Voluntary German pension insurance: applying with form V0060

Anyone who is NOT compulsorily insured in the German statutory pension scheme may insure voluntarily from the age of 16 (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) — the application goes to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung on form V0060, online through eAntrag or as a PDF. The amount is yours to choose: the contribution base is any amount between the minimum contribution base and the contribution ceiling (§ 161(2) SGB VI). The deadline that matters is in § 197(2) SGB VI: voluntary contributions are effective only if paid by 31 MARCH of the following year for the year they are meant to cover. After that, only the hardship rule of subsection 3 can help.

Up to date for 2024 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 25 min

Deadlines

Payment: by 31 March of the following year: § 197(2) SGB VI — voluntary contributions are effective if paid by 31 March of the year following the year they are meant for. If 31 March falls on a weekend or public holiday, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung moves the cut-off to the next working day
Hardship: application within three months after the obstacle ends: § 197(3) sentence 2 SGB VI — only in cases of particular hardship where payment was prevented through no fault of the insured (sentence 1); restoration of the status quo ante (Wiedereinsetzung) is excluded (subsection 4)
Start: your choice, open-ended or for a fixed period: According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the number of months for which voluntary contributions are paid can be chosen freely; form V0060 asks for the start and the period

Documents to prepare

Pension insurance number (Rentenversicherungsnummer)
Personal details: name, date and place of birth, nationality, address
For nationals of countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland: a copy of the residence permit
Any past contributions to a foreign pension scheme: period, country, address of the insurer
Employment, earnings-replacement benefits, childcare or caring since the requested start, each with its date
If self-employed: type of activity with evidence such as the trade registration; entry in the crafts register; main client
Requested start and monthly amount of contributions
For direct debit: SEPA core direct debit mandate (form V0005)

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1 Personal details

Pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer)(optional)

Digits and uppercase letters, up to 14 characters

Reference code (Kennzeichen), if known(optional)

Surname(optional)

First name(s)(optional)

Name suffix (e.g. Freifrau, Graf)(optional)

Name prefix (e.g. von, van, de)(optional)

Title (e.g. Prof. Dr. med.)(optional)

Birth name(optional)

Former names(optional)

Name suffix of the birth name(optional)

Name prefix of the birth name(optional)

Date of birth(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Sex(optional)

From the requested start, a national of an EU state, the EEA or Switzerland?(optional)

Nationality at the requested start(optional)

Place of birth(optional)

Country of birth(optional)

Street and house number(optional)

Additional address line(optional)

Postcode(optional)

5 digits

Town of residence(optional)

Telephone(optional)

6 to 20 characters: digits, spaces, + and .

Fax(optional)

6 to 20 characters: digits, spaces, + and .

2 Contributions to a foreign pension scheme

Have contributions been paid to a foreign pension scheme?(optional)

Foreign contributions until (month and year)(optional)

MM.YYYY

Foreign insurance periods in (country)(optional)

Address of the foreign pension insurer(optional)

3.1 Circumstances since the requested start of voluntary insurance

Employment above the marginal level

Start of the employment above the marginal level(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Marginal paid employment with waiver of insurance exemption

Start (marginal, with waiver)(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Marginal paid employment without exemption from compulsory insurance

Start (marginal, without exemption)(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Sickness benefit, unemployment benefit or other earnings-replacement benefit

Start of the benefit(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Raising a child up to age 3

Start of childcare(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Unpaid care of a person in need of care

Start of caring(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

None of these circumstances applies

3.2 to 3.6 Self-employment

3.2 Self-employed since the requested start of voluntary insurance?(optional)

Type of self-employed activity(optional)

3.3 Entered in the crafts register and personally meeting the conditions for entry?(optional)

Entered since(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

Chamber of crafts (Handwerkskammer)(optional)

3.4 Regularly employing at least one employee or apprentice?(optional)

3.5 Working for one client only?(optional)

3.6 At least 5/6 of business income from one client?(optional)

Client (name and address)(optional)

4 and 5 Start, amount and payment method of voluntary contributions

4.1 Voluntary contributions to be paid(optional)

Open-ended from (month and year)(optional)

MM.YYYY

Fixed period from (month and year)(optional)

MM.YYYY

Fixed period until (month and year)(optional)

MM.YYYY

4.2 Monthly amount of contributions(optional)

Fixed contribution in EUR(optional)

Digits, then a comma and 2 cents (for example 1250,00); no space and no € sign

Dynamic contribution in EUR(optional)

Digits, then a comma and 2 cents (for example 1250,00); no space and no € sign

5 Payment method(optional)

6 to 8 Accessible documents, declaration and enclosures

6 Documents additionally in an accessible format(optional)

7 Place, date(optional)

8 Enclosure: form V0005 (SEPA core direct debit mandate)

8 Other enclosures(optional)

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Official form pre-filled with your data: read every box and check the amounts before filing or paying.

