Medical records from home. What to bring and how to translate.
A doctor in Germany doesn't know your medical history. Doctor's letters, reports and a list of your medicines from your home country help them assess your situation. This guide explains which documents are useful, when you need a translation and how to upload them to 420doc.
Last updated 23 Oct 2026
Still life420doc
2026
Chapter Why
In short
- Medical records are not mandatory but help the doctor with the assessment. They don't guarantee a prescription.
- Useful are doctor's letters and reports, diagnoses, a list of medicines with dosages and details of previous treatment.
- The doctor works in German, English and Turkish. Records in English can be uploaded as they are; documents in other languages need a translation, ideally a certified one.
- Translation apps help you understand a text but can get diagnoses and dosages wrong.
- You upload directly in the questionnaire: PDF, JPG, PNG or WEBP, up to 10 MB per file. Your records are only seen by the reviewing doctor.
Why a doctor in Germany needs your records
The doctor makes a decision based on your information. Records from the country where you were treated before show which diagnosis was made, which treatments you've already had and how they went. This makes it easier for the doctor to judge what is suitable for you and what isn't.
An important requirement: your condition must have been diagnosed by a doctor. Your records confirm this. If you don't have any records at the moment, you can still send your request; the doctor may ask for them later or clarify the question in a consultation.
Which medical records to bring from home
- Doctor's letters and reports (in German: Arztbrief), for example a letter from your GP or a specialist: with the diagnosis, date and the name of the doctor or clinic.
- Hospital discharge summary after inpatient treatment.
- Test results: imaging reports (MRI, CT, X-ray) and important lab results.
- List of medicines: every medicine you take, with the dosage.
- Previous treatment: what you tried, for how long and why you stopped, for example because of side effects or because it didn't work well enough.
- Allergies and intolerances to medicines.
Recent records matter most because they show your current condition. Older records are useful if they describe when and how the diagnosis was made. If you were registered with a GP in the UK or have an online patient portal in the US, you can often download a summary of your medical record there.
Translating records: what you need
The doctor reads records in German, English or Turkish. Records from the UK, the US, Ireland, Australia or other English-speaking countries can be uploaded as they are. If your records are in another language, such as Spanish, Polish or Hindi, add a translation into one of these three languages; otherwise the doctor may not be able to use them.
Certified translation
The best option
- Done by a sworn (beeidigt) or authorised translator in Germany.
- You can find a translator by language and city in the official database of the German federal states, justiz-dolmetscher.de.
- You pay the translation costs yourself.
Clear translation
At the very least
- Someone who knows both languages well translates the essentials: diagnosis, medicines with dosages, dates.
- Note who did the translation.
- Always include the original as well.
How to upload your records to 420doc
- In the questionnaire, when asked whether a doctor diagnosed your condition, choose “Yes, and I have documents”; an upload field will appear.
- You can also upload records in a later step, before you send your request.
- Formats: PDF, JPG, PNG or WEBP, up to 10 MB per file.
- Upload the original and the translation together.
- Photograph the whole page, straight on and without glare, so the text is legible.
If the doctor needs anything else, they'll ask, and you'll see the question in your patient area. The questionnaire, your patient area and all emails are available in English.
What happens to your records
- Uploaded medical records are only made available to the doctor reviewing your request.
- Files are stored encrypted on servers in Germany.
- They become part of the medical records that the doctor is legally required to keep for 10 years after treatment ends (§ 630f BGB).
- Your health insurer and employer don't automatically receive anything.
It's better to upload medical records in the questionnaire than to send them by email or messenger. More in the privacy policy (the German version is legally binding).
Treatment in English and understanding each other
Under German law, the doctor has to explain the treatment to you in a way you understand (§ 630e BGB). That's why it matters that you and the doctor understand each other.
Frequently asked questions about medical records from abroad
Do I have to upload medical records?
No, it's voluntary. But records help the doctor assess your situation. The requirement is that your condition was diagnosed by a doctor; your records confirm this.
Do I need to translate records that are in English?
No. The doctor reads German, English and Turkish, so English records can be uploaded as they are. Just make sure the diagnosis, medicine names and doses are clear.
Do I need a certified translation for records in other languages?
Ideally yes, from a sworn translator. At the very least you need a clear translation of the essentials (diagnosis, medicines, doses) into German, English or Turkish, together with the original.
Which file formats are accepted?
PDF, JPG, PNG or WEBP, up to 10 MB per file. Photograph the whole page, straight on and without glare.
Who sees my records?
Only the doctor reviewing your request. Files are stored encrypted on servers in Germany; your health insurer and employer don't automatically receive anything.
Read more
Records ready. Time to start.
An online questionnaire in English, a review by doctors based in Germany and, if the therapy is suitable for you, an e-prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.