German pension refund: getting your contributions back after leaving

Who needs it

A Beitragserstattung (contribution refund) is optional. It's for people who worked in Germany, paid into the statutory pension insurance, and have left for good.

You can usually get a refund if all of these apply (§ 210 SGB VI):

• you are no longer compulsorily insured in Germany;
• you are not allowed to pay voluntary contributions to the German pension system; and
• at least 24 calendar months have passed since your last compulsory contribution, with no new compulsory insurance since.

Who usually can't get a refund

Whether you may pay voluntary contributions depends on your nationality and the country you now live in:

• Germans can always pay voluntarily, so they get no refund before retirement age.
• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can generally pay voluntarily under EU rules, so a refund is usually excluded.
• Citizens of countries with a social security agreement with Germany may have the same right. Germany has such agreements with, for example, the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey and Brazil. Some agreements allow voluntary contributions from abroad and so exclude a refund; others are narrower. See the DRV's list of agreements.
• Anyone still living in Germany can pay voluntarily, so you must leave first.

Citizens of countries without an agreement who live outside the EU are the typical group who can claim.

When

The 24-month wait starts when your compulsory insurance ends, usually your last month of work in Germany. You can't shorten it. There is no deadline to apply after that.

What you need

• your pension insurance number (Sozialversicherungsnummer), shown on your payslips and the DRV letter you received (see social security number)
• passport copy
• proof that you left Germany, such as your Abmeldung certificate
• proof of your current residence abroad
• bank details for the payment (a foreign account is possible)

How to do it

1. Wait 24 months after leaving compulsory insurance.
2. Ask the DRV for advice, especially if you have close to or more than five years of contributions (see below).
3. Fill in the refund application. The DRV has an application form. You may also apply informally, in your own language.
4. Submit it to the DRV, or through a German embassy or consulate. Include copies of your documents.
5. Answer any questions the DRV sends. Processing often takes several months.

What happens afterwards

The DRV sends you a decision and pays the refund to your bank account.

What you get back

• Employees: only your share, the part deducted from your salary (roughly half of the total contribution). The employer's share is not refunded.
• Self-employed and voluntary contributions: half of what you paid.
• No interest is added.
• Contributions made after you received a DRV benefit (for example medical rehabilitation) can be refunded; earlier ones can't.

Refund or pension later?

A refund ends all your rights in the German pension system. All months up to the refund are gone, and you can't choose to refund only part of them.

If you have paid for five years (60 months) or more, you already qualify for a small German old-age pension later. You can still claim a refund if the other conditions are met, but a lifelong pension may be worth more. The DRV recommends asking for a pension estimate first.

Common problems

I'm an American leaving Germany. Can I get my pension back?

Usually not. Under the social security agreement with the USA, US citizens can generally pay voluntary German contributions, which excludes a refund. Your German months can instead count towards a later pension. Ask the DRV about your case.

Can I apply before the 24 months are over?

No. The DRV rejects applications until 24 full calendar months have passed without new compulsory insurance.

I moved to another EU country. Does my nationality still matter?

Yes. The right to pay voluntarily depends on both your nationality and your residence. Living in the EU usually means you can pay voluntarily, which excludes a refund.

Should I use a pension refund company?

That's your choice. They charge a fee or a percentage. The DRV handles the same application free of charge.

Costs

Applying directly to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung is free. Commercial services charge fees.