Claim your ZVK refund online
If approved, the refund is paid directly to the bank account you provide. CompanyPension does not receive or hold your pension money.
A ZVK refund is separate from a DRV refund and separate from bAV cash-outs.
- A German state pension refund through Deutsche Rentenversicherung does not automatically refund your ZVK contributions.
- If you paid into a Zusatzversorgungskasse through a German employer, you may need a separate ZVK refund process.
Can I get a ZVK refund after leaving Germany?
Possibly. If you worked for a German public-sector, municipal, church, healthcare, university or similar employer, you may have paid into a ZVK or Zusatzversorgungskasse.
A ZVK refund can be possible if the scheme-specific refund rules are met. In many ZVK systems, this usually depends on whether you left the supplementary pension scheme without reaching the required waiting period for a later pension. Several public-sector supplementary pension systems use a 60-month waiting-period framework, but the exact rule depends on the specific ZVK. For some newer ZVK cases, especially contribution periods from 2018 onward, a 36-month framework may be relevant instead.
What is ZVK?
ZVK usually stands for Zusatzversorgungskasse.
A Zusatzversorgungskasse is a supplementary pension scheme connected to certain German employers. You may see ZVK if you worked in the public sector, municipal sector, church sector, healthcare, education or another employer group that used a supplementary pension scheme.
If your document says ZVK, Zusatzversorgung or Zusatzversorgungskasse, you are usually looking at a separate refund case — not a bAV cash-out.
You may see ZVK on:
- ZVK pension letters
- Zusatzversorgungskasse documents
- annual statements
- old payslips
- employer documents
- insurance or membership numbers
- refund or contribution documents
This page is for users with ZVK documents
This page is for you if you worked in Germany and may have paid into a Zusatzversorgungskasse.
It is especially relevant if:
- you worked for a public-sector, municipal, church, healthcare, university or similar employer your documents mention ZVK, Zusatzversorgung, Zusatzversorgungskasse or a regional supplementary pension scheme
- you left Germany and want to know whether your ZVK contributions can be refunded
- you already received your DRV refund and want to check whether your ZVK pension is separate
- you are not sure whether your document is ZVK, VBL, DRV, bAV, VddB or VddKO
- you want a guided English online process instead of dealing with German pension forms yourself
What can be refunded?
A ZVK refund usually concerns eligible employee contributions or employee-paid parts of a supplementary pension scheme.
The exact amount and eligibility depend on the specific ZVK, the scheme rules, your contribution periods and whether you already have or can still build a later pension entitlement.
CompanyPension guides you through the questions needed to check the right ZVK refund process.
In plain English, the result can depend on:
- which Zusatzversorgungskasse you paid into
- how many contribution or insurance months you have
- whether you reached the waiting period for a later ZVK pension
- whether you left the employer and the scheme
- whether earlier contribution periods with another supplementary pension institution are recognised
- whether the refund application is still allowed under the scheme rules
For users, the practical question is simple:
Did you leave the ZVK system before reaching the waiting period for a later pension?
CompanyPension checks this through the online flow based on your ZVK documents, contribution periods and employer information.
Does the 60-month rule matter for ZVK refunds?
Often, yes. Many supplementary pension schemes use a waiting period for later pension entitlement. If the waiting period has already been fulfilled, a refund may no longer be available because the person may instead have a later pension entitlement.
For many older ZVK cases, this waiting period is 60 months. For some newer contracts or contribution periods from 2018 onward, a shorter 36-month framework may apply, similar to the updated VBL rules. The exact rule depends on the specific Zusatzversorgungskasse and your contribution history
Is ZVK the same as VBL?
No. ZVK and VBL are not the same institution.
A bAV is a German company pension from an employer. bAV cases can involve contract types within bAV, such as Direktversicherung, Pensionskasse or Pensionsfonds, or provider-based pensions from institutions such as Allianz, AXA, Swiss Life, ERGO, R+V, Nürnberger, HDI, BVV or others.
ZVK is a supplementary pension scheme. If a refund is possible, the process is usually about eligible contribution reimbursement, not a bAV lump-sum cash-out.
Your DRV refund does not include ZVK
A DRV refund only covers your German state pension contributions paid into Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
It does not automatically refund your ZVK contributions.
This is a common misunderstanding for expats who worked in Germany and paid into more than one pension system. You may receive a DRV refund and still have a separate ZVK refund to check.
Compare Company Pension vs DRVCan you estimate your ZVK refund?
Yes. The CompanyPension refund calculator can support ZVK refund estimates if you have contribution information, employment dates, payslips or ZVK documents.
The calculator gives an estimate only. The final refund amount and approval are confirmed by the relevant Zusatzversorgungskasse.
A guided online process for ZVK refunds
CompanyPension helps you start your ZVK refund process online. You start with your ZVK document, answer simple questions in English, sign online where required and continue without dealing with German pension paperwork yourself.
Choose ZVK
Answer guided questions
Add your documents
Review and sign online
ZVK follow-up runs through CompanyPension
Receive approved funds directly
CompanyPension does not receive or hold approved pension money.
