Considering the variety of research questions, perspectives, and disciplines involved, qualitative studies have become an integral part of rehabilitation sciences. To ensure and estimate their quality and thus the significance of their results, criteria are needed for both researchers and recipients. Due to the specific nature and the heterogeneity of qualitative research approaches, there is still disagreement regarding appropriate universally valid quality criteria. In this article, core criteria that can be used to plan, conduct and receive qualitative studies are presented and discussed with reference to national rehabilitation research. For this purpose, the specific characteristics of rehabilitation research are taken into account and the application of quality criteria is illustrated using concrete examples from the research practice of rehabilitation sciences.