Back to Germany

If you are a skilled professional returning to Germany after a longer stay abroad, your prospects of getting a foot back on the ladder are excellent. If you have been seconded to a post abroad, your company will probably refer you to a relocation agency that will give you all the information you need and take care of the most important work. However, if you are planning your return by yourself, there are a few points to consider. Our "Jobs" section has answers to many important questions around issues such as applying for a new job in Germany, social security and the German tax system. For information on family reunification, schools, kindergarten or flat hunting, please consult our "Living in Germany" section and our "Study & vocational training" section. You can obtain advice on open questions or placement support in the run-up to your return and an individual returnee information package from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) here (External link) .

Social security

If your job in Germany is subject to social security contributions, your employer is required to register you with the statutory social security providers (unemployment, pension, health, disability care and accident insurance). Your employer's HR department should do this automatically as soon as you start your job – provided that you and your family have registered with a German health insurance company. Click here (External link)  for additional information on the social security systems in the EU and EFTA member states.

Health and disability care insurance

In 2009, Germany made it mandatory for every person living in the country to take up health insurance, either under the statutory system or from a private provider. So do not forget to register yourself and your family with a healthcare provider as soon as you arrive in Germany. Whether you are eligible for private or statutory healthcare or can choose between the two will depend on the type of insurance you had prior to leaving Germany, on the length of your stay abroad, and on your job in Germany. If you are returning from an EU or an EFTA member state, you should ask your insurance provider to issue form E 104 to you. This form will serve as proof of insurance for the time you had insurance cover under the foreign country's healthcare system. This will help ensure that you can benefit from full coverage as soon as you come back.

Pension insurance

You may be entitled to transfer the pension entitlements you have obtained abroad to Germany. However, this only applies to countries in the EU and the EFTA if you spent at least a year working in those countries. You will need to furnish form PD U1 (External link)  as proof of insurance. Click here (External link)  to go to a register of foreign agencies that can issue form PD U1. If in doubt, contact Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance (External link) ) (External link)  for advice.  

 

Unemployment and unemployment benefits

If you are not taking up employment immediately upon your return to Germany, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You will need to visit your local employment agency (External link)  in person to register. If you are not residing in Germany, you do not have to notify the agency three months prior to the end of your employment. However, this requirement is not waived for those who have been abroad on secondment or working abroad whilst living in Germany. In these cases, you can meet the notification requirement by contacting the agency over the phone, in writing, or online, or you can register immediately upon your return to Germany. Advice on open questions and placement support even before your return can be obtained from the BA's International and Specialised Services (ZAV) at ZAV.Hotline-Germany@arbeitsagentur.de or via telephone: 0049 228 713 1313.

• If you wish to register yourself as jobless, you can call the following number: 0049 911 1203 1010 (without phone charges)
• Or you can use this link
• For additional information on registering as a jobless person, please go to the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

Proof of entitlement to unemployment benefits

If you have been paying into an unemployment insurance scheme in the EU or an EFTA member state, you can transfer these entitlements to Germany. You will need to ask the competent employment agency in your host country for form PD U2 (External link) . Please contact your local employment agency for further information on the portability of benefits from other countries.

Unemployment benefits

As a general rule, those who are unemployed in Germany are only entitled to financial support if they have previously had a job subject to social security contributions in Germany prior to registering themselves as unemployed and filing an application for unemployment benefits. This is why most people returning to Germany are not entitled to unemployment benefits. However, if you do take up employment in a job that is subject to social security contributions after returning to Germany and then become unemployed, any time you have spent working in the EU or an EFTA member state can count towards your entitlement in Germany. However, this will only be the case, if you are able to provide proof of employment for these periods. The exact rules here differ vastly between different countries, which is why you should consult the EURES website (External link)  to find out what proof you can obtain, what you need, and to arrange a meeting with a local EURES advisor. For an overview of the various national rules, consult the European Commission’s website on “Your Rights Country by Country” (External link) . You will also find detailed information in the “Unemployment Benefit & Employment Abroad” (External link)  leaflet. Please contact your local employment agency for further information on the portability of benefits from other countries.

Information on the web