Pension recognition

Mutual recognition of state pensions from outside Germany

Before you came to Germany, you were probably paying into a state pension scheme in your home country. If you plan on staying in Germany long term, even if you leave before retirement age, you will build up a 2nd pension through your contributions here.

The level of state pensions is normally decided by the number of years that you contributed, with it being vital to meet the minimum number of contributions to ensure a full pension.

If you have paid contributions in two or more countries, it may be impossible to meet number of the minimum contributions, however there is help at hand in the form of mutual recognition treaties. If the country where you have made contributions is in the EU, EEA, or has a treaty with Germany, you simply need to register with the authorities that you have paid contributions elsewhere. When you reach retirement age, the years contributed in each country will then be used to calculate the pro-rata amount you receive in pension payouts from each country.

eg. work in UK for sixteen years, work in Germany for twenty-four you will get a full pension of pro-rata for 16 years from the UK and pro-rata for 24 years from Germany, as you have reached the required number of years (when combining the two), although you did not reach the minimum number of years for contribution in either country that would entitle you to a full pension.

Links:

Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Mutual recognition treaty countries

Deutsche Rentenversicherung: EU and EEA member countries

Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Registration forms for contributions in another member state (DOB up to 1978)

Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Registration forms for contributions in another member state (DOB from 1979)