Pension Refund Germany:
Reclaim your German pension contributions
Maximize Your German Pension Refund!
Did you work in Germany? Claim your entitlements today. Average refund: 9,328€. Unlock your benefits now!
Claim Your Hard-Earned Money: Hassle-Free Process for Non-EU Citizens
Pension Refund Germany: We promise a hassle-Free Pension Refund for Non-EU Citizens Made Easy with Fundsback. As a non-EU citizen, reclaiming your pension refund in Germany can be complex and time-consuming. That’s where Fundsback comes in. We specialize in handling the entire process and all the paperwork and procedures. Our experienced team will diligently work on your behalf, ensuring a smooth and efficient refund process. Let us handle the complexities while you relax and await your hard-earned money. Get started with Fundsback today and experience a hassle-free pension refund journey.
Get your pension refund in 3 simple steps:
Are you tired of finding, filling, and filing the appropriate documents to get your pension refund in Germany?
Use our A to Z Digital Refund Service and let us deal with German bureaucracy for you!
Step 1: Free Eligibility Check & Insurance Record
Check your eligibility with our free check. If you qualify for pension refund we apply for an insurance record and check your insurance periods for possible gaps.
Step 2: Free Refund Calculation
After we have closed any gaps during your insurance period, we will obtain an accurate and personalized calculation of your refund amount from the German pension insurance.
Step 3: Apply Online and Get your Refund
We take care of all the paperwork for you and keep in constant contact with the relevant institutions and the German Pension Insurance. The whole process is done online and in English.
No Win, No Fee
In case of a successful refund of pension contributions (not before), we receive a lump sum of 9.9% of the actual refund amount (minimum fee of 899€, maximum of 2899€). The cost of an external lawyer is included in the price.
The Pension Refund Process
Apply for your pension refund from Germany today. Online and hassle-free.
Free Pension Check
Requesting the insurance record from the German Pension Insurance to check whether all periods are correctly recorded and to identify incorrect or missing periods.
Options for action
We evaluate the insurance history to determine the reimbursement claim against the German Pension Insurance and show the possible courses of action.
Pension Cash Out
With the Pension Cash Out, the contributions made are retrieved and paid out to ours. We take care of all the necessary steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our service aims to assist customers in determining if they are eligible for a refund on a portion of their paid pension contributions. This service is free of charge.
Of course you can! It is actually possible to get your money back from the German pension system. If you meet certain criteria, you can get thousands of dollars back.
STEP 1: Check your eligibility
Your eligibility for a pension refund is primarily determined by your nationality and current country of residence. If you have the option of making voluntary contributions to the German state pension system, you will not qualify for a pension contribution refund.
STEP 2: Fill in the application form(s)
You can also find information and the necessary forms on the website of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. Unfortunately, there is no English version and no English forms.
- Fill in the application form
- Provide proof of life and citizenship (form)
- Prepare a payment declaration and payment authorization (form)
- Have your passport or ID card, and proof of residence certified by a local authority or German embassy
STEP 3: Collect & send the required documents
include other relevant documents:
- Your deregistration certificate
- Social security card
- Income tax return
- It is also very helpful to request insurance record from your health insurance.
Where to send the documents?
The German pension insurance consists of 16 institutions, each with its own address. On this page you’ll find a comprehensive list of all pension insurance institutions in Germany.
The easiest way to determine which institution is responsible for you is to check to see if you’ve received any recent correspondence from Deutsche Rentenversicherung. Simply look for the logo on the letterhead to identify the institution.
STEP 4: Wait for your money to arrive
The process can take up to 6 months. Once the review is complete, a letter, known as a “decision”, will be sent to you at the address you provided on your claim form. The decision letter will contain full details of the contribution periods under consideration and the approved refund amount.
If your bank account is located outside of the United States, you will need to wait an additional two months after you receive the decision letter before you can initiate the transfer.
Your eligibility for a pension refund depends primarily on your nationality and your current country of residence. If you continue to be eligible to make voluntary contributions to the German state pension scheme, you are not eligible for a pension refund.
However, if you live outside the EU or the EEA (European Economic Area) and are NOT an EU or EEA national, you are entitled to a pension refund when you leave Germany. This distinction is due to the fact that voluntary contributions to the German pension scheme remain an option within the EU/EEA.
In addition, the last contribution to the German pension insurance must have been made at least 24 months previously and you must have already left Germany.
