Altersvorsorgedepot for foreign nationals and cross-border commuters

You do not need a German passport to get the government subsidy. Anyone who lives and works in Germany can claim the same allowances from 2027, including EU citizens and cross-border commuters.

Nationality does not matter

Subsidy without a German passport

What counts is where you live and where you pay tax, not your nationality.

You do not need German citizenship for the Altersvorsorgedepot (Germany’s state-subsidized retirement investment account). The rules put the European freedom of movement for workers into practice and expressly apply to EU citizens as well. What matters is that you live in Germany, work here and are liable to tax here. If that is the case, the same allowances are open to you as to everyone else who is eligible.

  • no German citizenship required
  • up to €540 basic allowance per year
  • €300 child allowance per child
Three situations

Who this opening up matters most for

Three situations in which the Altersvorsorgedepot changes something.

  • EU citizens in Germany
    If you live and work here, the same rules apply to you as to German citizens.
  • Cross-border commuters
    Resident in Germany, working in a neighboring country. Under Riester this situation was often a reason for exclusion; with the Altersvorsorgedepot it no longer is.
  • Planned from 2028
    A subsidy is also set to become possible if you live in another EU or EEA country. The conditions are compulsory membership of the pension system there and unlimited or deemed unlimited tax liability in Germany.

Note: Exactly who is eligible depends on your personal situation. Check your own requirements, and get tax advice if you are unsure.

Commuters in focus

Finally open to cross-border commuters too

Whether you commute to Switzerland, Austria, France or Luxembourg no longer makes any difference. With the Riester pension, most cross-border commuters fell through the cracks, because they work abroad and do not pay into the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, which was the basic requirement for the subsidy there. With the Altersvorsorgedepot that does not matter. All that counts is that you live in Germany and pay tax here. That gives you access to the same subsidized retirement provision as colleagues who work inside Germany.

What changes compared with Riester

The difference is quickly explained. In the past the subsidy was tied to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, and many people working internationally were left out as a result. Today, residence is what counts. If you live in Germany and pay taxes here, you are in, EU citizens included. What used to be a reason for exclusion is, for many, now the way in.

Closer than many people think

Many people believe subsidized retirement provision is only for German citizens. That is not true. If you live here, work here and file a tax return, you usually already meet the main requirements. The proof runs through the usual tax data; no extra application is needed just because of your nationality.

Calculate the subsidy

This is how much subsidy you get

How much the state adds depends on your own contribution and your children, not on your nationality. That is exactly the point here. Set whether you are saving alone or as a couple and how many children are part of the picture, and you will see your possible subsidy per year right away. For EU citizens the same rules apply as for everyone else. It takes less than a minute.

Ihre mögliche Förderung

Familienstand iSingle bekommt 540 € Grundzulage pro Jahr. Bei verheirateten Paaren erhält jeder eigene 540 € — beide AVD-Verträge zusammen also 1.080 €.
Kinder mit Kindergeldanspruch iPro Kind mit Kindergeldanspruch (bis 25 Jahre) gibt es 300 €/Jahr Kinderzulage. Voll bereits ab 25 €/Mo Eigenbeitrag.
0
Monatlicher Sparbetrag iIhr eigener monatlicher Beitrag. Grundzulage anteilig bis 150 €/Mo (1.800 €/Jahr Höchstbeitrag), Kinderzulage voll ab 25 €/Mo. 100 €/Monat
0 €200 €
Mögliche Förderung pro Jahr
Erweiterte Berechnung Mit Einkommen, Rendite, Kosten, Inflation, Riester-Übertrag, ETF-Vergleich Auf die Warteliste Erfahren Sie als Erste:r, welche Anbieter starten

Unverbindliche Modellrechnung, keine Anlageberatung, keine Garantie künftiger Wertentwicklung. Vergangene Wertentwicklungen sind kein verlässlicher Indikator für künftige Wertentwicklungen.

Requirements

Are you eligible for the subsidy?

These points should apply to you:

  • You live in Germany (residence or habitual abode)
  • You have unlimited tax liability in Germany
  • You belong to the group eligible for the subsidy, for example as an employee subject to social security contributions, a civil servant or a self-employed person
  • German citizenship is not required
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

No. The subsidy applies to EU citizens too. What counts is your residence and your tax liability in Germany, not your nationality.

 Yes. People who live in Germany but work in a neighboring country were often excluded from the Riester pension scheme. With the Altersvorsorgedepot, this group is expressly included.

From 2028, a subsidy is also planned for people who live in another EU or EEA country. The conditions are compulsory membership of the pension system there and unlimited or deemed unlimited tax liability in Germany.

 The capital you have saved stays yours. If you move abroad, however, the subsidy and tax consequences can change. In that case, get tax advice before you go.