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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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Over 950 verified five-star reviews in just 3 years
✅ Average refund: €24,600
✅ Processing time: 8 weeks average
✅ 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.
🇺🇸 Recent 5-Star Reviews from U.S. Clients
Here are the latest 10 reviews from Americans who successfully reclaimed their German pension contributions through us.
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Cassandra
NOV/12/2025
Exceptional Support from Start to Finish
Christian and his team were absolutely fantastic to work with! The entire refund process was smoother than I could have ever hoped for. My only regret is not reaching out to them sooner. They provided clear instructions every step of the way, communicated promptly, and made everything effortless. I’ve already received my refund. I’d give them more than five stars if I could!
Read on
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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!
Read on
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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!!
Read on
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NOV/08/2025
Great Work
hervorragend! Great work - super quick. They got me my refund in less than 2 months. Johannes was awesome.
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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.
Read on
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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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Jennifer Schaller
OCT/10/2025
Thank you thank you!
Anyone who's lived in Germany understands how difficult it is to navigate the government systems like pension, especially as a foreigner! Johannes and Germany Pension Refund helped me do exactly that and made it so easy. Thank you thank you!
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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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Tim Tanis
OCT/06/2025
I'm 💯 satisfied!
The service provided was great.
I'm 💯 satisfied.
They stayed on top of the issue and kept me informed of the progress.
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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.
Read on
✉️ Still Have Questions?
Contact our friendly team or use our free refund calculator to see what you could get back.
Based in Berlin. Serving U.S. expats worldwide since 2015.