Notes on Individual Rules under the Japan-Germany Social Security Agreement

In case that you work as an employee on board a sea-going vessel entitled to fly the flag of either country,

1. If you are currently compulsorily covered only by the pension system of either country, you will remain subject only to the system.
2. If you would otherwise be compulsorily covered by the pension systems of both countries, you will be subject only to the system of the country in which your employer is located or you ordinarily reside.

In case that you work as a self-employed person on board a sea-going vessel entitled to fly the flag of either country, you will be subject only to the pension system of the country in which you ordinary reside.
Under this rule, you do not need your Certificate of Coverage to be exempt from coverage in either country.

Even if your detachment period is originally expected to be more than 5 years, you will be granted to be exempt from coverage in the country where you are sent to work. In this case, the period you will be exempt from coverage in the country will be for up to 60 calendar months from the date your detachment begins.

If you need to continue to work as a detached worker (or a self-employed person) in the other country for more than 60 calendar months because of the specific reason, you may be granted extension of the period of exemption for up to 36 calendar months. In this case, you will continue to remain subject only to the system in your original country where you are detached from. If your application for the extension is not granted, you will be covered only by the system of the country in which you work during the period exceeding the initial 60 calendar months.

For the purpose of increasing your benefit amounts under the German pension system, any Japanese nationals who have made valid contribution to the German pension system for at least 5 years can voluntarily enroll in the German pension system after they return to Japan. In the same way, any German nationals who have made valid contribution to the Japanese pension system for at least 5 years can also voluntarily enroll in the Japanese National Pension system after they return to Germany. In this case, the 5 years coverage in Japan includes the period under the National Pension (excluding the contribution-exempted period), the Employees' Pension Insurance and the Mutual Aid Pension systems.
If you wish to voluntarily enroll in the other country's pension system, you can submit the application to the social security authority of either country.

German pension benefits will be provided from the month that you satisfy all eligibility requirements for the benefits as long as you file your claim within 3 months after the month that your requirements are satisfied. If you file your claim for the benefits over 3 months, the benefits will be provided starting from the month in which your claim is made.

The German benefits are paid every month.
If you live in Japan, you can choose from following payment options :

1. Direct deposit to your bank account in Japan in Japanese yen
2. Direct deposit to your bank account in Germany in Euro
3. Check in Euro, U.S. dollars or Japanese yen which is sent to your address in Japan

According to the special provision under the Japan-Germany Agreement, if you have at least 6 months totalized coverage periods under the Japanese system (such as the Employees' Pension Insurance system) and German system, you can apply for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments under the Japanese system. Only if your coverage period under the Japanese pension systems is less than 6 months, you are subject to this special provision. And the benefit amounts are calculated according to the proportion of your Japanese coverage period against 6 months of the contribution payment requirement for the Payments.