Is a doctor, a hospital, a health insurance fund or an insurer asking you to translate your medical file? Here is how to proceed to obtain a faithful and usable translation of your reports, analyses and prescriptions in Belgium.
📖 See also: expat checklist · sworn translation in 24h · translating your supporting documents
When to translate a medical file?
The translation of a foreign medical file becomes necessary as soon as a Belgian healthcare professional needs to understand your history to ensure continuity of care, or when an organisation requires an official version to process a request. The translation must be precise: a poorly rendered term can distort a diagnosis or delay care.
TranslateBE
Need to translate a medical file?
Faithful translation of your reports, analyses and prescriptions, sworn if required. Quote within 1 hour.
In which situations?
- Continuity of care: passing on your history to a new doctor or hospital.
- Second medical opinion: having a file reviewed by a specialist in Belgium.
- Health insurance fund or insurance reimbursement: justifying care received abroad.
- Disability or allowance application: proving a state of health to an organisation.
- Judicial proceedings or expert assessment: medical documents to add to a file.
Which documents to provide?
- Hospitalisation and consultation reports.
- Analysis results (biology, imaging, anatomical pathology).
- Prescriptions and treatment protocols.
- Medical certificates and expert reports.
Good to know: ask the recipient (doctor, health insurance fund, insurer) whether they require a sworn translation or whether a professional translation is sufficient. For an official organisation, the sworn translation is often required.
Sworn or professional?
For direct medical use (a doctor who needs to read your history), a professional translation of quality made by a specialised translator is generally sufficient. For an official organisation (health insurance fund, insurance, justice, administration), plan for a sworn translation, signed and stamped by a sworn translator.
How to proceed
- Confirm the requirement and the target language with the recipient.
- Gather your documents and send clear and legible scans.
- Specify the context (speciality, reason) for suitable terminology.
- Receive the translation, in the right level of certification.
TranslateBE · Certified Agency
A medical file translated with precision
Translators specialised in medical terminology, guaranteed confidentiality, sworn if required.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does my medical data remain confidential?
Yes. Your documents are handled in strict confidentiality and used only for the translation. Confidentiality is an ethical obligation of the translator.
Is a sworn translation needed for the health insurance fund?
It depends on the organisation. Many request a sworn translation for a reimbursement of care abroad. Check the exact requirement with your health insurance fund.
Can a large file be translated quickly?
Yes, we handle everything in one order to guarantee coherence and deadline. An express service is available if the deadline is tight.
Care or medical appointment imminent?
Express available for your medical documents. Translation ready for your doctor or your health insurance fund.