Altersvorsorgedepot for Expats (2027): Eligibility, and What Happens If You Leave Germany

If you're an expat in Germany, the new Altersvorsorgedepot (launching 1 January 2027) raises one question that German-language guides rarely answer clearly: what happens if I don't stay in Germany forever? This article focuses on the two things expats actually worry about — eligibility and leaving the country — in plain English.

For a full explanation of what the Altersvorsorgedepot is and how the subsidies work, see our main guide: Altersvorsorgedepot Explained in English. Here we go deeper on the expat-specific parts.

Am I even eligible as a foreigner?

Yes, very likely — and this surprises many people: eligibility is based on your employment status in Germany, not your citizenship or passport.

The core requirement is that you are compulsorily insured (pflichtversichert) in the German statutory pension system (gesetzliche Rentenversicherung). If you are employed in Germany and paying into that system, you are generally eligible for the Altersvorsorgedepot and its subsidies — regardless of nationality. An Indian software engineer, a Brazilian nurse, or an American teacher working in Germany all qualify on the same basis as a German citizen.

Self-employed people, freelancers and the self-employed can also receive the subsidies under the new rules.

The big expat question: what if I leave Germany?

This is where it matters most — and where the answer splits sharply depending on where you move. The key line is whether you move within the EU/EEA or to a third country.

Moving within the EU / EEA

If you move to another EU country or the EEA (which also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway):

• You do not have to repay the subsidies you've already received. They are legally protected.
• You can leave the depot in place, contribution-free, and the capital keeps growing through your ETFs.
• New subsidies typically pause if you stop being subject to unlimited German tax liability — but nothing is clawed back retroactively.

One honest caveat: the extended rules that let people living elsewhere in the EU keep receiving new subsidies are only planned to take effect from 2028. The product launches in 2027, so this specific area is still being finalised — check the current state before relying on it.

Moving to a third country (outside the EU/EEA)

If you move permanently to a country outside the EU/EEA (for example back to the US, India, or the UK):

• This is usually classified as a förderschädliche Verwendung ("subsidy-harmful use"), which means the subsidies and tax advantages you received generally have to be repaid.
• But — and this is the crucial part — your capital stays yours. The money you paid in and, importantly, the investment growth your ETFs generated remain in the depot. Only the state's help is reclaimed, not your savings and their returns.

So leaving Germany doesn't make your money disappear. In the worst case (a third-country move), you hand back the government bonuses, but you keep what you contributed and what it grew into.

Temporary moves, secondments and coming back

• Secondment (Entsendung) by a German employer: if your German employer sends you abroad temporarily, you usually remain insured in the German statutory pension system — which means you keep your full eligibility and subsidies while away.
• Returning to Germany: if you leave, pause the depot, and later come back and resume paying into the German system, you can resume contributions and subsidies. The depot doesn't vanish while you're gone.

Is it worth starting if I'm not sure I'll stay?

A fair question, and the honest answer is "it depends on your horizon and where you'd go."

• If you expect to stay in Germany for 10 years or more, the Altersvorsorgedepot can be a strong deal even accounting for a possible later departure — the subsidies and tax-free growth during your German years do real work.
• If you might move within the EU/EEA, the downside of leaving is mild — subsidies aren't clawed back.
• If you're likely to move to a third country soon, weigh the fact that you may have to repay the subsidies. In that case a plain, flexible ETF savings plan — which you can access and take anywhere — may suit you better than a locked, subsidised pension depot.

There's no single right answer. The under-25 starter bonus (€200) and the child allowance (€300 per child) can tip the maths for younger expats and families; the lock-until-retirement and the third-country repayment rule can tip it the other way for the very mobile.

If you'd like a first sense of how a subsidised pension depot fits alongside a flexible ETF plan in your situation, our free questionnaire gives you a starting picture in a few minutes — no sign-up, no ads.

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This is educational material, not tax, legal, immigration or financial advice. The rules for the Altersvorsorgedepot — especially for people living abroad — are still being finalised before the 2027 launch (with some EU provisions planned for 2028). Cross-border cases depend on double-taxation treaties and your personal situation; consult a qualified adviser before deciding.