Back to Germany
General
As a skilled worker you have good prospects of finding your feet again in Germany after a longer stay abroad. If you were posted abroad as a seconded employee, your company will support you with a relocation agency for the most important matters. If, however, you have to organise your return yourself, there are a number of things you should bear in mind. In our Jobs section you will find important information on topics such as applications, social insurance and the tax system. Information on topics such as family reunification, school, kindergarten and finding a flat can be found in our “Living in Germany” section of the CareLend Support Centre. We also offer help with open enquiries and an individual returnee information pack to make it easier for you to re-enter life in Germany.
Social insurance
As an employee in Germany who is subject to social insurance contributions such as unemployment, pension, health and accident insurance, you must register with statutory social insurance. Your company’s HR department should consistently arrange this when you take up your new post. An important condition for this is that you and your family are registered with a health insurance fund in Germany. Further information on the social insurance systems within the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can be found here.
Your first payslip will show the amount of social insurance contributions paid. This allows you to check quickly whether your employer is meeting your obligations towards the competent insurance institutions.
Healthcare
Since around 2009 there has been an obligation in Germany for every citizen to have health insurance, regardless of whether the insurance is private or statutory. When you return, you and your family should register with a health insurance fund. Whether you can be insured privately or under the statutory scheme depends on various factors, such as your previous health insurance in Germany, the length of your stay abroad and your future employment in Germany.
If you are returning from an EU, EEA or Swiss country, you should beforehand apply to your insurance company for form E 104. With this form you can prove that you were covered by health insurance in the country concerned.
A helpful tip: As a rule your former health insurance fund, with which you were insured before you emigrated, is responsible. It is best to ask your former health insurance fund how you can obtain cover again.
Pension insurance
Although it is possible to transfer your pension insurance entitlements from abroad, this applies mainly to countries of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland in which you have worked for at least one year. To do this you must prove your insurance periods with form PD U1. A list of addresses of foreign bodies where you can submit the PD U1 can be found here. If you have questions you can obtain individual advice from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance).
Tip: It is advisable to keep all certificates and assessments that confirm your hours of work.
Unemployment insurance
To claim unemployment insurance benefits from EU, EEA or Swiss states in Germany you need the PD U2 document, which is issued to you by the competent foreign employment administration. If you have questions about transferring benefits from another country, it is advisable to contact your local Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency).
Unemployment benefit
If you become unemployed in Germany and previously held employment subject to compulsory insurance, you may be able to apply for financial support. Returnees are as a rule not eligible, however, if they become unemployed after their return. If, however, you take up employment subject to compulsory insurance in Germany and then become unemployed, your periods of work in other European states or states of the EEA or Switzerland may mean that you are entitled to German unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld).
It is important to inform yourself about the differences between the various countries. A good way to do this is the EURES portal, where you can find additional information about neighbouring countries and arrange an appointment with a local EURES adviser. Further guidance on public rules can be found on the European Commission’s “Your rights country by country” page. Concrete information on claiming unemployment benefit and employment abroad can also be found in the leaflet “Arbeitslosengeld und Auslandsbeschäftigung” (Unemployment benefit and employment abroad).
If you have questions about claiming benefits from another country, you can contact your local Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency).