When you work in Germany, you give 9.3% of your income to the public pension system (gesetzliche Rentenversicherung). If you leave Germany, you can get that money back. You can get thousands of euros back.

In this guide, I show you if you can get a pension refund, and how to apply for it.

Who can get a pension payments refund?

Short answer: use the pension refund calculator.

Long answer: It depends on your citizenship, and the country you live in. The rules are different for every country.

There are 3 conditions for getting a German pension refund:

  1. You are not forced to contribute to the German pension system
  2. and you can't contribute voluntarily to the German pension system
  3. and your last pension payment in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey was more than 24 months ago1

EU and EEA citizens

If you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can always contribute to your German pension, so you can't get a refund.1, 2, 3, §10.2

There is an exception1. You can get a refund if:

  • you are at least 67 years old
  • and you don't qualify for a German pension

Contracting countries

Some countries have a pension agreement with Germany. If you are a citizen of these countries, you can sometimes get a German pension refund. If you can't get a refund, you can get a German pension when you are 67 years old.

The contracting countries are Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Korea, North Macedonia, Moldova, the Philippines, the United States and Uruguay. Other countries have different rules.

You can get a pension refund if:

  • you made less than 60 monthly pension payments in Germany
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Albanian citizens

You can get a pension refund. Albania has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

American citizens

You can get a pension refund. The United States have a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Australian citizens

You can get a pension refund. Australia has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Bosnian and Herzegovinian citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Brazilian citizens

You can get a pension refund. Brazil has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

British citizens

We are not sure yet. Brexit was less than 2 years ago, so nobody applied for a refund yet. You can possibly get a refund if:1

  • you only worked in Germany after Brexit (January 1, 2021)
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

If you worked in Germany before Brexit, you can't get a pension refund1, 2, not even for your pension payments after Brexit. When you are 67 years old, you will get a German pension.

Canadian citizens

You can get a pension refund. Canada has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Filipino citizens

You can get a pension refund. The Philippines have a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Indian citizens

You can get a pension refund. India has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Israeli citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you do not live in Israel
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Japanese citizens

You can't get a refund while you live in Japan1.

You can get a pension refund if:

  • you live in Japan
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments

You can get a pension refund if1:

  • you do not live in Japan
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Korean citizens

You can get a pension refund. Korea has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Kosovar citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Macedonian citizens

You can get a pension refund. Macedonia has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Moldovan citizens

You can get a pension refund. Moldova has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

Montenegrin citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Serbian citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago
  • and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey

You can also get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments
  • and you are at least 67 years old
  • and you live anywhere in the world

Tunisian citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • Your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey
  • or you are at least 67 years old and you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments1

If you live in Tunisia, you must use a Tunisian bank account for your refund1.

Turkish citizens

You can get a pension refund if:1

  • you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments1 or you live in Turkey since at least 24 months1
  • and you don't pay social security contributions in Turkey1

If you are a Turkish citizen, and you work in Turkey, you can't get a pension refund1, because you pay social security contributions in Turkey. If you are not a Turkish citizen, but you live and work in Turkey, you can still get a pension refund1.

    Uruguayan citizens

    You can get a pension refund. Uruguay has a pension agreement with Germany. See the rules for contracting countries.

    Citizens of other countries

    You can get a pension refund if:1

    • Your last pension payment was more than 24 months ago and you do not live in the European Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro or Serbia
    • or you are at least 67 years old and you made less than 60 monthly German pension payments1

    How much money will I get back?

    You will get a refund for all your pension payments1. That's around 9.3% of your brutto income. That means you usually get a few thousand euros back1. Use the pension refund calculator to get an exact answer.

    You will not get a refund for your employer's contributions1, 2. If you already benefits from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the refund will be smaller1. You can't receive a refund for contributions made in East Germany before June 30 19901, 2.

    If you are a freelancer, you will only get 50% of your pension payments back (9.3% of your income)1. By default, freelancers do not make public pension payments. If you did not make public pension payments, you will not get any money back.

    If you want to know the exact amount, ask the Deutsche Rentenversicherung for a Versicherungsverlauf here (in German). Germany Pension Refund and FundsBack can also check the amount for you, for free. Either way, it only takes a few days. I have done it myself, and it was very easy.

    How do I ask for a pension refund?

    The pension refund is not automatic. You must apply for it. You can do it yourself, or you can ask someone to do it for you.

    Do it yourself

    If you apply yourself, it costs nothing. You need to fill a few different forms, and send them to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. They will write back to you, and ask for more documents. After a few months, you will get a refund.

    This can be really easy, or really hard1, 2. The refunds are managed by different employees in different offices, and there is a lot of confusion. The forms are simple, but each employee asks for different things. If there is a problem, they just wait until you contact them again. For example, if a letter is lost in the mail (they don't use registered mail), nothing happens until you contact them again. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung contacts you by post, in German. This can add long delays.

