Loading...
The bilateral agreement between Yugoslavia and Germany that still regulates pension rights of the Serbian diaspora in Germany today.
The Social Security Agreement between the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was signed on October 12, 1968 in Belgrade.
The agreement came into force on September 1, 1969 and has been in continuous effect since then. The full text was published in the German Federal Law Gazette (BGBl. II 1969, p. 1437).
The agreement was created during the period of massive arrival of Yugoslav guest workers in Germany (1960s and 1970s) — with the aim of protecting the pension rights of workers who worked in both countries.
1968
Signed in Belgrade
1969
Entered into force
2006+
Continued application to Serbia
After the breakup of Yugoslavia (1991-2006), the question arose as to which new states the Agreement applies. Germany took a pragmatic approach:
Germany continues to apply the 1968 Agreement to Serbia (as legal successor of the SFRY), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Germany signed new bilateral social security agreements with these states that replace the 1968 Agreement.
Administratively processed through the Serbian PIO fund. Service years in Kosovo before independence are recorded through the Serbian system.
The 1968 Agreement covers the following branches of social insurance in both countries. The main focus is on pension insurance, but it also includes other areas:
Combining service, pro-rata calculation, pension export
Fully coveredRecognition of disability, assessment of working capacity
Fully coveredWidow's, widower's and orphan's pension
Fully coveredEmergency care in the other state, planned treatments
Partially coveredPension export — no reduction
For all cases involving service years from former Yugoslavia countries (Serbia, BiH, Montenegro, Kosovo), the responsible authority is DRV Bayern Süd — not your local DRV office.
Address
Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bayern Süd Wittelsbacherstraße 11 86899 Landsberg am Lech
Phone
+49 8191 85-0
Online
Responsibility
All cases with service years from former Yugoslavia (Serbia, BiH, Montenegro, Kosovo), including combining, pro-rata calculation and pension payment.
Your local DRV office can also help
How Serbian and German insurance periods combine to meet pension qualification thresholds.
Read more1968 treaty, totalization of insurance periods, pro-rata pension — how to claim a German pension.
Read moreB and C permits, third-country quotas, and the cantonal application process.
Read moreLast updated: March 2026. Information has been verified against available sources but does not constitute legal advice.