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HOME / CONTRACTING COUNTRIES / German Pension Insurance Claim | South Korea
German Pension Refund Eligibility |South Korea
The information below is for South Korean citizens who previously worked in Germany and contributed to the German pension system.
Germany - South Korea | German Pension Refund | All Rights Reserved
German Pension Refund Eligibility for South Korean Citizens
As an South Korean Expat, while you were employed in Germany, each month a percentage of your gross salary was paid to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung - the statutory German Pension Insurance - as a pension insurance contribution for your retirement pension.
But what happens to your contributions now, after you have left Germany? Can you get that money back?
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The German Social Security Code (§210 SGB VI) regulates the reimbursement of pension contributions from the German Pension Insurance in general, while the Social Security Agreement between Germany and South Korea defines how this law applies to you.
Rule of Thumb For South Koreans:
As an South Korean you can be reimbursed only if you have worked in Germany for less than 5 years and since your last contribution in Germany 24 months have passed.
Can South Korean Citizens Claim a Refund of their German Pension Contributions?
After leaving Germany you are generally eligible for a German pension refund, if...
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a) you are not allowed to keep paying German Pension contributions (voluntary insurance) where you currently live, and...
b) at least 24 months have passed since the last pension contribution payment in Germany.
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If you are allowed to pay voluntary insurance (a), is defined by the agreement with your home country.
Office building Rentenversicherung, Berlin | The German statutory pension insurance | All Rights Reserved
Are South Korean Citizens Allowed to Pay Pension Insurance Contributions After Leaving Germany?
The Social Security Agreement between Germany and South Korea answers that question:
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If you still live in the EU or the United Kingdom, you are allowed to keep paying pension contributions to Germany.
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Also, if you have already paid contributions for at least 60 months you are allowed to keep paying German Pension Contributions from anywhere in the world where you live. In that case you cannot get a refund, because you have qualified for old age pension from Germany.
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In other words:
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As an South Korean citizen, you can only get a pension refund if you have not qualified for retirement pension yet, and you live outside of the EU or the United Kingdom.
Social Security Agreement:
Based on the Social Security Agreement between Germany and South Korea you are allowed to grow your German pension from anywhere in the world (voluntary insurance) after leaving Germany if you have qualified for old age pension.
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As a South Korean Expat in Germany, after 60 monthly contributions you qualify for a retirement pension.
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If you have not qualified, but still live in the EU or the United Kingdom, you are allowed to pay towards the 60 months to qualify, too.
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If you have not qualified for pension, and you live outside the EU or the United Kingdom, you could be eligible for a pension refund, 24 months after the last contribution was paid.
​How Long Does a German Pension Refund for South Korean Citizens Take?
The German pension authority is supposed to provide a decision on your claim within 6 months from submission.
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If after 6 months you have not received a decision (Bescheid) from the authorities in Germany, our specialists will take legal action based on the Social Court Act (§88 SGG) and sue the authority for inaction. The court will then force the pension office to act.
How We Speed Up the Refund Process:
GermanyPensionRefund.com is able to provide you with the fastest average process times of 8 weeks while others have to wait six months or longer.
A German law firm escrow account will be provided, which makes your refund process most Easy, Quick, and Secure. The correspondence happens within days, and our legal specialists know exactly how to speed up the process for you.
How Much Can I Claim From My German Pension Insurance?
While you were employed in Germany, 9.3%* was deducted from your gross salary up to the income threshold and transferred to the German Pension Insurance.
As an South Korean citizens you can claim your pension insurance contributions based on the rules explained above.
Use our free reimbursement calculator to get an estimate of your possible premium reimbursement.
* Current rate since 2018, different in previous years
Nurubahoe Lee
FEB/25/2024
The best of this service for sure!
Very friendly, kind, and prompt service. You can expect the best of this service for sure!
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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….
Posted on
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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Eric Ferguson
DEC/14/2023
Rate was reasonable...very responsive to any questions
I had a great experience working with Christian in helping me to process my refund. I was told the whole process could take up to 6 months, but in my case, the turnaround from application to deposit took around one. Their rate was reasonable and Christian was very responsive to any questions. Would definitely recommend this service to anyone looking to get their German pension refund.
Posted on
DEC/07/2023
Transparent from beginning to end
Straightforward, and transparent from beginning to the end. Very nice.
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Jeevan Gudase
DEC/05/2023
Everything on point and clearly communicated
It was great experience working with Johannes Kühn. Everything on on point and clearly communicated by email.
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German Pension Contribution Refund
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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.
