German Pension Refund: Get Your Contributions Back in 4 Steps

Why this guide matters

You worked in Germany, paid into the gesetzliche Rentenversicherung (statutory pension insurance) and now you are moving abroad. The question many internationals ask: can I get my contributions back? The answer is yes, under specific conditions — and the amounts often run into the four to five figures.

This guide walks through everything that matters: who qualifies, how much money comes back, and how the application runs. We have supported 40,000+ deregistrations from Germany and know the friction points around pension refunds from first-hand experience.

"Many people do not even know they can have their pension contributions paid out. We are often talking about four- or five-figure amounts." — Oliver Frankfurth

At a glance

• Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizens have the strongest claim. EU citizens have only limited access. German citizens essentially never qualify.
• Waiting period: 24 months after the last contribution — you cannot file before.
• Refund amount: You get the employee share of about 9.3 % of your gross income back — for every month of contributions.
• Processing: 6 to 9 months, plus another 2 months for international bank transfers.
• Final: The refund wipes out every German pension entitlement — permanently. With more than 5 contribution years, weigh this carefully.
• Service: Our partner Fundsback (advertising) handles the entire application end to end.

The German pension system in 60 seconds

Before we get into the refund, a quick map of the German pension system. That tells you what money you are actually owed.

The three pillars

The German pension system rests on three pillars:

1. Statutory pension insurance (pillar 1): the compulsory scheme. Employer and employee split the 18.6 % contribution rate (9.3 % each). The employee share of 9.3 % is what you can claim back under specific conditions.
2. Occupational pensions (pillar 2): additional pensions via the employer (3–15 % of gross). Not part of the refund.
3. Private pensions (pillar 3): Riester, Rürup and other private pension products. Also not part of the refund.

Important: the pension refund covers only the employee share of statutory pension insurance (pillar 1) — the 9.3 % deducted from your gross salary.

How is the statutory pension funded?

Statutory pension insurance is mandatory for every employee in Germany. The total contribution rate is 18.6 % of gross salary, shared equally between employer and employee (9.3 % each). The contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) sits at EUR 8,450 per month in 2026 (nationwide since 2025) — income above that ceiling is not subject to pension contributions.

On enrolment you receive a Sozialversicherungsnummer (social insurance number) — critical for tracking your contributions. Keep your social insurance card; you need it for the refund application.

Who can have the pension paid out?

The statutory pension insurance treats refund as an exception: it ends the insurance relationship completely and irreversibly, and wipes out every entitlement.

Three groups can apply for a refund:

• Civil servants (Beamte) and similar professions
• People who have reached statutory retirement age but cannot meet the five-year qualifying period
• Foreign nationals (Ausländer) who worked in Germany and emigrate

This guide focuses on the third group — foreign nationals and emigrants reclaiming pension contributions.

The three base conditions

You can claim your pension contributions if you meet all three of these:

1. You are no longer subject to contributions in Germany (no active employment relationship)
2. Your last contribution is at least 24 months in the past
3. You have no option to voluntarily continue paying into the German pension system

Whether you can voluntarily continue depends on your nationality and your country of residence. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung distinguishes four groups.

Eligibility by nationality: four groups

Group 1: German citizens

As a German citizen you have no claim to a refund. Regardless of where you live, you can voluntarily continue paying into the German pension system. The same applies to dual nationals holding a German passport.

Exception: you have reached statutory retirement age (currently up to 67) but cannot meet the minimum five-year contribution period.

Tip for German emigrants: consider whether voluntary contributions make sense. From 5 contribution years onwards, you are entitled to a monthly pension at retirement age. More on this in German State Pension.

Group 2: EEA citizens, Switzerland and the UK

If you are an EEA citizen or live in an EEA country, your chances of a refund are slim.

The European Economic Area (EEA) covers all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) are treated the same.

As an EEA citizen you can voluntarily contribute to the German pension until you reach retirement age. A refund is therefore only possible once you have reached retirement age without meeting the 5-year qualifying period.

Group 3: Contracting states — good chances

Citizens of contracting states have good chances of a successful refund.

Contracting states are countries with a social-security agreement with Germany — including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, India, Brazil, China and several others.

