Claiming Back Pension Contributions
If you worked in Germany and paid into the pension system, you may be able to get that money back after leaving. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.
Who can claim a pension refund?
If you worked in Germany (even as a Werkstudent), you paid into the Rentenversicherung (pension insurance) — roughly 9.3% of your gross salary, with your employer paying another 9.3%.
Who can get a refund:
✅ Non-EU/non-EEA citizens who:
• Have left Germany permanently
• Have waited at least 24 full months after leaving
• Did not pay into the German pension system for at least 60 months (5 years) — if you contributed for 5+ years, you may be entitled to an actual pension instead of a refund
• Are not living in a country that has a social security agreement with Germany (this is complex — see below)
❌ EU/EEA citizens generally CANNOT get a refund:
This is because EU pension coordination rules (EU Regulation 883/2004) ensure that your German pension contributions count toward your pension in your home country. You don't lose them — they accumulate across EU countries and are paid out as a pension when you reach retirement age.
⚠️ Social security agreements:
Germany has bilateral social security agreements with many non-EU countries (USA, Turkey, India, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, and others). If your home country has such an agreement, your German contributions may count toward your home country pension instead of being refundable. Check with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung whether a refund is possible for your nationality.
💰 What you get back:
Only the employee's share (~9.3% of gross salary). The employer's matching contribution is NOT refunded. So you get roughly half of the total pension contributions made during your employment.
Important
The 24-month waiting period is strict. You cannot apply earlier, and the clock starts from the date on your Abmeldebestätigung. Use this time to gather your documents.
Documents you'll need
Start collecting these before you leave Germany — it's much harder to obtain them from abroad:
📄 Form V0901 — 'Antrag auf Erstattung von Beiträgen' (Application for Refund of Contributions). Available in German, English, and several other languages from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) website.
📄 Abmeldebestätigung — proving you left Germany and when.
📄 Passport copy — certified/notarized if possible (but a clear copy is usually accepted).
📄 Sozialversicherungsnummer (Social Security Number) — the 12-digit number from your social security card or pay slips.
📄 Versicherungsnummer — your pension insurance number (often the same as above, starting with a number followed by letters and digits).
📄 Proof of employment — Lohnsteuerbescheinigungen (wage tax certificates), employment contracts, or pay slips showing pension contributions.
📄 Bank details — The DRV can transfer to foreign bank accounts. Provide: account holder name, IBAN (or account number + SWIFT/BIC for non-EU banks), bank name and address.
📄 Proof that you don't hold citizenship of an EU/EEA country — typically your passport is sufficient.
Pro tip: Before leaving Germany, request a Versicherungsverlauf (insurance history) from the DRV. This document shows all your recorded contribution periods. It's much easier to request while you're still in Germany.
How to apply
Step-by-step process:
1️⃣ Wait 24 months after your Abmeldung date. (Use this time to gather documents.)
2️⃣ Download and fill out Form V0901 from the DRV website. The form is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Turkish, and other languages.
3️⃣ Attach all supporting documents (see previous step).
4️⃣ Send everything to:
Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund
10704 Berlin
Germany
Or to the DRV branch responsible for your case (if you know which one). You can also submit via the DRV's online portal if you have an ELSTER certificate or German eID.
5️⃣ Wait for processing. The DRV reviews your application, checks your contribution history, and calculates the refund amount.
6️⃣ Receive the refund by bank transfer to the account you specified.
⏱️ Processing time: Typically 3–6 months, sometimes longer. The DRV processes applications from abroad in batches, and they're not known for speed. Be patient, but follow up if you haven't heard anything after 6 months.
💰 How much to expect:
The refund is your employee share of pension contributions. For a student working as a Werkstudent at €15/hour, 20 hours/week for 2 years, the refund might be roughly €2,000–3,500. For someone who worked full-time, it can be significantly more. The DRV will provide an exact calculation.
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