Making sure you have the right medication is essential if you receive treatment for a health condition. If necessary, residents of the UAE can import medicine from other countries in addition to choosing from among the many pharmacies located there.
To bring in medication, people must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). Both “controlled” and “semi-controlled” medications need permission.
If you want to bring drugs into the UAE for personal use, you can follow these instructions to apply for permission.
What is the permit for?
MOHAP issues a permit to let locals import medications for personal use.
According to MOHAP, the service is optional for other medicines and is offered for narcotic, controlled, and semi-controlled substances. When requesting the permit, you must include information about both the medication and the medical care you are receiving. This includes records such as the medical report provided by the healthcare facility where you are receiving treatment, as well as records certified by the embassy, the health authority of the nation where you received treatment or any other body recognized for certification in that nation. Additionally, the release of this study shouldn’t have happened more than a year ago.
The permit is usable for two months after it is issued. It’s also vital to remember that the approval can only be used once, therefore you cannot enter the UAE with medicine more than once with the same approval.
Documents required
You must have the following documents on hand in order to apply for the online service:
– A copy of the prescription written in your name was issued no more than three months ago.
– A medical report from the hospital where the patient is being treated, certified by the nation’s health authorities. Within the last year, this report should have been released.
– Copy of Emirates ID or passport.
– Copy of the Passport.
Also Read: UAE: 7 reasons you could be banned from traveling
How to apply for the import permit
In order to complete the service ‘Issue of Permit to Import Medicines for Personal Use’, follow these steps:
– Visit the link: https://mohap.gov.ae/en/services/issue-of-permit-to-import-medicines-for-personal-use
– Click on ‘Start service’.
– You’ll be prompted to log in with either your MOHAP account or the UAE Pass. In order to create a MOHAP account, do the following:
o click on ‘Register Now’.
o Enter your username, email address, and password.
o Choose your account type as ‘individual’ and enter the Captcha code for verification.
o Click on ‘Create account’.
An email with an activation link will then be sent to you. After clicking the link, you might be prompted to provide more information to finish creating your profile, such as your address, Emirates ID details, and contact data. Once you have completed all the required fields, you can access the MOHAP website’s services.
You can also sign in by using the UAE Pass as an alternative. If you don’t already have an account, creating one is quite simple with the UAE Pass, which gives you access to online government services from all ministries and only requires your Emirates ID.
– You will be taken to your personal dashboard once you have logged in and created a profile. Select “certificate” from the list of medical products after clicking “New application” The choice for “traveler/personal medication approval” will then appear.
– Click on ‘Create application’.
– Choose the nation from which you are importing the medication. Choose how long you’ll need the drug after that. The MOHAP call center states that for regulated medications, the quantity should not be for more than one month, and for non-controlled medicines, it should not be for more than three months.
– Add the trade name, strength, generic name, or active component of the medication (to be chosen from a drop-down menu), the number of boxes or bottles you intend to import or transport, the size of the medicine pack, and the overall quantity.
– After that, attach the documents that will support your request. These would comprise the records mentioned above.
– Review your application after including the specifics of the medications and their dosages.
– Click on ‘Submit’.
After submitting your request, MOHAP will get back to you within three working days.
You can also get in touch with MOHAP through their call center for support if you experience any problems with the service. 800 111 11 is the 24-hour helpline number. You can also email MOHAP at import.export@mohap.gov.ae if you have any questions about your request to import medication.
Cost
The service is free of charge.