 and 491 visas you must:

1. Be under 45 when you are invited to apply.
2. Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for the visa or state.
3. Have a positive skills assessment for that occupation from the assessing body named for it.
4. Have at least competent English.
5. Score at least 65 points on the points test.
6. Be invited through SkillSelect.
7. Meet health and character requirements, including police certificates.

Skills assessment

Each occupation has one assessing body. Examples include Engineers Australia for engineers, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) for IT jobs, ANMAC for nurses, VETASSESS for many professional jobs and Trades Recognition Australia for trades. Find yours by searching your occupation on the Home Affairs website.

The assessor checks your qualifications and your work experience. Some assessors only count experience after a certain date or deduct years to account for when you became skilled, so not all your years in the UAE may count for points. Read your assessment result carefully before claiming experience points.

The points test

These are the main points factors under the current test. Points are claimed in your Expression of Interest (EOI) and must be proven with documents if you are invited.

Other points exist for study in Australia, a professional year in Australia and accredited community language skills, but they rarely apply to people who have only lived in the UAE.

Example: a 30-year-old engineer in Dubai with a bachelor’s degree, 6 years of assessed skilled experience, proficient English and a partner with competent English scores 30 + 15 + 10 + 10 + 5 = 70 points. Raising English to superior adds 10 more, to 80. For most people outside Australia, English is the factor they can improve most quickly.

Invitation scores in 2026

Home Affairs invites the highest-ranked EOIs in each occupation. If two people have the same score, the one who lodged the EOI earlier wins.

In the round held on 4 June 2026, Home Affairs issued 10,000 invitations for the 189 visa. The lowest score invited varied by occupation, from 65 to 100 points:

• 65 points: several construction trades, such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers and bricklayers
• 75 points: many healthcare jobs, including registered nurses in several specialties, physiotherapists and general practitioners
• 80 to 85 points: many professional and engineering jobs
• 90 to 95 points: some science, statistics and electronics or telecommunications engineering jobs

Rounds are not held monthly. Home Affairs said the next 189 round would be held by 30 September 2026. Check the SkillSelect invitation rounds page for the latest results before you plan.

State nomination (190 and 491)

Each state and territory runs its own program, with its own occupation list, rules and opening dates. Some programs only nominate people who already live and work in that state. Others have offshore streams for specific occupations, often healthcare, teaching and trades. Check each state’s official migration website. Do not pay anyone who says they can get you a state nomination: states decide this themselves.

English tests you can take in the UAE

From 7 August 2025, Home Affairs accepts these tests: IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan English Test, OET and Cambridge English tests.

• Competent English on IELTS is at least 6 in each of the four parts.
• PTE Academic scores changed. For tests taken from 7 August 2025, the competent level is 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking. Older score tables online are wrong for new tests.
• Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028.

What it costs

Home Affairs visa application charges from 1 July 2026:

These charges rose about 25% on 1 July 2026. For a 189 application, each additional adult adds about AUD 3,070 and each child under 18 about AUD 1,535. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator on the Home Affairs website for your exact total. Paying by card adds a surcharge. The charge is normally not refunded if you are refused.

Other costs:

• Skills assessment fee, which varies by assessing body
• English test fee
• Health exam with an approved doctor in the UAE
• UAE police certificate, plus police certificates from other countries
• State nomination fee, if your chosen state charges one
• Certified translations, if any document is not in English

Step by step from the UAE

1. Find your occupation and assessing body on the Home Affairs website. Check which visas and states list your occupation.
2. Check recent invitation scores for your occupation. Be honest about the gap.
3. Take an approved English test. Aim for proficient or superior if you can.
4. Apply for your skills assessment. This often takes the longest, so start early.
5. Calculate your points using only what your documents and assessment support.
6. Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect. It is free. Select the visas you want to be considered for, and states if you want nomination. Lodge as soon as you are eligible, because earlier EOIs win ties.
7. Apply for state nomination separately, if the state requires it.
8. Collect documents while you wait: police certificates, reference letters and identity documents.
9. Receive an invitation. You have 60 days to lodge your visa application in ImmiAccount.
10. Lodge and pay. Every claim must match your EOI and be supported by documents.
11. Do your health exam with an approved panel doctor in the UAE when asked, and give biometrics if asked.
12. Receive your visa grant. The grant letter gives a date by which you must first enter Australia.

