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German Pension contributions Refund | FAQ's

Here you will find detailed answers to your specific situation, your nationality, where you currently reside, and whether you are eligible for a German Pension Refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

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German Pension Refund for Expats

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Can I claim back my German pension contributions?

Only Non-EU citizens can claim back their German pension contributions if 24 months have passed after the last contribution payment and you currently reside in a Non-EU country.

German citizens and other EU citizens could claim a refund at the age of retirement, if less than 5 years of pension insurance have been paid

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How do I claim my German pension refund?

To get a refund after leaving Germany you must be a Non-EU citizen and you must be living in a non-EU country. Also, 24 months must have passed since your last contribution payment in Germany.

For citizens of the United States, Australia, India, Canada, Albania, Moldova, South Korea, Turkey, and The Philippines the other requirement is that you paid pension insurance for less than 5 years total.

The fastest way to get your German pension refund is to fill up the online claim form. Answer a few simple questions to check if you are eligible, and within 24 hours our Refund Specialists will be in touch with you to start your refund.

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When can I withdraw pension in Germany?

You can withdraw your pension contributions if you are a non-EU citizen when 24 months have passed since your last payment, and you currently live in a non-EU country after leaving Germany.

You can check you eligibility here. After a short time you will be notify regarding your eligibility and rights for a German pension refund.

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How do I check my German pension balance?

You can ask the German pension insurance for your insurance record.

You can do this online https://www.eservice-drv.de/SelfServiceWeb/.

You will need your social insurance number (Sozialversicherungsnummer). The document will be mailed to the address you have registered with the DRV (German Pension Office).

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How much pension refund will I get in Germany?

Pension insurance contribution is currently 9.3% of your gross income. When you get a refund, you will get the same amount back that was taken out of your paycheck.

Only contributions paid by yourself or received through pension equalization in a divorce ruling can be refunded.

You can use our free calculator to find out how much is your German pension refund.

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Is German pension refund taxable?

German pension refunds are not taxable in Germany.

You will receive the full amount without any tax deducted!

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What happens to my pension when I leave Germany?

After leaving Germany, you could either get a refund of your insurance contributions or wait until you reach retirement age and apply for monthly payments.

If you have already contributed for 60 months in Germany, you have qualified for a German retirement pension. Nationals of the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Albania, Moldova, South Korea, Turkey, and The Philippines cannot get a refund after 5 years of contribution.

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Can I close my German pension and take the money out?

Non-EU citizens can close their pension and take the money back out after leaving Germany once 24 months have passed after the last pension payment.

As an additional requirement for a refund you must live in a non-EU country. After receiving a refund, the pension account will be closed and unless re-opened no futher benefits can be received.

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Can I withdraw all my pension?

If you are a non-EU citizen, you can withdraw all your pension after leaving Germany. It is not possible to withdraw only part of it.

To be able to withdraw your pension you must reside in a non-EU country and 24 months must have passed since your last contribution payment.

Please note that citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Albania, Moldova, South Korea, Turkey, and The Philippines cannot withdraw pension after 5 years of contribution payments anymore.

You can check your eligibility here. After a short time you will be notify regarding your eligibility and rights for a German pension refund.

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What happens to my German pension contributions after Brexit?

UK citizens cannot get a refund before reaching the age of retirement. A refund is only possible, if less than 5 years of pension insurance have been paid.

If 60 or more months have been paid, UK citizens can apply for an Interstate Pension from Germany through the Pension Service 11.

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Can we get social security money back Germany?

The answer is YES. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Albania, Moldova, South Korea, Turkey, and The Philippines can only get a refund if you have paid pension insurance for less than 5 years total.

Additional requirements are living in a non-EU country and that 24 months must have passed since the last pension insurance payment.

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Can I get my pension money back if I leave Germany?

After leaving Germany and currently living in a non-EU country, non-EU citizens could get a refund of their mandatory contributions to the German pension fund 24 months after the last insurance contribution payment.

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Albania, Moldova, South Korea, Turkey, and The Philippines make an exception, you can only get a refund if you paid contributions for less than 5 years altogether.

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How Do I Calculate My German Pension Refund Amount?

To calculate the amount of money you will get back (eligibility given) is a simple formula:

Your gross salary of every year you worked (up to a maximum equal to the cap) times the percentage in the corresponding year.

Add the sums together and you have your German pension refund amount.

(You can find the amounts contributed each year in your tax slips (No. 23)).

But before you start looking up caps and percentages, simply use the free calculator that we've built just for you :).

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How Long Does the German Pension Refund Process Take?

You can speed up the process time to under 8 Weeks If you claim your refund online with GermanyPensionRefund.com.

Every refund is processed by a partnering law firm with a direct digital connection with the German pension office (DRV) which allows much faster claiming and processing.

This is one of many reasons why GermanyPensionRefund.com are able to deliver the fastest pension refunds with speedy process times ranging from 2 to 8 weeks while self-submitted claims often take six months and more.

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