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Do I Qualify for a German Pension Refund as an Indian Citizen?
How to get a German Pension Refund online | Germany Pension Refund | All Rights Reserved
The Social Security Agreement between Germany and India outlines the eligibility criteria for claiming a pension refund.
As an Indian citizen, you can claim a refund on your German pension contributions if you have worked in Germany for less than 5 years. This includes any periods where you received unemployment benefits or maternity/paternity pay.
Likewise, at least 24 months must have passed since your last pension contribution in Germany, and you must live outside the European Union.
Special refund rules apply for non-Indian nationals living in India:
• If your home country does not have a social agreement with Germany, you cannot claim a refund. Only Indian nationals and nationals of contracting states can apply for a refund while living in India.
Eligibility Check - 100% Free
If you’re still unsure whether you qualify for a refund as an Indian citizen, you can use our FREE eligibility check. Whereas some companies charge their customers to check their eligibility for a refund, we don’t.
Whether you’re eligible or not, we’ll take the time to explain your situation.
Find out if you qualify for a German pension insurance refund for free.
This service is available exclusively for non-EU citizens.
Office building Rentenversicherung, Berlin | The German statutory pension insurance | All Rights Reserved
How do I know if I have reached 60 months of contributions?
Even if you only worked one day in a month, the German pension office considers this as one full month of contributions.
For example, if you started work on January 31st, this one-day payment is considered your contribution for the month of January.
Therefore, your contribution count would be one month.
Periods of employment, voluntary insurance, receipt of unemployment benefits, and parenting/paternity count towards the 60 months.
When can I return to work in Europe after claiming a refund?
To qualify for a refund, you have to be eligible at the date of submission. As an Indian citizen, when you leave Germany and 24 months have passed since your last contribution, you can claim your refund and return to live and work in Europe the day after after you submit your refund claim.
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Even if your German pension refund is still being processed at the time you start work in Europe, the outcome of your claim will not be affected.
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Of course, you can return to work earlier, but then you might have to wait for another 24 months after leaving the EU before you can claim your refund and the new periods are added to the existing periods in your pension account which could cause you to loose refund eligibility in general.
How much will my total refund amount be?
The average pension refund amounts to €11,800. However, the exact sum you'll receive depends on your individual situation. Refundable contributions include:
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100% of the pension contributions withheld from your salary during employment in Germany.
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50% of voluntary contributions made, such as those from freelance work.
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Adjustments for contributions added or deducted due to pension equalization following a divorce before a German court.
Since 2018, pension insurance contributions have been set at 9.3% of your gross earnings, up to a monthly income threshold (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze). In 2025, this threshold is €8,050. Earnings exceeding this limit are not subject to contributions.
How much does it cost to claim my refund?
We charge a service fee of 9.75% of the refunded amount, which covers VAT and all external legal expenses. There are no extra charges or undisclosed costs. Our success-based approach means you pay nothing unless your refund is successfully processed - payment is only required after you receive your refund.
Do I need a German bank account to claim my refund?
For security, the pension refund process goes through an escrow account, managed by a German law firm. This approach speeds up the receipt of your funds, while also minimizing transaction and currency conversion fees.
The funds will be transferred to your bank account in the currency you choose. You don't need a German bank account, and the account can be held in someone else's name.
How long does it take to process a German pension refund for Indian citizens?
At Germany Pension Refund, we know that our customers want their money as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve developed an efficient, streamlined process that takes only 8 weeks on average (compared to the 6+ months it takes for self-submitted claims).
We have expert knowledge of India as a contracting state for German pension refunds, and we have a deep understanding of German administrative processes. Our partner law firms have a direct connection to the German pension office, enabling faster claims.
Claim Your Pension Refund Today
With our streamlined process and professional advice, it takes less than 5 minutes to get started. With an average refund amount of €11,800, there’s nothing to lose.
MAR/28/2025
Applied beginning of March, refund by end of March
I applied on beginning of Mar 2025, and received the refund by end of Mar 2025 itself. I tried applying myself before, and did not succeed. Huge thanks to Julia Kim & team who co-ordinated to help get the pension refund.
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MAR/06/2025
Easy, hassle-free
I was initially skeptical about scams, but Christian Kliem clarified everything by answering all my questions.
Great service, great experience! The process is incredibly easy—you only need to submit a few documents, and GERMANY PENSION REFUND takes care of the rest.
I highly recommend GERMANY PENSION REFUND to anyone looking for a smooth and hassle-free experience.
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MAR/05/2025
Clear steps, regular updates
Johannes assisted me in getting my pension refund without the need for a single call. The process was straightforward, with clear steps and regular updates. I received my refund within two months, directly in my Indian account. I highly recommend this service.
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MAR/04/2025
Straightforward, smooth
Johannes was really helpful! The process was straightforward, and everything was executed smoothly. Highly recommended
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FEB/13/2025
Charges are way less than other service providers
I must say a big thank you to the team from Germany Pension Refund. You are very professional and dealt with the pension refund without any issues. Your charges are way less comparing to the other service providers which is so beneficial for a lot of customers.
Timely updates and clear communication helped to gain confidence. Your commitment to customer service is commendable. I want to call out Julia for her support in ensuring the refund is done very smoothly. Keep up the great service you are providing. Thank you once again.
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Mohammed Farhaan
FEB/07/2025
Refund in less than 4 weeks
Absolutely the best. I got my pension refund in less than 4 weeks. They pretty much took care of everything.
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JAN/28/2025
Seamless and transparent
I am really impressed with the level of service I received from Germany Pension Refund.
The process was seamless and transparent. I was informed about each and every step during the entire processing which is quite informative for me and feel confident about the work done.
I would definitely recommend this company to all. You won’t find this kind of service which is safe and convenient anywhere else.
Best of luck and Thank you!
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JAN/25/2025
Quick and easy
They helped me with the pension refund and it was a quick and easy process.
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JAN/25/2025
Smooth, fast, transparent, highly satisfied!
Very smooth, fast, and transparent process. Johannes was highly communicative and answered all our queries patiently. We received our refund even earlier than we expected. Highly satisfied with the service!
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JAN/22/2025
Extremely satisfied, remarkably quick
I am extremely satisfied with the service provided by Germany Pension Refund. The entire process was very smooth, and everything was completed remarkably quickly. Thank you, Germany Pension Refund! I highly recommend this service.
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JAN/21/2025
Efficient, professional and thorough
It was a good experience working with Christian Kliem from German Pension Refund for my pension refund process. The whole process was completed within two months.
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JAN/14/2025
Hassle free, quick, refund within a month
Thank you for providing hassle free service. It was very quick and I was able to get the refund within a month. I was initially skeptical about the genuineness of the service. But, later on I must say it turned out to be a good decision to delegate it to you guys. Thanks again for helping me through out this process.
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JAN/14/2025
Proactive, reliable, fantastic!
I had an excellent experience with German Pension Refund! The entire process was smooth and hassle-free. I received my refund within just 1.5 months, which was faster than I expected.
A special thanks to Johannes Kühn for his proactive and professional assistance throughout the process. He kept me updated at every step and ensured everything was handled efficiently.
I highly recommend German Pension Refund to anyone looking for a reliable and effective service. They are doing a fantastic job!
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If you are curious to read more about working in Germany and India, you can find more information from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung here.