Full list of contracting states (use Ctrl/⌘ + F to find yours):

Albania · Australia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Canada (and Quebec) · Chile · India · Israel · Japan · Kosovo · Republic of Moldova · Montenegro · Morocco · North Macedonia · Philippines · Serbia · South Korea · Tunisia · Türkiye · United States · Uruguay

Two notes on this list: the agreement with China is limited in scope (it mainly avoids double contributions and does not open up a refund the way the others do). And if your country is not on this list and not in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK, you count as a non-contracting state (Group 4) — the strongest position for a full refund.

You qualify for a refund if:

• You worked less than 5 years in Germany and now live in a contracting or non-contracting state, or
• You worked more than 5 years in Germany and now live in a non-contracting state

Group 4: Non-contracting states — best chances

Citizens of non-contracting states have the strongest claim to a full refund.

Non-contracting states are all countries without a social-security agreement with Germany — Russia, Kazakhstan, every African country, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and many more.

Because you have essentially no way to voluntarily continue contributing, your refund chances are optimal — regardless of how long you worked in Germany or where you live now.

"Watch the deadlines. If you have more than 59 contribution months in Germany, a refund is often no longer available for citizens of contracting states." — Oliver Frankfurth

How much money can you reclaim?

You can reclaim the employee share of your pension contributions — 9.3 % of your gross income. The employer share (also 9.3 %) stays with the pension insurance.

Two factors drive the refund amount:

• How many months you worked in Germany
• How high your gross income was

Example calculation: if you worked 36 months in Germany with an average gross of EUR 3,500, the refund is 36 × EUR 3,500 × 9.3 % = EUR 11,718.

The contribution assessment ceiling (currently EUR 8,450/month) caps contributions — earnings above that ceiling are not contributable, and therefore not refundable.

Calculate your refund: our German pension refund calculator gives you a 30-second estimate.

Open the refund calculator

Drawing a German pension from abroad

Not everyone wants to (or can) take the refund. If you contributed at least 5 years in Germany, you may be entitled to a monthly pension at retirement age — even living abroad.

How a German pension works abroad

Once you reach statutory retirement age (currently rising gradually from 65 to 67), you can draw your German pension abroad. The pension is usually paid to a German bank account; from there you transfer it abroad. Within the SEPA area, direct payment to a foreign account is also possible.

Worth knowing:

• Taxation depends on the Double Taxation Agreement (Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen, DBA) between Germany and your country of residence
• You must file a certificate of life (Lebensbescheinigung) annually
• Inform the Deutsche Rentenversicherung before the move
• Request a certificate of insurance periods before leaving and check for gaps

Drawing pensions from two countries

You can receive pensions from two different countries if you contributed in both. Thanks to bilateral social security agreements, contribution periods are often mutually recognised. You apply in each country separately.

Refund vs. pension in retirement — what pays off?

This is one of the most important decisions. A refund means you give up all pension entitlements irrevocably. Weigh it up:

• Refund: money in your account today, but no claim to a monthly pension later
• Pension at retirement: monthly payments from 67 — for life, abroad as well

With fewer than 5 contribution years you have no pension claim anyway. In that case, a refund is almost always the better choice.

The 24-month waiting period — the biggest trap

Before you can file the application, you must wait 24 months after your last contribution. Emigrants miss this rule all the time — and end up frustrated when applications get rejected.

What counts as "last contribution"?

• Compulsory contribution from your last German job (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung is relevant)
• Voluntary contribution if you paid as a self-employed person
• Contribution period from sickness pay (Krankengeld), parental allowance (Elterngeld) or unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld)

When does the waiting period start?

The 24 months are counted from the month of the last contribution. Example: last contribution May 2023 → earliest application June 2025.

Tip: if you are still working in Germany and already eyeing the emigration date, plan the waiting period in. Filing 24 months after emigration gives you the shortest wait. Filing in the first months after emigration is impossible.

Special case: if you return to German employment after emigrating (e.g. remote work for a German employer with social security), the waiting period restarts. So before filing, make sure you are truly out of the German social-security system.

Example calculations

Concrete numbers help. Three typical scenarios from our case work.

Example 1: 3 years minimum-wage job

• Gross monthly salary: ~EUR 2,100
• Employee pension share (9.3 %): ~EUR 195/month
• 36 months × EUR 195 = ~EUR 7,020 refund

Example 2: 5 years average earnings

• Gross monthly salary: ~EUR 3,800
• Employee pension share: ~EUR 353/month
• 60 months × EUR 353 = ~EUR 21,180 refund

Example 3: 8 years high earnings

• Gross monthly salary: ~EUR 6,500
• Employee pension share: ~EUR 605/month (up to the ceiling)
• 96 months × EUR 605 = ~EUR 58,080 refund

Important: you only get the employee share back (9.3 %), not the employer share (another 9.3 %). In total you contribute 18.6 % of gross to the pension insurance — but you only see half of that on refund. With 8 years at high earnings you effectively "lose" another EUR 58,000 in employer contributions.

