Retirement information · Germany

Riester Pension Germany: Existing Contracts & 2027 Changes

Review an existing Riester pension in English: pausing, transferring, cancellation costs and the transition to Germany’s new retirement framework.

Finanz2Go · Updated 28 October 2026 · General information

Start with the practical checks ↓Retirement guides

What should an existing Riester saver do first?

Collect your current contract information before changing contributions or cancelling. A Riester contract is a subsidised retirement arrangement, and the amount shown on a statement is not necessarily the amount you would receive after an early cancellation.

Cancellation, pausing and transferring are different

Option	What to clarify
Continue	Current contribution, fees, guarantees, subsidy eligibility and projected retirement income.
Pause contributions	How charges and benefits change while no new contributions are paid.
Transfer	Whether the new provider accepts the transfer and the total costs of both contracts.
Cancel for a cash payout	The actual payment after charges and any repayment of state support.

The Deutsche Rentenversicherung’s ZfA warns that early cancellation can mean repaying allowances and tax benefits. It lists pausing the contract and a provider or tariff transfer as alternatives to investigate. Those alternatives have their own conditions and costs. Read the official cancellation guidance.

What changes from 2027?

The federal government says new retirement products are due from 1 January 2027. Existing Riester contracts can continue; there is no automatic cancellation or conversion. The BMF explains that existing savers can keep the old subsidy arrangement or investigate the new framework. A transfer into a new contract can create charges. Federal overview · BMF transition FAQ.

For the new product category, see Altersvorsorgedepot in English. This page does not determine whether a switch is suitable or calculate your personal subsidy.

Your practical checklist

Tick the checks you have completed. Entries are not saved or submitted.

Find the contract name, start date, provider and latest annual statement.
Request the current value, paid-up benefit and a written cancellation payout calculation.
Ask what fees continue if contributions stop and what restarting would involve.
Obtain a complete transfer offer before comparing it with your existing contract.
Check whether your employment, family or residence circumstances have changed.

Questions to send to your provider

What benefits and guarantees would remain if I stopped contributing?
What charges would still be deducted each year?
What is the current transfer value, and what costs apply?
If I cancelled, what would be paid after fees and repayment of support?
Which documents do you need to review my current contribution and eligibility?

Moving out of Germany?

Ask separately about continued contributions, future state support, payment abroad and tax reporting. Give the adviser the destination country and expected timing. The answer for one international move should not be assumed to apply to another.

Sources checked for this update

Finanz2Go is an information portal. We do not offer personal financial advice or arrange these products. Use qualified advice for an individual tax, insurance or cross-border decision.

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