The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has released a detailed guide that codifies existing requirements to show valid health-insurance coverage when applying for, or renewing, federal work permits. Officials stressed that no new obligations have been introduced; the document aggregates rules already in force across different emirates and integrates them into MoHRE’s digital permitting platform. Under the guidance, employers must upload proof that every sponsored employee holds an active insurance policy meeting the minimum coverage mandated by local health authorities. Permits will not be issued—or will automatically suspend—if coverage lapses before renewal, eliminating manual follow-up by inspectors. Domestic-worker permits are covered as well, aligning them with private-sector standards. For mobility and payroll teams, the clarification formalises a process many free-zone and mainland authorities had been informally applying since mid-2025. Consolidation into a single federal workflow is expected to shorten processing times and reduce duplicate document requests, but it also tightens real-time compliance: companies with centralised group policies must ensure insurer data feeds stay current. Insurance brokers anticipate an uptick in demand for inexpensive basic plans as SMEs scramble to maintain continuous coverage. Large multinationals, meanwhile, may negotiate regional master policies that satisfy MoHRE criteria while offering broader benefits to globally mobile staff. Practically, HR departments should audit existing employee records, confirm policy numbers are correctly mapped to work permits in the MoHRE portal and set automated reminders 30 days before expiry to avoid inadvertent visa suspensions.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
