Kerala CM Appeals to Prime Minister Over UAE Nurse Visa Crisis

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flagging a growing panic among Indian nurses who are stuck in the United Arab Emirates because of a sudden, sweeping visa crackdown.

According to the state’s health department, more than 1,500 nurses from Kerala, many of whom are on multi‑year contracts with UAE hospitals, have seen their work permits either revoked or left to expire without renewal. The abruptness of the decision has left families back home worrying about lost income and the future of their loved ones.

“Our nurses have always been the backbone of the Gulf’s healthcare system,” Vijayan wrote. “Their inability to work now is not just a personal hardship; it threatens the reputation of India’s skilled labour force.” He urged the prime minister to use diplomatic channels to secure a quick resolution, requesting that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Labour step in.

The crisis, officials say, stems from a recent tightening of visa regulations by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, aimed at curbing illegal recruitment. However, the sudden enforcement caught many legitimate workers off‑guard, especially those whose sponsors failed to complete the required paperwork in time.

Kerala’s health minister, Veena George, has already begun a state‑level task force to provide emergency financial aid to affected families and to liaison with UAE authorities. She stressed that the nurses are not just employees; they are a vital source of remittances that support Kerala’s economy.

While the federal government has not yet issued a public response, insiders suggest that a high‑level meeting between the ministries and the UAE embassy is being scheduled. For now, the nurses remain in limbo, hoping that the appeal from the chief minister will translate into swift diplomatic action.