A confirmed treatment appointment does not remove the need for formal hospital admission. International patients should arrive with the documents the hospital has requested, current medical information, a clear medication list and the correct financial or insurance evidence for their treatment pathway. Requirements differ between hospitals and between self-paying, privately insured and EU statutory-insurance routes, so use the receiving hospital's current admission instructions as the final checklist.
1. Confirm where and when admission actually takes place
Large German university hospitals can have several campuses, registration points and specialist buildings. Re-check the written appointment or admission confirmation shortly before travel and confirm the exact building, department, date and arrival time. If the International Patient Office has given separate registration instructions, follow those rather than going directly to a ward.
- Hospital and campus
- Building or registration desk
- Department / ward
- Admission date and arrival time
- International Patient Office contact
- Clinical contact for last-minute medical changes
2. Bring identification and the hospital's appointment documents
UKE lists identification among the documents required for inpatient registration. International patients should normally keep their passport or other accepted ID, written appointment/admission confirmation and relevant hospital correspondence accessible rather than packed in checked luggage.
- Passport or accepted identity document
- Appointment or admission confirmation
- Hospital case / patient number if issued
- Treatment proposal or invitation when relevant
- Visa or residence documents when applicable
- Companion documents if the hospital has requested them
3. Bring the financial or coverage documents for your actual pathway
Self-paying international patients may need confirmation that the hospital's required advance payment has been received. Insurance-based routes use different documents. LMU, for example, states that patients using the planned-treatment S2 route must provide the required national proof of entitlement at admission; an EHIC alone is not sufficient for that planned-treatment pathway. Do not assume that a card used for unexpected care while travelling replaces prior authorisation for planned treatment.
- Cost estimate / advance invoice
- Proof of required prepayment
- Private-insurance guarantee if formally accepted by the hospital
- S2 or other entitlement documentation when applicable
- Written clarification of any elective services not covered
4. Bring current medical records even if you sent them before
The hospital may already have uploaded records, but admission is a good point to carry a concise current copy of the most important information. UKE advises patients to bring physician reports and relevant previous findings. Include new results that appeared after the original treatment request so the admitting team is not working from an outdated package.
- Latest medical summary
- Recent laboratory results
- Important specialist reports
- Operative and pathology reports when relevant
- Imaging reports and original image data if requested
- Allergy information
- Implant or device cards
5. Bring a current medication list and follow pre-admission instructions
Germany's federal health portal recommends bringing an up-to-date medication plan. Do not independently stop prescription medicines because an operation is planned. Follow the treating or anesthesia team's instructions about anticoagulants, diabetes medicines, fasting and other procedure-specific preparation, and tell the team about over-the-counter medicines and supplements as well.
- Medicine name
- Dose
- How often it is taken
- Reason for taking it
- Last dose when the hospital has asked you to record it
- Known drug allergies or previous reactions
6. Expect registration forms and a treatment contract
Admission can include administrative registration and contractual documents in addition to the medical consultation. UKE describes a patient treatment contract during admission, and LMU states that treatment cannot take place without a valid treatment contract in its international-patient pathway. Optional accommodation or physician services may require separate agreements, so read what you are signing and ask how those services are charged.
7. Pre-treatment examinations may happen around admission
UKE notes that preliminary examinations can include blood tests, ECG and an anesthesia premedication consultation. The exact sequence depends on the procedure. Do not assume the main operation or treatment begins immediately after registration; allow time for examination, consent, medication review and any tests the clinical team still needs.
8. Arrange language support before important consent discussions
If the patient cannot reliably understand German or the working language agreed with the hospital, interpreter arrangements should be settled before admission. UKE includes interpreter organization in its international-patient process. A companion can provide support but should not automatically replace professional interpretation for complex consent or treatment decisions.
9. Pack for the hospital stay, but keep valuables to a minimum
Bring practical personal items that the hospital recommends and any mobility or medical aids you normally use. UKE advises patients not to bring unnecessary valuables. Keep essential documents, medication information and critical devices with you during travel rather than in luggage that could be delayed.
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Toiletries
- Glasses / hearing aids and chargers
- Mobility aids if used
- Phone and charger
- Small amount of personal essentials
- No unnecessary jewellery or large amounts of cash
Admission-day checklist for an international patient
Use the hospital's own instructions first, then use this list as a final cross-check.
- Passport / ID
- Written admission confirmation
- Hospital patient or case number
- Payment / insurance / S2 documents for the correct pathway
- Current medical summary and new results
- Relevant imaging and pathology if requested
- Medication and allergy list
- Interpreter arrangement
- Treatment-contract questions
- Practical personal items
- Contact details for the person accompanying or supporting you
Official sources
Last source-reviewed 2026-08-29. Clinical guidance, hospital instructions and airline or travel-provider requirements can change. Follow the treating team's current individualized advice and the relevant provider's current rules before acting.
- Preparation and admission — University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) ↗
- Process for international patients — University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) ↗
- International Patient Office FAQ — LMU Klinikum ↗
- Patients from EU countries with statutory health insurance — LMU Klinikum ↗
- Preparing for a hospital stay — gesund.bund.de – German Federal Ministry of Health ↗