German Pension Contribution Refunds: Frequently Asked Questions

You are eligible if you are a non‑EU and non‑UK citizen, have not paid into German pension for at least 24 months (unless retired), and currently live outside EU/UK. For citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, the Philippines and select others, you must also have fewer than 60 monthly contributions.

Read more on our main refund page.

Any calendar month with one day of paid pension contribution counts fully. Add all months you worked—including parental leave or unemployment credited periods—to see if it totals under 60.

Calculate your refund amount with our free refund calculator.

If you have at least 60 months of German pension contributions, you generally qualify for a German old-age pension. Most non-EU/UK citizens can choose a refund instead of a pension, unless they are citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, the Philippines, or select other countries with a bilateral agreement, where a refund is not possible after 60 months.

See a full list of countries on our main refund page.

Dual citizenship with the EU or UK disqualifies you, even if you never lived there. However, residing anywhere in the EEA but not holding EU/UK nationality is fine—as long as other eligibility criteria are met.

No. All UK nationals worldwide, and anyone residing in the UK, must wait until German retirement age and cannot claim a refund.

Read more about Brexit.

With us: 8 weeks on average. Self‑filing: often takes 6 months or more, with risk of delays.

You’ll need your valid passport, German pension number (Versicherungsnummer), and—if available—deregistration certificate. If you lost it, we can help you deregister or request it in your name.

No German bank required. Refunds are routed via a secure German law‑firm escrow, then sent to your chosen international or local bank in any name you prefer.

Our 9.75% success-based fee includes all legal work, escrow, translations, VAT, and admin. You pay nothing upfront—only after the refund lands in your account.

See our pricing.

No tax is deducted in Germany. Tax implications in your home country vary—please consult a local advisor.

Yes! If you start working again, your pension account reopens and contributions begin anew—claiming your current refund does not prevent future employment or visas.

If you're fully unable to work, you may qualify for a German disability pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente) if you contributed at least once in the last 5 years or if your disability stems from a work accident. If not, you’re still eligible for a refund.

You can claim their refund if they were eligible. But if they met the retirement pension threshold of 5 years, you may be eligible for a widow(er)’s pension.