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Pension from Germany
1968 agreement, combining service years, proportional share
The 1968 agreement between Yugoslavia and Germany still applies to Serbia. Learn how to combine service years and receive pension from both countries.
What we cover
1Bilateral social security agreement
2Combining service years from both countries
3Proportional pension (pro rata)
4Filing a claim and deadlines
7 min readUpdated:
1968 Agreement — the legal basis of your pension
The social security agreement between the SFRY and the Federal Republic of Germany was signed in 1968 and came into force in 1969. It regulates pension insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance for workers who worked in both countries.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Germany continued to apply this agreement to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and partially to Kosovo (while new bilateral agreements were signed with Croatia, Slovenia and North Macedonia).
1968 Agreement applies
- ✓Serbia (as successor state of the SFRY)
- ✓Bosnia and Herzegovina
- ✓Montenegro
- ✓Kosovo* (administered through the Serbian PIO fund)
New bilateral agreements
- •Croatia — DE-HR agreement (2000)
- •Slovenia — DE-SI agreement (2004)
- •N. Macedonia — DE-MK agreement (2005)
Who handles cases under the Agreement?
All cases under the 1968 Agreement are handled by DRV Bayern Süd based in Landsberg am Lech — not your local DRV office.
Combining service years from both countries
Key advantage of the Agreement: service years from Germany and Serbia are combined (totalization) when determining pension eligibility. This means insurance periods from both countries are added together to reach the minimum threshold.
5 years
Minimum service in Germany (DRV)
60 months of contributions for Regelaltersrente
15 years
Minimum service in Serbia (PIO fund)
General service for old-age pension
Example: worker with 8 yrs in Germany and 12 yrs in Serbia
1
Germany: 8 years ≥ 5 — eligibility exists
Minimum threshold of 5 years in the German DRV system met
2
Serbia: 12 years < 15 — no eligibility without combining
But with combining: 12 + 8 = 20 years ≥ 15 — Serbian pension eligibility!
3
Result: two separate pensions
Germany pays proportionally 8/20, Serbia proportionally 12/20 of the theoretical pension
Check your service records early!
Request a Kontoklärung from DRV and a service record extract from the PIO fund — errors are common, especially for periods from the 1970s and 1980s.
Proportional pension (pro rata)
When pension eligibility is established (directly or through combining), each country calculates a proportional share (pro rata temporis) — the percentage of the theoretical full pension corresponding to the service years in that country.
Example: 20 yrs Germany + 10 yrs Serbia = 30 yrs total
Germany: 20/30 = 66.7%DRV pays 66.7%
Serbia: 10/30 = 33.3%PIO pays 33.3%
Each country pays its share independently. You receive two pensions — nothing is deducted from one to the other.
Pending professional legal review
Concrete example with amounts
Say you worked 20 years in Germany with an average gross salary of EUR 3,000, then 10 years in Serbia. Total qualifying period: 30 years.
German pension: DRV considers all 30 years for eligibility, but pays proportionally — 20/30 (66.7%) of the theoretical pension. With 20 years of contributions at a gross salary of EUR 3,000 per month (Durchschnittsentgelt 2026: EUR 51,944/yr; Aktueller Rentenwert: EUR 40.79/EP), this is roughly EUR 550-590 per month. Values are updated once a year (July) — the actual amount at retirement may be higher or lower.
Serbian pension: The PIO fund considers all 30 years, but pays 10/30 (33.3%) of the theoretical pension. The amount depends on Serbian pension points for those 10 working years.
Total income: two separate pensions from two countries. Nothing is deducted from one to the other.
Pending professional legal review
National pension vs. pro rata
DRV always calculates both amounts: the national pension (based only on German service) and the pro-rata pension (based on total service). The more favorable amount is paid to the pensioner.
Filing a pension claim
The pension claim is filed in the country where you live. If you live in Germany, you file with DRV; if you're in Serbia, you file with the PIO fund. The responsible authority forwards the claim to the other country.
From Serbia
Claim from Serbia
Submit to the PIO fund at the nearest branch or via eUprava:
- ●Completed pension application form (RF-1)
- ●Copy of ID card or passport
- ●Service record from Germany (Versicherungsverlauf)
- ●Birth certificate extract
- ●Apostilled and translated documents — documents guide
From Germany
Claim from Germany
Submit to DRV (DRV Bayern Süd for ex-YU agreement):
- ●Antrag auf Altersrente (R0100) — online or paper
- ●Service record from Serbia (PIO extract)
- ●ID card or passport + Meldebescheinigung
- ●Apostille and translation of documents from Serbia
- ●Bank details (Bankverbindung for payment)
File your claim 3-6 months in advance
Processing claims with foreign service periods takes longer than standard. File at least 6 months before your planned retirement date, as data exchange between DRV and PIO fund can take months.
