Collected information and FAQ

Living in Europe, Working in Europe | Health insurance, Pension rights, Unemployment | Germany

On the following pages you can find information for researchers who are returning to Germany after spending a longer period of time researching abroad.

Collected information
Collected FAQ

In the section Information and assistance you can find information on the following topics which are also relevant to returning researchers:

Health insurance

I'm going to Lisbon to do a research project. I'm being awarded a fellowship so I'm not liable for taxation and social security payments. What are my options in relation to health insurance cover? Will my German health insurance scheme take me on again afterwards?

I am going to France for a year as a guest researcher. For years, I have been insured with a German company health insurance scheme. During my stay in France I shall be insured with the DAAD's private group insurance. Do I have to return to the company health insurance scheme when I come back? Is the scheme obliged to take me on again if my subsequent salary is over the limit for mandatory health insurance?

Even if your income is over the limit for mandatory health insurance, the company health insurance scheme is obliged to take you on again if you start working in Germany up to 2 months after your return or if you were insured for at least 24 months out of the 5 years prior to leaving the scheme or at least 12 consecutive months immediately before leaving the scheme.

Pension scheme

Initially, I worked at a German university. I am currently employed by an American university and this year I will start working in Great Britain. I paid or will pay pension contributions in each of these countries. How will the contributions paid abroad be recognised in the German pension scheme when I return to Germany in a few years time?

On principle, pension contributions paid abroad entitle you to a pension in the country in which they have been paid into the pension scheme. Accrued foreign benefits are only credited to the German qualifying period if the qualifying period for a foreign pension has not been fulfilled and there is a social security agreement with Germany. With the USA and Great Britain agreements of this kind do exist.

You can find questions and answers on any other topic in the respective section of "Information & Assistance".

Disclaimer: All the FAQs and the information on which the answers are based are carefully monitored. However, we cannot assume any responsibility for contents. All the contents are of a general nature and cannot deal conclusively with every individual case. They are not necessarily complete, comprehensive or completely up to date. They neither constitute legal advice nor legally-binding information and cannot be a substitute for expert advice.

Last updated: 12 January 2022

Further information

The GSO Leadership Academy
This programme is designed for 25 outstanding researchers of all disciplines who are about to take the next step in their career – as a junior group leader in science or industry, as an assistant or full professor, as founder of a start-up or as someone taking responsibility in a research-related organization. Applicants for the program must currently work outside of Germany and should be interested in working in Germany.
The German Scholars Organization
Returning to Germany
A publication from Research in Germany addressing German researchers abroad who are thinking of returning to Germany. It gives an overview on the most important changes in the German research landscape within the last years and the involved career perspectives.
Research in Germany
Your Europe - Advice
Advice service of the European Commison on issues relating to EU-law in the fields of life, work and travel in the EU.
European Commission