UAE documents that cause delays

Employment evidence

Skills assessors and Home Affairs want proof that you did skilled work, paid and full-time. A standard UAE salary certificate or experience certificate is not enough on its own. You will usually need:

• A reference letter from each employer, on letterhead, signed, with contact details, your job title, duties, full-time hours, salary and exact dates
• Your employment contract, including your MOHRE labour contract
• Payslips and bank statements that show your salary arriving each month

Salary paid through the UAE Wage Protection System (WPS) is useful, because your bank statements show regular transfers from your employer. If you were ever paid in cash, collect other proof. Make sure the duties in your letter match the occupation you claim.

See our guide to UAE bank statements for how to get stamped statements from UAE banks.

Police certificates

You and family members aged 16 or older usually need a police certificate from each country where you have lived for 12 months or more in total over the last 10 years. That usually means the UAE and your home country. The UAE issues these through the Ministry of Interior and emirate police services. Choose immigration or overseas use as the purpose.

Health exam

Health exams must be done by a panel doctor approved by Home Affairs. Find the current list of approved clinics in the UAE on the Home Affairs website. Reports from other clinics are not accepted.

Points test changes coming

In the May 2026 Budget, the Australian Government said it will reform the points test to favour younger, better-educated and higher-skilled applicants with stronger English. The reformed test is indicated to start from 1 July 2027, after consultation and draft legislation.

This is not law yet. Until new rules are made, the current points test above applies. If you are close to 40, or your English is only at the competent level, the change may make your position weaker later, so it is worth acting sooner rather than later.

Mistakes and scams

• Claiming points you cannot prove. If your visa application shows fewer points than your EOI, it can be refused. False claims can lead to a ban.
• Counting all your UAE years before the skills assessment. The assessor may count fewer years than you expect.
• Using old PTE score tables. The required PTE scores changed for tests taken from 7 August 2025.
• Turning 45 before an invitation. Age is checked on the invitation date.
• Paying for a state nomination or job offer. States nominate people themselves, and buying a job offer is fraud.
• Resigning in the UAE too early. Wait until you have a visa grant.
• Using unregistered agents. You can apply yourself. If you pay for advice, check that the person is a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Questions people ask

Can I apply for Australia PR from Dubai?

Yes. The 189, 190 and 491 visas can be applied for from outside Australia. In 2026–27 most permanent places are planned for people already in Australia, so applicants overseas face more competition.

Does UAE work experience count for Australia PR?

Yes, as skilled experience outside Australia, if your skills assessment accepts it. It can give up to 15 points. The assessor may not count every year you worked.

How many points do I need for Australia PR in 2026?

The minimum is 65, but the score actually invited depends on your occupation. In the June 2026 round it ranged from 65 for some trades to 100 for one medical specialty, with many professional jobs at 80 or more.

How much does Australia PR cost from the UAE?

The 189 visa costs AUD 6,135 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, plus charges for family members, the skills assessment, English test, health exam and police certificates.

Does my nationality affect Australia PR?

Not for eligibility. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and other passport holders use the same points test and the same rules.

Is Australia or Canada easier from the UAE?

It depends on your occupation, age and English. Both countries now favour people already living there. Australia gives a clear invitation score for each occupation. Canada mostly invites through categories such as healthcare, trades and French. Many people prepare for both using IELTS General Training.

Related guides

• Canada PR from the UAE: Express Entry step by step
• UAE bank statements for visa applications
• UAE employer NOC letter templates

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• Department of Home Affairs — Competent English: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation rounds, Migration Program planning levels, visa pricing table, character and health requirements: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• 2026–27 Federal Budget, migration measures, May 2026

Last checked 5 October 2026. Fees, planning levels and invitation scores are rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.