Practical tip: with more than 5 contribution years, run the maths carefully. Long life expectancy can make the monthly pension significantly more valuable than the lump sum. From 5 contribution years onwards, you have a claim to a monthly pension abroad — the refund is an irrevocable surrender of that claim.

How to apply: 4 steps

STEP 1: check eligibility

The refund process is complex and lengthy. Before you start, make sure you are actually eligible. That saves a lot of work.

Key prerequisites:

• You have already left Germany
• The 24-month waiting period after your last contribution has elapsed
• You do not live in an EEA state (unless you have reached retirement age)

Run an eligibility check

STEP 2: fill in the contribution-refund application

Complete the official application form from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. On top of that you need:

• Certificate of life and nationality
• Payment declaration (where the money should be transferred)
• Payment authorisation

The relevant sections must be confirmed by a notary or an official body. Your personal details (passport, proof of residence) must be authenticated by a local authority or by the German embassy.

Practical tip from 40,000+ cases: even if the embassy is far away — have your documents authenticated there. It speeds up the procedure significantly and reduces follow-up document requests.

STEP 3: collect and send documents

Alongside the completed forms you need:

• Certified copy of your passport
• Proof of residence abroad
• Deregistration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung) for your last German address
• Social insurance card
• Wage tax statements (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung) from your German employers
• Optional: insurance statement from your health insurer (recommended to verify contribution periods)

Send everything with tracking to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. You can also drop it off at a local advice centre in Germany.

STEP 4: receive the refund

The Deutsche Rentenversicherung reviews your application. That can take up to six months. Afterwards you receive a written decision with your contribution periods and the refund amount.

Heads-up: review the decision carefully! It does not always cover the entire contribution period. React immediately within the appeal deadline if something is missing. Once the deadline passes, you legally accept the decision — even if incomplete.

If your bank account sits outside Germany, the pension insurance waits another 2 months after the decision before transferring the money.

Special cases: Riester, Rürup, civil-service and private pensions

Most people think of statutory pension insurance when they hear "pension refund". But there are other pension pots that turn relevant on emigration — each with its own rules.

Riester pension on emigration

The Riester pension receives state subsidies as long as you are tax-resident in Germany. On moving out (more precisely, out of the EU/EEA) you must repay the state subsidies and tax advantages — provided you dissolve the contract or move to a non-EU/EEA country.

Three options:

• Pause the contract: stop contributing, the contract stays on ice. At retirement age you can use the accumulated capital abroad — subsidies and tax advantages stay intact (if you are in the EU/EEA)
• Dissolve the contract (Förderschädliche Verwendung): you get your money back, but subsidies and tax advantages are forfeit
• Continue the contract: as an EU/EEA citizen living in the EU/EEA you can keep contributing — but no longer receive the subsidies

Practical tip: before dissolving a Riester contract, ask a tax advisor. With small balances the dissolution often does not pay off; with high balances the wrong call is expensive.

Rürup pension on emigration

The Rürup pension (Basisrente) is also tax-subsidised. Unlike Riester, termination is essentially impossible — the contract is legally protected from seizure and non-transferable. What you can do:

• Stop contributing (Beitragsfreistellung): the contract pauses
• Payout only from retirement age: earliest at 62, then as a monthly pension. Lump-sum payouts are usually not allowed
• Tax treatment abroad: payouts abroad are typically regulated by the Double Taxation Agreement — often the tax falls due in your country of residence

Civil-service pension on emigration

Former German civil servants are entitled to a Beamtenpension (not the statutory pension). Special rules apply on emigration:

• The civil-service pension is paid abroad, usually to a German account or via SEPA transfer
• Permanent move to a third country (outside EU/EEA) can trigger a 30 % reduction (§ 27 Beamtenversorgungsgesetz)
• A lump-sum payout like the statutory refund is not possible

When in doubt: ask the pension office of your former employer directly.

Private pension insurance — what happens on emigration?