To get your pension refund from Germany, follow these simplified steps:
- Check eligibility: Ensure you meet the criteria, such as being a non-EU citizen who worked in Germany and relocated to a non-contracting country. Please use our Free Eligibility Check.
- Gather documentation: Collect necessary paperwork, including employment records, residency proof, and other required documents.
- Complete the application: Fill out the form or provide the requested information.
- Submit your claim: Send your completed application and supporting documents to the German pension fund.
- Review and verification: The German pension fund will review your claim and verify your eligibility and documentation.
- Processing and payment: If approved, the German pension fund will process your claim and issue the refund according to their payment procedures.
Specific requirements and procedures can vary, so you should contact the German pension fund directly for detailed instructions (remember, the authorities often don’t speak English).
If you are a non-EU citizen looking to claim mandatory contributions to the German pension fund back, the process can be complex and time-consuming.
Some documents must be completed in German, adding to the challenge. That’s why we highly recommend our service. With English customer support and legal assistance, we take care of all inquiries and handle the entire process for you.
Our experienced team is well-versed in the intricacies, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience. While timelines may vary based on individual circumstances and external factors, we strive to provide accurate information.
By entrusting your claim to us, you can confidently navigate the complexities, knowing that we are dedicated to streamlining the process and achieving the best possible outcome. Contact us today to simplify your refund process and receive professional assistance every step of the way.
The refund process for your contributions can vary depending on factors such as tax class, marital status, countries of residence, and number of children. Here are some essential details to consider:
Waiting Period: You must wait 24 months after your last pension contribution before applying for a refund. At Fundsback, we offer a free reminder service to notify you when the waiting period is over.
Processing Time: Once you submit your claim and the waiting period has passed, the refund process typically takes 2-6 months. However, please note that this timeframe is an estimate and can be influenced by various factors.
International Transfers: If the refund needs to be transferred to a foreign account, it may take slightly longer. International transfers involve additional administrative steps and banking procedures, which can extend the overall timeline.
Please remember that these timelines are approximate and can vary based on your circumstances and external factors. We recommend contacting the German pension fund directly for more accurate and detailed information regarding the timeline specific to your situation.
Claiming mandatory contributions to the German pension fund can be complex, especially for non-EU citizens. All documentation is in German, and the procedure must be conducted in German.
To simplify the process, we offer our service, providing English customer support and legal assistance. We handle all inquiries on your behalf, ensuring a smooth experience. Our team maintains regular communication with the German pension fund, keeping you informed about the progress of your claim.
By choosing our service, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the German pension refund process. We strive to provide a hassle-free experience and achieve the best possible outcome for you.
Our company assists foreigners who want to reclaim their mandatory contributions made to the German pension fund during their employment in Germany.
One of the benefits of our service is that we only charge a fee upon successful completion. Once our clients receive their refund, we take a 10% cut of that amount as our payment. However, to cover our costs and the effort involved, we have set a minimum fee of 899€. This means that even if the refund is lower, our price will be at least 899€.
Additionally, we have placed a cap on our earnings. If a customer receives a substantial refund, we will only take a maximum fee of 2899€. This ensures that our cost remains reasonable even for more significant refund amounts. Our work is reviewed by lawyers and involves considerable effort on our part.
So you don’t need to pay anything upfront. We take our share at the end before transferring your refund to your account.
The timeframe to receive the refund can vary depending on the case’s complexity and administrative procedures. Here’s a concise version:
Processing Time: After approval, processing the refund usually takes several weeks. Factors such as German pension fund efficiency, the volume of claims, and missing documents impact the exact duration.
International Transfers: If transferring to a foreign account, additional time may be needed due to administrative and banking procedures.
Communication: Stay in touch with the German pension fund for updates and respond promptly to inquiries. Due to time shifts, slow postal mail, and loss of communication via physical mail communication can become time-consuming.
Remember that the specific timeframe depends on various factors.
We recommend using our service to claim back mandatory contributions to the German pension fund, especially for non-EU citizens. The process can be lengthy and complex and must be completed in German in parts.
By choosing to work with us, you benefit from our English customer service and legal assistance. We handle all inquiries on your behalf, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience. Our team is well-versed in the intricacies of the refund process, relieving you of the burden of navigating through it alone.
From 2023, both the employer and employee will contribute at a rate of 9.3%, resulting in a combined contribution of 18.6% based on the employee’s gross income. It’s important to note that only the employee’s individual contribution, which is 9.3% in 2023, is refundable.
