Certified Translation of Immunization Records and Vaccination Cards

When You Need a Certified Translation of Your Vaccination Records

Immunization records and vaccination cards issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation when submitted to US institutions. The most common situations requiring certified vaccination record translation are:

• USCIS Form I-485 (Green Card Application). The green card application requires a medical examination by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, who reviews and documents the applicant's vaccination history on Form I-693. Foreign-language immunization records presented at this examination must be certified-translated into English under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). This is one of the most common reasons applicants need certified translation for USCIS of their immunization records, yet it is rarely mentioned on translation service pages.
• US School and University Enrollment. All 50 US states require proof of vaccination for school enrollment. Children and students arriving from abroad with foreign-language immunization records must provide certified English translations. Required vaccines vary by state — common requirements include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), and others. Many universities have their own immunization requirements for incoming international students.
• International Travel. Some countries still require documented proof of vaccination against specific diseases — most commonly yellow fever, which is required for travel to and from certain countries in Africa and South America. A certified translation of your yellow fever certificate or vaccination card may be required by airlines, border officials, or destination country health authorities.
• Other Immigration Applications. Immunization records may also be required for other USCIS petitions, refugee resettlement processing, and embassy medical requirements for certain visa categories.

USCIS Medical Examination and Vaccination Record Translation for Form I-485

Applicants for permanent residence (green card) through Form I-485 are required to complete a medical examination with a USCIS-certified civil surgeon. This examination includes a review of vaccination history. The civil surgeon records vaccines on Form I-693 and determines whether any vaccinations are required or waived.

If your immunization records are in a language other than English, the civil surgeon conducting your I-485 examination will need a certified translator online  to accurately document your vaccination history. Common vaccines reviewed during the I-485 medical examination include: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella, influenza, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal, pneumococcal, polio (IPV), and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis).

Missing or unverifiable vaccination records may result in the civil surgeon requiring vaccinations to be administered before Form I-693 can be completed, which adds time and cost to your green card process. A properly certified translation of your existing vaccination records allows the civil surgeon to credit your prior immunizations and potentially avoid repeat vaccinations. When ordering a vaccination record translation into English, it is important to keep in mind that vaccination records mix brand names, local abbreviations and handwritten entries, so they should be translated by a translator with medical experience.

Immunization and Vaccination Documents We Translate

We translate all immunization documentation formats from all countries. If your document has a country-specific name, we recognize it:

• Latin America: Cartilla Nacional de Vacunación (Mexico), Carnet de Vacunación (Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina), Caderneta de Vacinação (Brazil), Libreta de Vacunación (various Spanish-speaking countries)
• Europe: Impfausweis or Impfpass (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Carnet de Santé / Carnet de Vaccination (France, Belgium), Libretto delle Vaccinazioni (Italy), Cartão de Vacinação (Portugal), Книжка щеплень (Ukraine), Прививочный Сертификат (Russia)
• Asia and the Pacific: 预防接种证 — Yùfáng Jiēzhòng Zhèng (China), Vaccination Book (India, commonly issued with Mother and Child Protection Card), Sổ tiêm chủng (Vietnam), 예방접종 증명서 (South Korea)
• International standard: WHO International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — the "yellow card" or "yellow book"

All document types are translated word-for-word, preserving all vaccine entries, dates, dose numbers, lot numbers (batch numbers), provider names, and official stamps.

How Vaccine Names Are Translated in Immunization Records

Vaccine names vary significantly across countries — the same vaccine may have a different brand name in Spain, Russia, Brazil, and the US. A certified translation preserves vaccine names exactly as they appear in the original record. The translator does not substitute a US brand name for a foreign equivalent.

Some common examples of international vaccine name variations:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): "Priorix" (GSK brand used across Europe and Latin America) and "Trimovax" (France) are certified-translated exactly as written. The reviewing institution — whether a civil surgeon, school nurse, or immigration officer — then matches the foreign name to its US equivalent.
• BCG (Tuberculosis vaccine): Known under different trade names by country — "BCG Vaccine SSI" (Denmark), "BCG Japan" (Japan), "TUBERVAC" (India). Each is translated as it appears.
• DTP / DTaP / Tdap: Numerous brand variants appear on foreign records — "Infanrix," "Pediarix," "Boostrix," "Pentaxim," "Quinvaxem" — depending on the country and year of vaccination. Certified translation captures the exact name and dose number recorded.
• Hepatitis B: "Engerix-B," "Recombivax HB," "Euvax B," "Shanvac-B" — all hepatitis B vaccines but with different brand names by manufacturer and region.
• Polio: "IMOVAX Polio" (France), "Poliovax," "IPOL" — inactivated polio vaccine under different trade names.

This precise translation approach is essential because USCIS civil surgeons, school health officials, and healthcare providers use the foreign brand name alongside the dose date and dose number to verify immunization history. Altering the vaccine name — even to a US equivalent — would constitute an inaccurate translation and could invalidate the document.

