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Germany - Japan| German Pension Refund | All Rights Reserved
Am I Eligible for a German Pension Reimbursement as a Japanese Citizen?
Under the German‑Japanese Social Security Agreement, Japanese nationals can recover their pension payments under the following rules:
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Japanese citizens living outside Japan:
If you live outside Japan, you can apply for a pension refund. There are no extra requirements besides meeting the general criteria (residing outside the European Union/United Kingdom and at least 24 months since your last contribution to the German pension insurance).
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Japanese citizens living in Japan:
While you live in Japan, your German pension balance must not hold more than 59 months of contributions to be eligible for a refund. Once you have contributed for 60 months to the German pension fund, you won’t qualify for a pension refund but you can claim a retirement pension when you reach the German retirement age.
Check Your Status—Completely Free
Unsure whether you qualify? Use our no‑cost eligibility tool. Many providers charge a fee for this basic check, but we don't. Whatever the result, we’ll explain your personal situation clearly.
Service offered exclusively to non‑EU citizens.
Find Out If You Can Get Your Pension Contributions Back—It’s Free.
Office building Rentenversicherung, Berlin | The German statutory pension insurance | All Rights Reserved
How Can I Know Whether I’ve Hit 60 Contribution Months?
When calculating the months of contributions paid into the German pension system, you should take into account that in Germany, even if you only work a single day in a month, it counts as a monthly contribution. This applies to times when you were employed, made voluntary payments, took parental leave, or received unemployment benefits.
For example, if you only worked one day in June, it will add one more month of contributions to your balance. This means that the German pension office will count one full month, even for a very short period of work.
When Can I Return to Work in Europe After Filing My Refund Claim?
As a Japanese citizen, you may accept a new job anywhere in Europe the very next day after your refund application is submitted. Even if the refund claim is still processing, your new employment and residence status will not affect the eligibility of the claim.
What will my total German pension refund amount be?
On average, you can expect a pension refund of around €11,800. However, the exact amount will depend on your personal situation. Typically, refundable pension contributions include:
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100% of the mandatory German pension contributions that were deducted from your salary during your time working in Germany.
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50% of the voluntary pension contributions that you made, such as for freelance or self-employed work.
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Any adjustments made due to pension equalization following a divorce before a German court can either increase or decrease your pension refund.
German pension contributions have been deducted at a rate of 9.3% of your monthly gross salary since 2018, with a cap (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) of €8,050 per month in 2025. If your income exceeds this amount, the portion of your income above the cap is not subject to contribution deduction.
What Fees Are Associated with the Refund Process?
Our service charge is a straightforward 9.75% of the refunded amount. This fee includes VAT and covers all external legal costs. There are no unexpected charges or hidden fees. The best part is that you only pay the fee once your pension refund has been processed and transferred to you. No upfront payment is required.
Do I need a German bank account to receive my pension refund?
No, you do not need a German bank account to receive your pension refund. The refund is processed through a secure escrow account managed by a German law firm, which ensures both the security and speed of the transfer. The pension refund will then be sent to your preferred bank account, no matter where it’s located, and in the currency of your choice. This process minimizes the cost of transaction and currency conversion fees.
How long does it take for Japanese citizens to receive a German pension refund?
At our service, we prioritize speed and efficiency. We’ve streamlined the entire process to ensure that the pension refund is completed in less than 8 weeks on average. This is significantly faster than the 6+ months it could take if you were handling the process yourself. Thanks to our deep understanding of German bureaucracy and administrative procedures and our direct communication with the German pension office, we can process refunds much more efficiently.
Claim Your German Pension Refund Today
Hayao Shizuki
OCT/09/2024
The experience couldn't be better
The experience with Germany Pension Refund couldn't be better. German bureaucracy can be daunting, and from the beginning, Christian from GPR clarified the steps of the pension refund process, what would be needed from me, and how long I could expect it to take. He gave precise answers to all the detailed questions I asked and even followed up after the process was completed to let me know that my private data had been safely deleted. Thank you, Christian and team, it was honestly a pleasure to work with such professionals!
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Junichi Mizuno
MAR/01/2024
I was a little nervous at the beginning...outcome has been great
Julia and her team provided me the excellent service by answering questions smoothly and steadily. I was a little nervous to use this kind of service at the beginning, but the outcome has been great. I recommend this company to anyone who want to avoid the long process and the complicated documentations.
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JAN/03/2024
A pleasure to work with from start to finish... I highly recommend!
Johannes was a pleasure to work with from start to finish! He kept me updated throughout the process and was quick to answer any questions I had. I highly recommend Johannes and his team!
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Vedant Gandhi
DEC/26/2023
Timely updates...100% safe and secured refund process
The process is really smooth. Though it takes time due to beurocratic challenges but Johannes and his team takes you hand to hand with the whole process. timely updates about the process was given. And 100% safe and secured refund process. Thanks for the amazing services.
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Divya Agarwal
DEC/23/2023
Very smooth and hassle free
They helped me with the refund process. Made the process very smooth and hassle free
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Mulewa Johychim
DEC/22/2023
I got my refund sooner than I expected. They did all the hustle!
Wooow! Germany Pension Refund is sure deal. If you are out there looking for how you can claim your pension refund after having worked in Germany, please don't go anywhere else but choose Germany Pension Refund to do almost everything for you while you are relaxing in your home country. Guys, I'm being honest! I'm not marketing for GPR but I'm sharing from my recent experience. I got my refund sooner than I expected. They did all the hustle! They're very professional and they guide you in every step.
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Gerald Lontabo
DEC/20/2023
6 star service
Thanks for german pension… for very good experience procecing my refund… their very acomadate their clients i will give them 6 star service….
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DEC/19/2023
A+ experience...fantastic providing great communication
Honestly an A+ experience. I put off getting my pension back for so long due to the amount of effort it would require (not to mention the language barrier!).
Johannes was fantastic providing great communication and explaining how it all works. Even checking in once a month to let me know of the current status - all the way right up to me received the payment.
Thanks again!
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Wagner Fornasari
DEC/19/2023
Professional and transparent
Completely professional and transparent process. Service without excessive bureaucracy and within the promised time.
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Hosky
DEC/18/2023
Processed in under two months at a reasonable cost
Highly recommended. Refund was processed in under two months and at a reasonable cost. Thanks Christian and the team!
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DEC/07/2023
Transparent from beginning to end
Straightforward, and transparent from beginning to the end. Very nice.
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Starting your claim is simple and fast—taking just 5 minutes. With an average pension refund of €11,800, it’s definitely worth checking if you're eligible.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by—take action now and start the process today!
German Pension Contribution Refund
Our service is Easy, Quick and Secure.
Thanks to our years of experience, we know exactly how to speed up the processing time of your German Pension Refund and we make sure that you enjoy a smooth, pleasant, and uncomplicated premium refund.
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We provide Free Eligibility check - do not hesitate to claim your refund.
Feel free to Contact Us regarding your German pension refund, eligibility, residency, waiting period, or any other questions that might arise reading through our refund information. We are here for you.
