Skip to main content

Voluntary Contributions (Freiwillige Beiträge)

Freiwillige Beiträge (voluntary contributions) are payments into the German pension system (GRV) that you make independently when not mandatorily insured. Minimum contribution is €100.07 per month (2025) [1]. Key strategy for immigrants: if you have 55-59 months of contributions and are leaving Germany, paying up to 60 months (€500-€1,000 total) preserves all your pension rights for life [2].

Who Can Contribute?​

SituationEligible?
Living in Germany, not mandatorily insuredYes
German/EU citizen living abroadYes
Non-EU citizen living abroadNo (with rare exceptions) [3]
Citizen of country with social security agreement living abroadYes — check specific agreement [4]

2025 Contribution Limits​

TypeMonthly Amount
Minimum€103.42 [1]
Maximum€1,497.30 [1]

Strategic Use Cases​

1. Reaching the 60-Month Threshold​

If you have 55 months of contributions and are leaving Germany:

  • Pay minimum (€100.07/month) for 5 months = ~€500 total
  • Result: you preserve pension rights for all 55 months for life
  • Without this, when moving to a country outside EU and without social security agreement, you lose right to refund contributions, and they remain in system without pension payment [2]

2. Maintaining Disability Insurance Rights​

Erwerbsminderungsrente (disability pension) requires mandatory contributions in 3 of last 5 years [5]. Voluntary contributions can bridge short gaps if you pay them immediately after ending mandatory employment.

3. Increasing Future Pension​

Each €100.07 monthly payment yields ~0.024 pension points [6]. At current pension point value of €39.32 (2024), this means ~€0.94/month of future pension per year of contributions — low return compared to ETF investments [7]. Best use of voluntary contributions: qualifying to preserve rights, not capital accumulation.

Process​

  1. Contact Deutsche Rentenversicherung for eligibility confirmation [8]
  2. Submit form V0060 (voluntary insurance application) [8]
  3. Set up payment (monthly or lump sum for the year)
  4. Contributions can be backdated within current calendar year [9]
tip

For reaching the 60-month threshold: pay minimum amounts. Point accumulation efficiency is low — the value is in preserving your existing contributions made at high income.

Sources​

  1. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Freiwillige Beiträge, official information on minimum and maximum contribution amounts (2025), https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Beitragszahlung/Freiwillige-Beitraege/freiwillige-beitraege_node.html, accessed January 2025

  2. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Wohnen im Ausland, information on requirements to preserve pension rights when moving abroad, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Ausland/ausland.html, accessed January 2025

  3. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Versicherte im Ausland, conditions for voluntary insurance for non-EU citizens, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Ausland/Versicherte-im-Ausland/versicherte-im-ausland_node.html, accessed January 2025

  4. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Sozialversicherungsabkommen, list of countries with social security agreements, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Ausland/Sozialversicherungsabkommen/sozialversicherungsabkommen_node.html, accessed January 2025

  5. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Erwerbsminderungsrente, requirements for disability pension including 3 out of 5 years rule, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Erwerbsminderungsrente/erwerbsminderungsrente_node.html, accessed January 2025

  6. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Rentenpunkte und Beiträge, methodology for calculating pension points based on contributions, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Rentenpunkte/rentenpunkte_node.html, accessed January 2025

  7. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Aktueller Rentenwert, current pension point value (2024), https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Aktueller-Rentenwert/aktueller-rentenwert_node.html, accessed January 2025

  8. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Antrag auf freiwillige Versicherung, form V0060 and application process, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Online-Dienste/Antragsstellung/antragsstellung_node.html, accessed January 2025

  9. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Beitragszahlung, contribution payment rules including backdating option, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Beitragszahlung/beitragszahlung_node.html, accessed January 2025