If you have a German passport, you can always voluntarily contribute to the pension scheme until you reach retirement age, regardless of where you currently live. For this reason, German citizens are generally not entitled to a pension refund. This also applies to dual nationals. There is one exception: You have reached retirement age but have not completed the minimum contribution period of 5 years? Then you can have the German statutory pension refunded.
Little chance of a pension refund: EEA is the abbreviation for the European Economic Area, which includes all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, are neither part of the EU nor the EEA. However, both countries are linked to the EU by many treaties, which means that Swiss and British citizens are treated the same as EU citizens in most areas. If you belong to this group, you will not be able to draw or have your pension paid out until you reach the German retirement age.
Suppose you are a citizen of an EEA country (other than Germany), Switzerland or the United Kingdom. In this case, you can also make voluntary contributions to the German pension insurance scheme until you reach retirement age, and you can only draw a pension once you have reached retirement age.
If you are not entitled to a “normal” German pension, you can apply for a refund. By the way: Starting in 2023, the retirement age in Germany will be 66, but will gradually increase to 67 by 2031.
Medium-high chance of pension reimbursement: The treaty states are countries that have a social security agreement with Germany. If you are from one of these countries, you have a good chance of receiving a pension refund:
- Albania
- Australia
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Chile
- India
- Israel
- Japan
- Canada and Quebec
- Kosovo
- Morocco
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Northern Macedonia
- Philippines
- Serbia
- South Korea
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uruguay
- USA
As a citizen of a Contracting State, you are eligible for the pension refund if:
- You have worked in Germany for less than five years and now live in a Contracting or Non-Contracting State, or
- You worked in Germany for more than five years and now live in a non-contracting state.
High chance of pension reimbursement: If your country is neither one of the EEA countries nor one of the contracting states, it counts as a non-contracting state. It includes all states that do not have a social security agreement with Germany.
At the same time, this means that as a national of a non-contracting state, regardless of your place of residence, you can virtually never make voluntary contributions to the German pension insurance scheme. You are very well qualified for a refund of your pension if:
- You now live in a contracting state. No matter how many years you have worked in Germany, or
- You live now in a non-contracting state. No matter how many years you worked in Germany.
It’s important to note that these conditions and requirements are general information and can vary depending on the specific factors of your case, such as your previous tax class, your marital status, the countries you have lived in, the number of children, and more.
You can do this with our Pension Calculator. All you have to do is enter your gross monthly income and the number of months you worked in Germany. The calculator will then multiply these values by the percentage of your gross salary that you have paid into the statutory pension scheme.
Try it out! You will receive a precise estimate of the amount of the refund after we have requested your insurance history from the German Pension Insurance free of charge.
We will guide you through the entire process until your money is in your account!
Changing your residence after working in Germany can impact your eligibility and the specific requirements for claiming a pension contribution refund. Here are some key considerations:
Non-Contracting State: If you have relocated to a non-contracting state, regardless of the duration of your employment in Germany, you may have a high chance of being eligible for a pension reimbursement. This means you can claim a refund of your contributions, regardless of your current residence.
Contracting State: If you have moved to a contracting state, your eligibility for a pension refund depends on the specific agreements between Germany and that country.
Generally, you may be eligible for a refund if you have worked in Germany for less than five years and now live in a contracting or non-contracting state.
However, if you have worked in Germany for over five years and reside in a non-contracting state, you may qualify for a refund.
EEA countries and the UK & Switzerland: If you have moved to an EEA country or Switzerland, the rules and eligibility for a pension refund may be different.
Normally you cannot apply for a pension refund online, but if you use our service it is possible. We take care of all the processing and communication with the German Pension Insurance by mail.
Claiming a pension refund from the Germany can be essential for individuals who have paid mandatory contributions and meet specific eligibility criteria.
In order for your application to be successful, please prepare the following forms:
- Fille in the application form
- Provide proof of life and citizenship (form)
- Prepare a payment declaration and payment authorization (form)
- Have your passport or ID card, and proof of residence certified by a local authority or German embassy
Include other relevant documents:
- Your deregistration certificate
- Social security card
- Income tax return
- It is also very helpful to request insurance record from your health insurance.
Banking Information: You will be asked to provide your bank account details, including the account number, for processing the refund payment.
Calculate Your Pension Refund
Our online calculator makes it easy to estimate your potential refund amount.
Simply enter your details and the time you worked in Germany, and our tool will provide an estimate of your refund. It’s quick, easy, and free!
