Guide · Certified translations
Does my vaccination record need translating, or is its existing language sufficient?
Translation makes existing vaccination entries accessible in another language. It is separate from medical assessment and issuing a new vaccination certificate.
Reviewed on 27 October 2026
The short answer
Show the existing record to the recipient first and ask about accepted language and format. A multilingual vaccination booklet may already contain suitable information. Whether certified translation is required depends on the actual purpose. Translation establishes no additional immunity and does not replace a clinician’s assessment of the entries.
Identify the recipient and evidence requested
Record whether the document is for a clinic, institution or another recipient. Ask which evidence is actually needed before applying a general travel requirement to every entry.
Section 22 IfSG describes medical vaccination documentation. Translating an existing version is not a new clinical entry or retrospective confirmation of an undocumented vaccination.
Read more: Section 22 of the Infection Protection Act: vaccination and related documentation
Show complete dates and vaccine descriptions
Provide requested pages including headings, stamps and legible handwritten details. Keep existing batch and product descriptions visible without independently standardising them.
Ask the issuing clinic about unclear medical information. We can translate the existing wording; medically equating different vaccines or recommending treatment is a different task.
Check existing language support and translation scope
The RKI provides multilingual vaccination information. Such general materials do not automatically explain your personal record or replace individually requested evidence.
Establish which pages are actually needed and whether a partial translation is accepted. Include the recipient’s instructions, target language, format and date with your enquiry.
Read more: Robert Koch Institute: vaccination information in different languages
Your next steps
Record the recipient, purpose and required language.
Have the existing multilingual version checked.
Provide the required pages completely and legibly.
Agree translation scope and any certification.
More questions
Does every vaccination record need certified translation?
No. First establish the language version and certification the actual recipient requires.
Do you add missing vaccinations to the translation?
No. Clarify missing or unclear medical documentation with the issuing or treating clinician.
Are RKI language materials my personal vaccination certificate?
No. General information and your individual evidence serve different purposes.
Sources and further reading
- Section 22 of the Infection Protection Act: vaccination and related documentation
- Robert Koch Institute: vaccination information in different languages
The receiving organisation’s current instructions matter for your assignment. Send them to us with your documents.
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