Medical Certificate Translation: Accepted by German Employers, Insurers and Authorities
Need your foreign sick note or health certificate accepted in Germany? A certified translation by a vereidigter Übersetzer ensures your ärztliches Attest is recognised by employers, health insurers, embassies and immigration offices. Upload your document, receive your quote within hours, and pay only after your translation arrives.
Your personal quote by email within minutes
Why does it need to be certified?
In Germany, official documents submitted to employers, health insurers (Krankenkasse) or government agencies must be translated by a vereidigter Übersetzer, a translator officially sworn in by a German court. This certification confirms that the translation is accurate and complete. Without it, your medical certificate may be rejected, causing delays with sick leave approval, visa applications or university enrolment.
Your certified translation in 5 simple steps
Send your document
Take a clear photo or scan of your medical certificate with your phone. Upload it through our form or email it to us. A legible copy is all we need.
Receive your quote
Within a few hours, you receive a personal quote by email with a transparent fixed price based on your document. No hidden fees.
Confirm with one click
Your quote email includes a confirmation button. One click, and a sworn translator begins working on your medical certificate immediately.
Receive your translation
You receive your certified translation as a PDF by email, followed by the original with stamp and signature by post. Standard delivery: 3 to 6 business days.
Pay at your convenience
Your invoice arrives with the translation. You have 14 days to pay by bank transfer. Your translation is in your hands before any payment is due.
When you need a translated medical certificate
A medical certificate (ärztliches Attest) confirms a medical condition, work incapacity or fitness for specific purposes. German authorities, employers and institutions often require a certified translation when your original document is in another language. Here are the most common situations:
Sick leave while abroad
You fell ill during a holiday or business trip. Your German employer and Krankenkasse need proof of work incapacity (Arbeitsunfähigkeit) so your sick days are not counted as holiday and your salary continues. A certified translation of the foreign doctor's note helps avoid disputes and ensures smooth processing. According to AOK guidelines, the certificate must clearly state work incapacity, not just a diagnosis.
Visa or residence permit application
Some national visas and residence permits require proof of medical fitness or absence of certain illnesses. Embassies and the Ausländerbehörde often request a recent health certificate with certified translation. Requirements vary by visa type, so check your specific embassy guidelines.
University enrolment or study abroad
Universities in Germany or abroad sometimes require a medical certificate confirming fitness, vaccinations or absence of infectious diseases for admission to health-related programmes or exchange semesters. If issued in another language, a certified translation is typically required.
Asylum or deportation proceedings
In asylum cases, a medical certificate may document illness, trauma or lack of travel fitness as grounds against deportation. German authorities (BAMF, Ausländerbehörde) require detailed, qualified attestations with certified translations. According to BAMF requirements, simple one-line notes are not sufficient.
What we need from you
To create your certified translation, we need a clear, complete image of your medical certificate. Here is what to check before uploading:
- Full document visible, including all edges, stamps and signatures
- Text is legible, not blurry or cut off
- Doctor's name, date and medical facility are readable
- Any attachments or additional pages included
Good to know
You do not need to send the original document. A clear photo from your phone is enough. Our sworn translators note in the certification that the translation was made from a copy, which is accepted by German authorities. If an authority explicitly requires a link to an amtlich beglaubigte Kopie (officially certified copy), you can obtain one from a notary or Bürgeramt and share it with us.
What your medical certificate must contain
German employers, insurers and authorities have specific expectations. Before requesting a translation, check that your certificate includes the required information for your purpose:
For sick leave
- Explicit statement of work incapacity (Arbeitsunfähigkeit)
- Start and end date of incapacity period
- Doctor's signature, stamp and date of issue
- Not just a diagnosis or "patient was seen"
For exams or university
- Statement that you were unfit to attend the exam on the specific date
- Some exam offices require when the illness began
- Doctor's signature and stamp
For visa or asylum
- Detailed description of condition and diagnostic methods
- Severity, prognosis and impact on travel or return
- Must be a "qualified attestation," not a simple note
Missing information?
If your certificate lacks required details, you may need to ask your doctor for a more complete document before translation. A certificate that only states "patient was treated" without confirming work incapacity can be rejected by employers or exam offices.
Questions about your medical certificate?
No obligation, completely free
Your questions, answered
Standard delivery is 3 to 6 business days. You receive the certified translation as a PDF by email first, followed by the original with stamp and signature by post. If you have a tight deadline at an embassy or exam office, mention it when requesting your quote so we can advise on timing.
A clear scan or photo is sufficient. Our sworn translators create the certified translation from your copy and attach it to the translation. This is accepted by German authorities. Only if an authority explicitly requires an amtlich beglaubigte Kopie would you need to obtain one from a notary first.
Yes. Translations by a vereidigter Übersetzer (court-sworn translator) are recognised by German employers, Krankenkassen, the Ausländerbehörde, embassies and universities. Acceptance depends on the content of your original certificate meeting authority requirements. Our certified translation ensures the language is no barrier.
You pay after receiving your translation. The invoice arrives with your completed document, and you have 14 days to transfer the amount. Your certified translation is in your hands before any payment is due.
German employers and health insurers can question foreign sick notes, especially from non-EU countries. The certificate must clearly state work incapacity (Arbeitsunfähigkeit), not just a diagnosis. A certified German translation helps demonstrate what the document says. However, some employers may request additional confirmation depending on the country and circumstances.
Often needed together
Depending on your situation, you may need translations of related medical or insurance documents:
Medical report (Arztbrief)
When a simple certificate is not detailed enough, for specialist treatment abroad, visa medicals or insurance claims.
Health certificate (Gesundheitszeugnis)
Required for work in food handling, care professions or certain visa categories where formal health clearance is needed.
Health insurance documents
Proof of coverage often required alongside medical certificates for visa applications, study abroad or employment.
Get your medical certificate translated now
Upload your document and receive a personal quote within hours. Your translation arrives first, then you pay.
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