    If you want to do it yourself, here are the steps1:

    1. Wait 24 months after your last pension payment
      After your last mandatory pension payment, you must wait 24 months to apply for a refund1, 2. Your last payment usually is one month after your last day of work. For example, if your last day of work was on March 5, 2018, your last payment was in April 2018. You can apply for a refund in May 2020. While you wait, you can still prepare the documents. It's easier if you prepare the documents while you are in Germany.
    2. Find your tax ID and your social insurance number
      You need those numbers to fill the forms. Use this guide to find your tax ID, and this guide to find your social insurance number.
    3. Download this form package, and fill the correct form
      If you need help to fill the forms, you can book an appointment with the DRV. You can also call them, but they only speak German.
      1. If you are Turkish, you must fill form form A5800. This form is in Turkish and German. The instructions are in document A5801 (in German).
      2. If you are not Turkish, you must fill the standard form1, 2. The instructions are in document V0910 (in German).
        1. Form V0900 (German)
        2. or form V0901 (English)
        3. or form V0902 (French)
    4. Download and fill the payment information form (Zahlungserklärung)
      If you use a bank in another country, your refund will take 2 months longer.
      1. If the bank account is in Germany:
        1. If it's your bank account, fill form A1310. Transfers to German bank accounts are much faster.
        2. If it's not your bank account, fill form A1313.
      2. If the bank account is in Canada or the United States, fill form A1312.
      3. If the bank account is in Italy, fill form A1311.
      4. If the bank account is in any other country, fill form A1310.

      The payment information form asks for a PANR, a BXNR and a ZANR. You don't have those numbers1. Leave those fields empty.

    5. Collect the other documents1
      1. A certified copy of your passport
        The German embassy or consulate can make a certified copy of your passport. The information in your passport must be the same as in the application forms.
      2. A copy of your Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung
        You can use an older one. It doesn't have to be the latest one.
      3. Deregistration certificate (Abmeldebescheinigung)
        This proves that you do not live in Germany anymore. They do not always ask for this document.
      4. Proof that you live in your current country1
        This can be a certificate from the tax office, a registration certificate, or anything that proves that you live in that country. In some cases, you must go to a German embassy to verify your identity. The Deutsche Versicherung will tell you what they need after you apply. It's different for everyone.
      5. If you are applying for someone else, add a power of attorney letter (Vollmacht).
    6. Send everything to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung
      Send all the required forms and documents1. Don't send the documents before the end of the 2 year waiting period. If you send your documents too early, they will send them back to you.
      Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund
      10704 Berlin
      (there is no street number, because the Deutsche Rentenversicherung has its own post code)
    7. Wait for an answer
      The Deutsche Rentenversicherung will review your case. If they need more information, they will contact you1. They will contact you by post, in German. You might need to mail more documents later1. You might need to go to the German embassy or consulate to prove that you live in that country. Each employee wants something different. You must be patient.
    8. Get your refund
      The Deutsche Rentenversicherung will send you a letter to confirm that you want your refund1. After you confirm, you might wait another 6 weeks before you get your refund.

    Get help from someone

    You can let someone take care of everything. There are good reasons to get help:

    • You don't need to speak German
      You can write to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung in English, but they will answer in German. They will often request more documents, and more information. If you don't speak German, it can be confusing.
    • You don't need a fixed address
      The Deutsche Rentenversicherung will contact you by post. If you don't have a fixed address, or if the post is not reliable, this can be a problem.
    • Your case is processed faster
      The Deutsche Rentenversicherung communicates by post1. If you live far from Germany, this can delay your refund by a few weeks. They do not use registered mail, so if a letter gets lost, you will wait much longer.
    • You get your money faster
      If you want to receive your refund in a non-German bank account, you must wait an extra 2 months. Germany Pension Refund, FundsBack and TaxBack can receive the money in a German bank account, and transfer it directly to you. This saves you two months of waiting. They also offer more payment options than the Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
    • You pay lower transaction fees
      Germany Pension Refund and FundsBack offer more payment options than the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. They can use services like Wise to transfer the money with lower transaction fees.

    These businesses can help you request a refund. They will fill the forms and request the refund for you. They can also check how much money you will get back.

    • ⭐ FundsBack
      Their fee is 10% of your refund (minimum 899€, maximum 2,899€)1. They specialise in pension refunds since 2017. I recommend them because they are experts. Their lawyer helped me a lot, and he verified this guide many times. Every case goes through their lawyer.
    • ⭐ Germany Pension Refund
      Their fee is 15% of your refund (no minimum or maximum). They specialise in pension refunds since 2007. They helped me a lot, and they verified this guide many times. I recommend them because they are experts. They helped me a lot, and they verified this guide many times. Every case goes through their lawyers.
    • Pension Refund Germany
      Their fee is 10% of your refund (no minimum, maximum 2,800€)1. They automated a big part of the process, so you can do everything online. They work with a lawyer.
    • TaxBack
      Their fee is 19.8% of your refund1, or minimum 60€. They offer various international tax services. I do not recommend them. They don't specialise in pension refunds, and their fee is too high.
    • Germany Mantra
      Unknown fees. This company is based in India1. They offer relocation services for Indians since at least 20111. They never answered my emails.

    The Deutsche Rentenversicherung can also help you fill the forms. Their email is [email protected]. You can also write in English, but they will answer in German. You can also book an appointment and visit them in person.

    How long does it take to get a refund?

    You must wait at least 24 months after your last pension payment1. After 24 months, you can ask for a refund. After you submit the form, it takes 1 to 6 months to get a refund1, 2, 3, 4. It's a long process, and it's sometimes complicated1, 2. You can start the process a few months before you are eligible for a refund. This gives you more time to prepare the documents you need.

    How is the money refunded?

    The Deutsche Rentenversicherung will transfer the money to your bank account. They can send the money to any bank account, not just German bank accounts1. Transfers to German bank accounts are much faster.

    Need help?

    If you have questions, write to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. Their email is [email protected]. You can write in English, but they will reply in German. You can also book an appointment with them, or call them. I called them many times, and they always helped, but they only speak German.

    Germany Pension Refund, FundsBack, Pension Refund Germany, Taxback or Germany Mantra can request a refund for you. They will take care of everything, but they charge a fee for their service.

    Tax advisors rarely have experience with German pension refunds. German embassies and consulates do not help you with German pension refunds.