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🇺🇸 German Pension Refund for U.S. Citizens
If you’re a U.S. citizen who previously worked in Germany and paid into the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, you may be entitled to a refund of your pension contributions. We help you claim your refund fast, securely, and without any upfront payment. Our service is trusted by expats globally and based in Berlin since 2015.
✅ Average refund: €24,600
✅ Processing time: 8 weeks
✅ No German bank account required
✅ 100% digital and legal support included
✅ Eligibility for U.S. Citizens
You may qualify for a refund if:
- You are a U.S. citizen
- You worked in Germany for less than 60 months
- At least 24 months have passed since your last pension contribution
- You currently live outside the EU
- You are not receiving a German pension
Note: Unemployment benefits, parental leave, and voluntary contributions also count toward the 60-month rule. Unsure if you're eligible? Use our free tool.
💸 What Will You Receive?
Most U.S. applicants receive an average refund of €24,000, which includes:
- ✔️ 100% of mandatory pension contributions
- ✔️ 50% of voluntary contributions
In 2025, contributions are based on 9.3% of monthly income up to a cap of €8,050 (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze). Income above that cap isn’t subject to pension deductions and does not count toward the refund.
🕒 How Long Does It Take?
- ✅ With us: 8 weeks (average)
- ❌ Filing alone: 6+ months and often delayed due to paperwork errors
Our legal partners handle everything:
- Full communication with DRV
- Document collection, translations
- Escrow payment handling
- Resolution of issues if they arise
🏛️ Do I Need a German Bank Account?
No. Your refund is paid into a secure escrow account held by a licensed German law firm. From there, it is transferred to any account worldwide — including U.S. accounts or even a family member’s account.
📅 Can I Return to Germany or Europe Later?
Yes! Claiming your refund does not impact future:
- Work visas
- Student permits
- Relocation options
You are simply recovering past contributions. Any future employment in Germany will generate a new pension record.
📄 What Documents Are Needed?
- Valid passport
- Deregistration certificate (Abmeldebescheinigung)
- German pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer)
🤝 What Does It Cost?
We only charge if you're successful. Our 9.75% success-based fee includes:
- ✅ Legal handling and filings
- ✅ Translations
- ✅ Customer support in English
- ✅ VAT & all admin costs
👥 U.S. Client Story
"As an American who left Germany after a few years, I had no idea I could get this much back. Germany Pension Refund helped me get over €25,000 — no hassle. I didn’t even need to call the pension office!"
— John M., California
❓ FAQ (U.S.-Specific)
Can I apply if I already moved back to the U.S.?
Yes. In fact, you must be living outside the EU to qualify.
Is the refund taxable in the U.S.?
Germany does not tax the refund. U.S. tax treatment may depend on your filing status. We provide general guidance and recommend checking with a tax advisor.
Can I claim even if I contributed for nearly 5 years?
Yes, as long as your total contributions are under 60 months and you are not entitled to a pension.
How do I know if I’ve hit 60 months?
Even working 1 day in a month counts as a full month. Parenting leave and unemployment periods may also count.
How long after moving can I apply?
You must wait 24 months from your last German pension contribution.
What if I return to work in Germany later?
That’s fine. A new pension account will begin. Your refund does not disqualify you from future contributions.
✉️ Still Have Questions?
Contact our friendly team or use our free refund calculator to see what you could get back.
MAY/10/2025
Lead me every step of the way
Johannes from Germany Pension Refund was super professional and very helpful! He lead me every step of the way and I’m very happy of the result. recommended!
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MAY/02/2025
Payment received very quickly
Quick, easy service to receive your refund. Hassle free, good communication, and payment received very quickly.
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MAY/10/2025
Could not have done this without assistance and diligence
Finally able to get the refund on contributions to German pension. Anna Kliem was great, could not have done this without her assistance and diligence.
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MAR/17/2025
I cannot recommend highly enough
Getting your pension refund is basically the final boss of German bureaucracy (which, for the record, I appreciate in many other facets). I worked in Germany for three years and took German classes, but even after that the prospect of dealing with a multi-step exchange of forms and documents via mail, and requiring an address in Germany no less, was beyond what I was willing or able to deal with.
Thankfully, I didn't have to. I found Germany Pension Refund on an old reliable resource, allaboutberlin.com; that start was all I needed. I reached out via the Germany Pension Refund website and received a response shortly after.
The GPR team graciously answered all of my questions about security, privacy, translation, and the legal steps required to get my refund even before we signed a contract. I worked with Christian specifically, who I cannot recommend highly enough.
I have a few friends who are also interested in recovering their German pension contributions, and will be referring them to Germany Pension Refund without question.
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Audrey Zigmond
JAN/15/2025
Worth every penny
Not to be dramatic, but this agency saved my life. I lived in Germany for just under 3 years, so I was eligible for my pension return. They were able to get me my refund in less than 2 months (the average time is closer to 6 months). Despite my years in Germany, I didn't stand a chance to navigate the bureaucracy, and it was worth every penny. On top of that, they were incredibly compassionate, professional, and friendly. Danke VERY much!!
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JAN/15/2025
Really helpful
Christian who assisted me with my pension refund was really helpful and patiently guided me in getting all the papers needed for me to get it refunded
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Bala Madhan
JAN/01/2025
Refund obtained in the quickest time possible
The service provided by Johannes was extremely professional with updates provided on the process status on a regular basis. The paperwork required for the pension refund process was exact and the processing of the same was done professionally and the refund was obtained in the quickest time administratively possible. I strongly endorse this organization especially Johannes for getting me the refund.
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Heather Day
DEC/20/2024
It took 5 weeks from start to finish
If I could give 100 stars I would. Johannes was the absolute best. Kind, attentive, professional and made the whole process super easy. It only took 5 weeks from start to finish. Thank you for everything!!!
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Recent Reviews
Based in Berlin. Serving U.S. expats worldwide since 2015.