Taxation of the German pension
If you live in Serbia and receive a German pension, your German pension is taxed in Germany, not in Serbia. This is regulated by the Double Taxation Agreement (DBA) between Serbia and Germany.
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Finanzamt Neubrandenburg
Responsible for all non-resident pensioners receiving German pension from abroad.
Finanzamt Neubrandenburg (RIA), 17041 Neubrandenburg
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DBA Serbia — Germany
The double taxation agreement prevents you from paying tax on the same pension in both countries.
Art. 18 DBA: pensions are taxed in the source state (Germany)
Tax return from Serbia
As a non-resident of Germany, you are required to file a limited tax return (beschränkte Steuerpflicht) with Finanzamt Neubrandenburg. The return can be filed electronically via the Elster portal or through a tax advisor.
Survivor pension (Hinterbliebenenrente)
The 1968 Agreement also covers survivor pensions — the right of the spouse and children to pension after the insured person's death. The same combining rules apply.
Spouse
Widow's/widower's pension (Witwen-/Witwerrente)
Entitlement to 55% (large) or 25% (small) of the deceased spouse's pension. Condition: marriage lasted at least 1 year (exception: accident). The Serbian PIO fund has similar rules.
Children
Orphan's pension (Waisenrente)
Children up to 18 years (up to 27 if in education) are entitled to orphan's pension — 10% (half-orphans) or 20% (full orphans) of the deceased parent's pension.
Survivor pension claim
The survivor pension claim must be filed within 12 months of the insured person's death. Missing the deadline does not extinguish the right, but payment begins only from the date of filing.
Detailed guides
Residence permits
For permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis), at least 60 months of pension insurance are required. Learn more about residence permits. Residence permits.
Documents guide
For the pension application you need certified documents from Serbia. See our documents guide. Documents guide.
Frequently asked questions about pension
Do German service years count for the Serbian pension?
Yes. Under the 1968 Agreement, insurance periods from Germany are combined with Serbian service for determining pension eligibility in Serbia (and vice versa). The pension amount is calculated proportionally (pro rata).
What is the minimum service period for the German pension?
The minimum service period for the Regelaltersrente (regular old-age pension) in Germany is 5 years (60 months). This threshold can also be reached by combining Serbian service years.
Can I receive both German and Serbian pension at the same time?
Yes. If you meet the requirements in both countries, you receive two separate pensions. The German pension is paid by DRV, the Serbian by the PIO fund. The amounts are not deducted from each other.
Where is the German pension taxed if I live in Serbia?
The German pension is taxed in Germany (Finanzamt Neubrandenburg). The double taxation agreement prevents double taxation — you don't have to pay tax on the same pension in Serbia.
Can I receive German pension while living in Serbia?
Yes. The German pension is paid abroad without restrictions. DRV (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) transfers to your German or Serbian bank account. The amount is not reduced because of living abroad. You must submit a life certificate (Lebensbescheinigung) once a year.
What happens to my pension if I move back to Serbia?
You continue to receive your German pension normally — no loss. You also receive your Serbian pension (if eligible). Taxation of the German pension remains in Germany (Finanzamt Neubrandenburg). You need to arrange health insurance in Serbia separately — German health insurance for retirees doesn't apply abroad.
How do I contact DRV Bayern Sued?
DRV Bayern Sued is the responsible German pension fund for Serbia. Contact: DRV Bayern Sued, Am Alten Viehmarkt 2, 84028 Landshut. Phone: +49 871 81-0. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.drv-bayernsued.de. Consultation offices are available across Bavaria.
Can I apply for pension from abroad?
Yes. You can apply for German pension from any country through the responsible pension fund (for Serbia: DRV Bayern Sued). Serbian pension applications from abroad can be submitted through the Serbian consulate or directly to the PIO fund. The 1968 Agreement allows an application in one country to activate the process in both.
Related guides
1968 bilateral treaty
DE-RS social security treaty — what rights it grants, who is covered, and how it's applied.
Read moreTotalization of insurance periods
How Serbian and German insurance periods combine to meet pension qualification thresholds.
Read moreCitizenship
Serbian (by descent), German, dual — how to check what you're entitled to.
Read moreLegal basis and sources
- • Social Security Agreement SFRY–FRG (1968) — BGBl. II 1969, p. 1437
- • Law on Pension and Disability Insurance (Serbia) — Official Gazette RS No. 34/2003
- • SGB VI (Social Code Book Six — statutory pension insurance)
- • Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bayern Süd: www.drv-bayernsued.de
- • PIO Fund of the Republic of Serbia: www.pio.rs
- • DBA Serbia–Germany (Double Taxation Agreement)
Last updated: March 2026. Information has been verified against available sources but does not constitute legal advice.
Pending professional legal review
This content is pending legal review and may change.