Private pensions (life insurance, unit-linked contracts, classic pensions) are not tied to a German residence. You can:

• Continue the contract — keep contributing, payout as planned
• Pause contributions — no further input, existing balance stays
• Cancel — the surrender value is paid out (often with substantial losses)
• Sell — via specialised brokers, often a better return than the surrender value

For life insurance, see our dedicated guide: Sell Your German Life Insurance.

Taxation of the refund in your target country

Worth knowing: the refund is tax-free in Germany (your contributions were already taxed). But the picture can change abroad.

USA: the refund may be classified as "income" and taxed. Speak to a US tax advisor before filing.

UK: lump-sum tax exemption for "contributions returned" usually applies — most cases are tax-free, but individual advice is recommended.

Switzerland: tax-free, as Switzerland treats the refund like a German pension payout.

Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam: typically tax-free, because no German withholding tax applies.

Turkey: under the Double Taxation Agreement, usually tax-free.

Rule of thumb: wherever a Double Taxation Agreement with Germany exists, the agreement governs the tax treatment. When unsure, ask a tax advisor in your target country — the consulting cost is small compared to the refund amount.

Pension with dual citizenship

Anyone with German + foreign citizenship can choose which passport to apply with. But for the pension refund, EEA citizenship counts first.

Concretely: if you are German + Turkish, the EU/EEA rules apply — which provide no refund claim for Germans. The "better-positioned" passport wins.

Exception: if you have already reached retirement age and contributed less than 5 years, you can have the contributions paid out — regardless of citizenship. That rule rescues many emigrants who only briefly worked in Germany.

Re-entry into the German pension system after a refund

If you come back to Germany after the refund and work there again: you start contributions from zero. The paid-out months are gone; new contribution periods begin on the first day of work.

What it means in practice:

• For a short return (e.g. 1 year), the refund still pays off
• For permanent re-residence and work in Germany, the payout was likely suboptimal in hindsight, because the old contribution periods are gone for good
• Re-entry is always possible, but a refund is final

Stress-free application: Fundsback

The whole process sounds complicated? It is. Handling German bureaucracy from abroad — certifications, forms, deadlines — is what we have seen go wrong hundreds of times.

That is why we work with Fundsback, our specialist partner for pension refunds. Fundsback runs the whole process for you: from eligibility check to application to payout.

What Fundsback does:

• Complete eligibility review of your situation
• Professional application drafting with every form
• Communication with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung
• Follow-up until the refund hits your account

Advertising: we recommend Fundsback based on our long-standing cooperation and consistently positive customer feedback.

Learn more about Fundsback | Start your eligibility check

Video: pension contributions refund on emigration

Frequently asked questions

Bottom line: who gets what back — and for whom does it pay off?

The pension refund is one of the rare opportunities where the German system actually pays money back to emigrants. But it is not the right choice for everyone.

Clear refund recommendation for:

• Non-EU/EEA citizens with fewer than 5 contribution years
• Non-EU/EEA citizens with high contributions and a permanent move to a third country
• People with short German career episodes (seasonal workers, internships)

Weigh carefully:

• People with 5+ contribution years in Germany — the monthly pension abroad can be the better deal
• EU/EEA citizens — refund only in special cases
• Dual nationals — check the constellation

Generally not recommended:

• German citizens — no entitlement (except the "retirement age + under 5 years" edge case)
• People with unclear emigration plans — the refund is final

Three steps to the right move:

1. Eligibility check — based on nationality, residence and contribution years. Fundsback (advertising) runs this in 10 minutes, free of charge.
2. Serve the waiting period — 24 months after the last contribution must have passed.
3. File the application — with all documents certified, or run through Fundsback.

Done right, it brings back a meaningful chunk of social-security money that would otherwise stay in German funds — often in the five-figure range. From our experience, this is the most common follow-up question in the months after emigration. Which is exactly why we have the Fundsback partnership.

Related guides

• German State Pension — three-pillar model, calculation, EU coordination
• Pension Refund for Non-EU Citizens — the dedicated non-EU walkthrough
• Leaving Germany in Retirement — Lebensbescheinigung, DTA, retirement visas
• Sell Your German Life Insurance — sell instead of surrender
• Expat Health Insurance — post-deregistration cover
• Leaving Germany Checklist — umbrella with every step
• How to Deregister from Germany — the formal act
• Tax Obligations After Leaving Germany

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This article was last updated on 26 May 2026. The information is based on our experience with 40,000+ cases since 2014. For an individual assessment of your situation we recommend our eligibility check or a personal consultation.