What documents are usually needed?
You can start with whatever documents you have. CompanyPension will show what is still missing during the online process.
Helpful documents can include:
- ZVK letters
- Zusatzversorgungskasse documents
- insurance or membership number
- annual statements
- old payslips showing supplementary pension contributions
- employment contracts or employer confirmations
- documents showing when your employment ended
- bank details
- passport or ID copy
- DRV refund confirmation, if you already received a German state pension refund
Pricing for ZVK refunds
CompanyPension shows the relevant pricing before you continue into the full ZVK refund process.
Pricing for ZVK refund cases follows the refund pricing shown on our Pricing page, unless your case requires a different process. You will see the applicable pricing before you continue.
The approved refund is paid directly to the bank account you provide. CompanyPension does not receive or hold your pension money.
ZVK, VBL, DRV and bAV — what is the difference?
German pension documents can be confusing. This table shows where ZVK fits.
| Term | What it means | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| ZVK / Zusatzversorgungskasse | A supplementary pension scheme connected to certain public-sector, municipal, church, healthcare or similar employers. | Start a ZVK refund check. |
| VBL | A major public-sector supplementary pension institution, often connected to universities, research institutes, public hospitals and public employers. | Start a VBL refund check. |
| DRV | Germany’s statutory state pension system. A DRV refund does not include ZVK. | Use the separate DRV refund process or compare Company Pension vs DRV. |
| bAV | German company pension from an employer, often handled as a cash-out case. | Start a bAV cash-out check. |
| VddB / VddKO | Performing-arts pension institutions for stage, theatre, opera and orchestra employment. | Start a VddB or VddKO refund check. |
Not sure which page you need?
Use these pages if you already know your provider, scheme or question.
VBL Pension Refund
For VBL refund cases after public-sector, university, research institute or public hospital employment.
Open VBL RefundCompany Pension Refund Calculator
For VBL, ZVK, VddB and VddKO refund estimates.
See Cash-Outs & RefundsCompany Pension vs DRV
For users who want to understand why a DRV refund does not include ZVK or other company pensions.
Compare Company Pension vs DRVCash-Outs & Refunds
For a full overview of CompanyPension’s German company pension cash-outs and refunds.
See Cash-Outs & RefundsVddB & VddKO Refunds
For stage, theatre, opera and orchestra pension refunds.
Open VddB & VddKO RefundsCompany Pension Cash-Out
For bAV, Direktversicherung, Pensionskasse, Pensionsfonds and provider-based company pension cash-outs.
Open Company Pension Cash-OutZVK refunds: common questions
A ZVK refund may be possible if you have left the relevant public-sector employment and your pension rights are not vested.
The exact rules depend on the specific Zusatzversorgungskasse.
Relevant factors may include:
- The number of recognised insurance months
- Whether the standard waiting period has been fulfilled
- Whether statutory vesting applies
- Earlier VBL or other ZVK periods
- The rules of the specific pension scheme
Use the guided flow to identify the relevant ZVK and contribution periods.
Glossary
Short definitions of terms you may see on German supplementary pension documents.
ZVK
Usually short for Zusatzversorgungskasse, a supplementary pension scheme connected to certain German employers.
Zusatzversorgungskasse
A supplementary pension fund or institution, often connected to public-sector, municipal, church, healthcare or similar employment.
Zusatzversorgung
German term for supplementary pension provision. In this context, it usually refers to employer-related supplementary pension coverage outside DRV.
Beitragserstattung
Contribution reimbursement. In this context, it can refer to getting eligible employee contributions or employee-paid parts back from a ZVK.
Wartezeit
Waiting period. Many supplementary pension schemes use a contribution-month waiting period for later pension entitlement.
DRV
Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Germany’s statutory state pension system. A DRV refund is separate from a ZVK refund.
VBL
A major public-sector supplementary pension institution. VBL and ZVK are related in topic but separate institutions.
bAV
Short for betriebliche Altersversorgung. This is the German term for company pension. bAV cash-outs are checked through the cash-out flow, not calculated like ZVK refunds.
Source basis
ZVK refunds follow the rules of the relevant Zusatzversorgungskasse. Many supplementary pension schemes use a waiting-period framework for later pension entitlement, and refund availability can depend on whether that waiting period has been reached, whether earlier supplementary pension periods are recognised and which employee-paid contributions are refundable.
CompanyPension uses these categories to guide users toward the correct online process. This page provides general information only and does not provide individual legal, pension, tax, insurance or financial advice.
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Important information
- CompanyPension provides a digital application platform for German company pension refunds and cash-outs. We are not a pension advisor, insurance broker, legal representative, tax advisor or financial advisor. Users remain the claimant.
- CompanyPension does not decide approval, does not claim funds as legal representative and does not receive or hold approved pension money.
Ready to check your ZVK refund?
Start online with your ZVK, Zusatzversorgung or Zusatzversorgungskasse document. CompanyPension guides you through the right refund process and shows what information is still needed.
If approved, the refund is paid directly to the bank account you provide. CompanyPension does not receive or hold your pension money.