Partnering Law Firm
🇨🇦 German Pension Refund for Canadian Citizens
If you’re a Canadian citizen who previously worked in Germany and contributed to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, you may be eligible for a pension refund. We help you reclaim your contributions — fast, securely, and with no upfront cost. Our team is based in Berlin and offers full support in English.
✅ Average refund: €14,800
✅ Processing time: 8–10 weeks
✅ No German bank account required
✅ Full legal support and digital process
✅ Eligibility for Canadians
You may qualify for a refund if:
- You are a Canadian citizen
- You worked in Germany for less than 60 months
- At least 24 months have passed since your last pension contribution
- You currently live outside the EU
- You are not receiving a German pension
Canada and Germany have a Social Security Agreement, but it does not prevent you from receiving a refund if you are not entitled to a pension. If you’re unsure, use our free eligibility check.
💸 What Will You Receive?
Most Canadian applicants receive an average refund of €14,800, including:
- ✔️ 100% of mandatory pension contributions
- ✔️ 50% of voluntary contributions
In 2025, Germany’s pension contributions are calculated at 9.3% of gross income up to a cap of €8,050/month. Income above this cap isn’t subject to contributions and doesn’t count toward the refund.
🕒 How Long Does It Take?
- ✅ With us: 8–10 weeks on average
- ❌ On your own: 6+ months with a high chance of delays
Our legal partners handle everything:
- Communication with DRV
- Legal paperwork and translations
- Escrow payouts
- Troubleshooting delays or rejections
🏦 Do I Need a German Bank Account?
No. We pay your refund into a secure escrow account held by a licensed German law firm. The funds are then transferred to any account worldwide — including Canada, or even to a trusted third party.
✈️ Can I Return to Germany After Receiving a Refund?
Yes. Your refund is for past contributions only. If you return to Germany for work, a new pension account will begin. Your refund does not impact future visas, jobs, or benefits.
📄 Required Documents
- Canadian passport
- German pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer)
- Deregistration certificate (Abmeldebescheinigung) if available
💰 What Does It Cost?
We operate on a no-risk model. Our 9.75% success-based fee covers:
- ✅ All legal handling and filings
- ✅ Translations and admin
- ✅ Full English support
- ✅ VAT and escrow transfer
You pay only after the refund is approved and sent to your account.
👥 Canadian Client Story
"I didn’t think it would work, but I received over €15,000 back! The team handled everything. Highly recommended for Canadians who worked in Germany."
— Emily R., Toronto
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I’m already back in Canada?
Yes. You must be living outside the EU to apply.
Will the refund be taxed in Canada?
The refund isn’t taxed in Germany. For Canadian tax treatment, consult a local accountant.
What if I had gaps in employment or worked freelance?
Partial months still count. Voluntary contributions may be partially refundable.
How do I know if I contributed for more than 60 months?
Each calendar month with at least one workday usually counts. Unemployment and parenting periods may also count.
What if I plan to return to Germany later?
No problem. Your future employment starts a new pension record.
✉️ Still Have Questions?
Use our free calculator or reach out to our team for help.
Latest Reviews
Maryam Berijanian
DEC/14/2024
I didn't have to worry about anything
I am happy with my choice. They provided fast and smooth service at a reasonable price, which was lower than their competitors. I can only imagine how much of a nightmare it would have been to handle everything myself, but with their service, I didn’t have to worry about anything. They were very punctual, well-organized, and made everything clear.
BRAAAVO!!
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Petar Markovic
DEC/12/2024
Trustworthy and reliable service provider
Christian was very professional and efficient.
And also a trustworthy and reliable service provider.
I would recommend them to anyone who previously worked in Germany and is not entitled to a pension.
Read on
OCT/30/2024
Smooth and kept me updated
They helped me get back my pension refund. The process was smooth and they kept me updated me all through the way. I’ll always recommend their services to anyone seeking to claim their pension benefits after leaving Germany. Thanks for the good work!
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Sarah Zou
OCT/28/2024
Received the funds back in 2 months
Couldn't have been easier. Filled in a few forms, and that was it. Christian was so helpful and I received the funds back in 2 months. 100% recommend!
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Daniel Hayter
OCT/18/2024
Very quick and helpful
Christian helped me get a refund back for the Germany Pension payments I made. He was very quick to respond and very helpful throughout.
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SEP/27/2024
The most efficient and effective part of my German experience
Best experience ever! Had my money in less than two months! Possibly the most efficient and effective part of my German experience. Julia was a joy to work with.
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SEP/19/2024
Impeccable, fast, easy
Just an impeccable service. I didn't even really know I could get this back until I saw something in a social media feed about expats recovering German pensions. The process with German Pension Refund was fast, easy and saved me delving back into German bureaucracy with Google translate and my pretty sub standard German language skills; they took care of everything and sent me all the documentation (and quality translations of those) throughout the process. Happy to report the good reviews are legit and I highly recommend this service of you need to recover pension paid in Germany. Thanks so much to Julia and the team!
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Steeve Bjornson
MAR/23/2024
The whole way through I received update emails
I was dreading having to go through the bureaucracy to get my German pension refund. But these people made it very easy.
The process takes a while but the whole way through I received update emails.
They were recommended by a friend and now I would gladly recommend them too!
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Neba Funwi-Gabga
AUG/10/2024
Excellent service...kept me informed throughout
Excellent service. They kept me informed throughout the process and successfully got my refund. Highly recommended!!
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Helping Canadians reclaim German pension refunds since 2015.