Middle East: Wafid Program Updated to Strengthen Medical Screening of Foreign Nationals

The GCC Member States have agreed on updated regulations for the Wafid program, the framework governing pre-departure medical screening of foreign nationals traveling to GCC countries for work or residence purposes. Under the updated framework, only GCC-approved medical centers may conduct Wafid examinations, with medical results uploaded directly into the electronic platform before visa processing can proceed. The updated regulations place greater emphasis on centralized GCC coordination, electronic processing, standardized testing procedures and enhanced oversight of approved clinics and medical reporting. The Gulf Health Council also retains broad authority to revise medical screening requirements, including laboratory testing standards, vaccination requirements, and medical inadmissibility criteria. Among GCC states, Kuwait is the only jurisdiction to have formally implemented the updated framework through Ministry of Health executive regulations. Other GCC countries have not yet issued equivalent implementing regulations. For employers, the updated Wafid program means stricter compliance requirements, and greater responsibility to ensure foreign nationals’ medical screening is processed through the centralized electronic platform. 

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