Germany: recognition of a medical degree (Approbation) and why the translation had to be done twice

A general practitioner was preparing an application for Approbation — the licence to practise medicine in Germany. She ordered translations of her diploma, transcript and certificates in Russia, had them notarised and sent them to the state authority. Two months later a letter arrived: translations must be made by a translator sworn or publicly appointed in Germany or in the EU. Everything had to be translated again.

What German authorities expect

Many federal states explicitly require translations for Approbation from an öffentlich bestellter und beeidigter Übersetzer — a translator sworn in by a German court. Some accept sworn translators from other EU countries. A Russian notarised translation, in this logic, is a translation by a specialist unknown to the authority, certified by a notary who only confirms the signature. For medicine that is not enough.

What goes into the file

The diploma with its transcript (subjects and hours are key — programmes are compared on them), the specialist certificate and residency documents, proof of work experience, a certificate of name change if any, a criminal record certificate and a Certificate of Good Standing confirming that the doctor has no practice bans. State documents are apostilled, and the apostille text is translated too.

How money could have been saved

A sensible scheme: apostille and notarised copies in Russia, translation by a sworn translator in Germany. A Russian agency can prepare a working translation of the transcript with the table of hours, agree the medical terminology and hand it to the German translator as a basis. It does not replace the sworn translation, but speeds it up and lowers the cost, especially for multi-page transcripts.

First of all, ask the specific state authority for its written translation requirements. They differ between states, and what a colleague got accepted in Bavaria may not work in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Outcome: with German translations the documents were accepted and the doctor was invited to the knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung). Three lost months could have been avoided with one letter to the authority before ordering the translation.