Local Vaccine Names and Abbreviations

Many vaccination cards don’t show brand names at all. They use local abbreviations or the national program’s name for a vaccine, which a US doctor or school nurse may not recognize. Our translators translate each one and keep the original in the translation, so the reader can match it to the right vaccine. Common examples:

• Spanish (Mexico, Venezuela and other Latin American countries): SRP or triple viral for MMR, SR for measles-rubella, DPT for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, pentavalente for DTP combined with hepatitis B and Hib, and VOP and VIP for oral and inactivated polio vaccine.
• Portuguese (Brazil): tríplice viral for MMR, tetra viral for MMR plus varicella, and VIP and VOP for polio.
• French: ROR for MMR, and DTCaP for diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and polio.
• Russian and Ukrainian: АКДС (Russian) or АКДП (Ukrainian) for DTP, КПК for MMR, and БЦЖ for BCG.
• Chinese: 百白破 for DTP, 麻腮风 for MMR, 卡介苗 for BCG, and 乙肝疫苗 for hepatitis B.

For example, the entry “SRP – 1a dosis” on a Mexican vaccination card becomes “SRP (measles, rubella and mumps vaccine) – 1st dose”.

Handwriting, Dates and Dose Numbers

• Handwritten entries are common on vaccination cards. If an entry can’t be read, the translator marks it as [illegible] instead of guessing, so the reviewing doctor knows to check it.
• Dates are kept exactly as written. Most countries write the day first, so 03/04/2019 on a foreign card means 3 April 2019, not March 4.
• Some records use another calendar, such as the Buddhist calendar on Thai records (2567 is 2024) or the Solar Hijri calendar on Iranian records. On these, the translator adds the Gregorian date in brackets as a translator’s note.
• Arabic and Persian records may use Eastern Arabic numerals (٠١٢٣). The translation shows them as standard numerals.
• Dose numbers, booster labels and lot numbers stay exactly as recorded, even when the country’s vaccination schedule differs from the US schedule.

Prices for Certified Vaccination Record Translation

For languages not listed, contact support for a custom quote. We translate from 80+ languages.
Standard delivery: 24-48 hours from payment.
Rush: contact support.

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Money-Back Guarantee

How Our Vaccination Record Translation Process Works

• Upload your vaccination record or immunization card. Submit a clear scan or photo through our secure order form. All vaccine entries, dates, lot/batch numbers, and provider signatures must be fully visible. JPG, PNG, and PDF accepted. If you have multiple cards or pages, upload them all together.
• Specify purpose and turnaround. Tell us whether the translation is for USCIS I-485, school enrollment, travel, or another purpose. We confirm your exact price and delivery time within minutes.
• Medical document translator assigned. Your record is assigned to a certified translator with experience in medical documentation and your specific language pair. Medical terminology — including vaccine names, disease nomenclature, and lot numbers — requires specialized knowledge.
• Exact translation of all entries. Every vaccine entry is translated exactly as it appears: brand name, generic name, date, dose number, lot number, and administering provider. An independent reviewer checks the completed translation for accuracy and certification compliance.
• Certified delivery within 24 hours. Your translation arrives as a PDF with a signed certificate of accuracy attached. Accepted by USCIS civil surgeons, US schools, and immigration authorities.

Confidentiality and Quality You Can Count On

Immunization records contain sensitive personal health information. TheWordPoint treats all medical documents with strict confidentiality:

• Data protection: Your records are never shared with third parties. All submitted files are handled under applicable data protection regulations and encrypted in transit and at rest.
• Translator NDAs: Every translator and editor working on your documents is bound by a non-disclosure agreement.
• Two-stage review: Primary translation is reviewed by an independent editor before the certificate of accuracy is signed. This catches both terminology errors and formatting issues before delivery.
• Revision guarantee: If USCIS, a school, or any institution requires an adjustment to our certified translation, we will revise it at no additional cost or refund.

Immunization Record Translation Services for Travelling 

To enter some countries, such as China, Brazil, Haiti, and many others on different continents, travelers need to provide proof of immunization against certain diseases. While travelers may be conscientious about getting the correct vaccinations, they may not think about the need for an immunization record translation into the language of the country they plan to enter. Getting an accurate immunization translation is your safest bet to avoid delays and potential entry exclusion.

Finding a proper medical translator online to translate immunization records may be challenging, as you will need not only the accurate translation itself but also a Translation Accuracy Certificate. TheWordPoint provides immunization record translation services online into over 80 languages, all completed by professional translators with relevant experience in medical translations. To be fully safe, please take care of your travel plans in advance and order a vaccine record translation with TheWordPoint.
 

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Reviewed and updated  on October 12, 2026, by

Christakis Christodoulou,
Managing Director
Head of the Certified Translation Department