You are a Japanese citizen and you were previously employed in Germany? Then you might be eligible to cash out your German pension contributions. The reimbursement is possible if you meet the following requirements:
- you are not subject to compulsory insurance abroad (see question 1 below),
- you are not entitled to voluntary insurance in the German pension insurance scheme (see question 2 below), and
- a waiting period of 24 months must have passed (see question 3 below).
Learn about the details of these requirements in the following article:
There is a social security agreement between Japan and Germany. This agreement must be considered in connection with the reimbursement of contributions. So how can you find out if you meet the above shown requirements? Check out the following 3 questions:
1. Do you live in any of the following countries?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- North-Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Turkey
- any country that is a member of the European Union (Please note: not part of the European Union are: the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, although these countries are geographically located in Europe)
In these countries, the insurance obligation is the same as the one in Germany.
Therefore, if you live in one of those countries, a refund is not possible.
2. Do you live in Germany or a country that is a member of the European Union?
Or:
Do you live in Japan and paid contributions into the German pension insurance scheme for more than 59 months (5 years)?
If your answer is “yes” to either one of these two questions, you are entitled to voluntary insurance in the German pension insurance scheme. Therefore, a cash out is not possible at this time.
3. When did you pay your last contribution either in Germany or any country listed under the first question?
If at least 24 months have passed since you were employed in any of those countries, you are eligible to get your cash out (if the other requirements are met as well).
To summarize, a contribution reimbursement is possible for a Japanese citizen if he or she does not live in Japan or the European Union or live in Japan and paid contributions into the German pension insurance scheme for no more than 59 months. If there has already been a pension benefit from the German pension insurance, a refund is not possible. Please note: the 59 months rule (5 years) applies for Japanese citizens only in case you actually live in Japan, not in case you live outside Japan.
Would you like to check if you qualify for a contribution refund? Click here to use our free Pensioncheck: https://www.fundsback.org/en/services/fundsback-pensioncheck/
Your
Fundsback-Team
German Pension Contribution Service uG
Schiffgraben 43
30175 Hannover
Germany
Phone: +49-(0)511 898 444 20
Fax: +49-(0)511 898 444 21
E-Mail: info@fundsback.org
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