For treatment in Europe, UAE residents apply for a short-stay Schengen visa under “medical reasons” at the consulate of the country where the hospital is. Most of the file proves three things:
- A hospital or doctor has accepted you, with dates and payment terms.
- You have a recent medical report.
- The treatment costs are covered, by you, a sponsor or a UAE authority.
A family member travelling with you as an escort applies for their own visa with a letter explaining why.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the medical-treatment checklist of the Consulate General of Germany in Dubai (published via VFS Global, leaflet dated May 2022), the EU Visa Code and Estonia’s medical, sport and culture checklist category. Germany publishes the most detailed medical-treatment checklist for UAE applicants, so it is the model here. Other consulates are similar; always check your own.
Documents for the patient
- Appointment letter from the hospital or doctor in Europe, signed and stamped, with the treatment dates and how costs will be paid (paid on arrival, deposit required, and so on)
- A recent medical report from your doctor in the UAE
- If a UAE authority pays (Germany’s checklist gives a health authority or GHQ as examples): a letter from it covering all expenses and the treatment period. Otherwise, a written statement naming who will pay.
- Proof that you can pay for any treatment not covered by insurance: personal bank statements for at least the last 3 months, and property or assets if relevant
- The usual documents: application form, passport (valid 3 months after the visa ends, issued within 10 years), photo (within 6 months), UAE residence visa valid 3 months after the trip
Documents for an escort
A spouse, child or carer travelling with the patient applies separately and adds:
- A cover letter naming the escort, giving the reason they are needed and the patient’s full name
- A copy of the patient’s hospital appointment letter
- The cost letter (authority or sponsor) or a statement of who pays for the escort
- The escort’s own employer letter, bank statements, insurance and residence visa
Apply for the patient and escort together, for the same dates, so the consulate can see the files side by side.
Insurance for a medical trip
Travel medical insurance is still required, even though you are travelling for treatment. Germany’s checklist sets these conditions:
- At least €30,000 per person, including repatriation, emergency treatment and hospital care
- Valid for all Schengen countries and the whole visa period
- Credit-card insurance is not accepted
- The insurer must have an office in a Schengen state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein
Travel insurance normally does not pay for the planned treatment itself, which is why the consulate also wants proof you can pay the hospital. See Schengen travel insurance from the UAE.
How to apply: step by step
- Get the hospital’s appointment letter with dates and payment terms, and a recent report from your UAE doctor.
- Arrange the cost letter (authority, employer or sponsor) or prepare your own bank statements.
- Book appointments for the patient and any escort at the consulate of the hospital’s country.
- Translate documents that are not in English or the consulate’s language (Germany accepts German or English).
- Attend and apply. If the treatment is urgent, say so: the Visa Code lets consulates accept late applications in justified urgent cases.
If treatment will take more than 90 days
A Schengen visa covers up to 90 days in any 180. For longer treatment you need that country’s national (type D) visa for medical treatment, applied for at its embassy, with the same hospital and cost documents. Also check that your UAE residence stays valid: see staying outside the UAE for more than 6 months.
Questions people ask
Which country do I apply to for treatment in Germany?
Germany, through VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, because the hospital and the main purpose of the trip are there.
Does my escort need a separate visa?
Yes. The escort applies for their own visa, with a letter explaining why they are accompanying you and a copy of your hospital letter.
Can I use credit-card insurance for a medical visa?
Not for Germany. Its UAE checklist says credit-card medical insurance is not accepted.
Do I need to pay the hospital before applying?
Not always. The hospital letter must state the payment terms, such as a deposit or payment on arrival. Some hospitals require a deposit before they issue the letter.
Related guides
- Germany Schengen visa from the UAE
- Health insurance for European visas from the UAE
- Schengen visa processing time from the UAE
Sources
- Consulate General of Germany, Dubai (via VFS Global): Medical treatment checklist
- EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009: Articles 9 and 14, Annex II
- VFS Global: Estonia checklist categories (medical, sport, culture)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.