Who this applies to

People aged 16 or over who are not compulsorily insured in the statutory pension scheme (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, for example self-employed people, freelancers or adults not in work
Germans habitually resident abroad (§ 7(1) sentence 2 SGB VI)
Self-employed people whose window for compulsory insurance on application (Pflichtversicherung auf Antrag) has closed, or who do not want it — that is a different route with different consequences
Anyone drawing a full old-age pension before standard retirement age, or a partial one: possible according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, but the contributions only count once standard retirement age is reached
NOT anyone already compulsorily insured: only people who are not compulsorily insured may insure voluntarily (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI); according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, someone already paying compulsory contributions cannot add voluntary insurance on top
NOT after a full old-age pension has been granted with binding effect, once the month in which standard retirement age was reached has ended (§ 7(2) SGB VI)

Worked example

Lena Hartmann, a self-employed translator, pays for 2026 in February 2027

Lena has translated for many publishers on a self-employed basis since 2019, with no staff. She belongs to none of the groups insured compulsorily by law, and the five-year window for compulsory insurance on application closed in 2024. What remains is voluntary insurance, open to anyone not compulsorily insured (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI). In February 2027 she sees that 2026 was a good year and wants to pay contributions for it. She can: voluntary contributions for 2026 are effective if paid by 31 March 2027 (§ 197(2) SGB VI). She files form V0060 through eAntrag, chooses 300 euros a month for the twelve months of 2026 and transfers 3,600 euros on 10 March 2027. According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the minimum contribution of the year of payment (2027) and the maximum of the year paid for (2026) apply. She bears the contributions herself (§ 171 SGB VI) and pays them directly to the pension insurer (§ 173 SGB VI). Had she waited until April, nothing for 2026 would have been effective any more. The amounts are illustrative.

How to fill it in, step by step

Check whether you are compulsorily insured — as an employee, as a self-employed person insured by law, or on application. If so, voluntary insurance is ruled out (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI).
If you are self-employed and started less than five years ago, compare first with compulsory insurance on application: only compulsory contributions count where a pension requires a set number of them (§ 55(2) SGB VI).
Have your pension insurance number (Rentenversicherungsnummer) ready — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it is the only item needed to start the online form V0060.
Complete form V0060: personal details, any past contributions to a foreign pension scheme, and your employment or activity since the requested start.
Choose start and amount: open-ended or for a fixed period, and a monthly amount between the minimum and maximum contribution (§ 161(2) SGB VI).
Choose how to pay: for direct debit enclose the SEPA mandate; for bank transfer give the details the form lists.
Pay for each year by 31 March of the following year at the latest (§ 197(2) SGB VI) — and diarise that date anew each year.

Good to know

The minimum contribution base equals the marginal-employment threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze) in force on 1 January of the calendar year (§ 167 SGB VI) — it moves with that threshold, and the minimum contribution with it.
According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, you set the amount of voluntary contributions yourself and can change it at any time; a contribution already paid, however, cannot be changed afterwards.
Voluntary contributions are contribution periods (§ 55(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) and raise your pension entitlement. But where a pension requires a set number of COMPULSORY contributions, they count only insofar as they are treated as compulsory contributions (§ 55(2) no. 1 SGB VI) — what that means for the reduced earning capacity pension is explained in the guide to compulsory insurance on application.
According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, voluntary contributions can in some circumstances also complete qualifying periods or preserve cover in case of reduced earning capacity — whether that applies to you is a matter for the pension insurer's advice service.
When paying up to 31 March for the previous year, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung applies the minimum contribution of the year of payment and the maximum of the previous year.
Voluntarily insured people bear their contributions themselves (§ 171 SGB VI) and pay them directly to the pension insurer (§ 173 SGB VI).

Common mistakes

Letting 31 March pass and hoping for leniency. Under § 197(2) SGB VI late voluntary contributions for the previous year are no longer effective; the hardship rule of subsection 3 requires the delay to be no fault of yours, and restoration is excluded (subsection 4).
Treating voluntary contributions as a substitute for compulsory insurance. Where compulsory contributions are required, they count only under the conditions of § 55(2) SGB VI.
Applying although compulsory insurance applies. Only people not compulsorily insured may insure voluntarily (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI).
Trying to top up a contribution already paid. According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung a paid contribution cannot be changed — only the amount of future contributions can.
Carrying over a minimum contribution from an earlier year. It follows the marginal-employment threshold on 1 January of each year (§ 167 SGB VI).
Wanting to pay voluntarily after reaching standard retirement age with a full old-age pension granted. § 7(2) SGB VI rules that out.

Frequently asked questions

Who may insure voluntarily?

People who are not compulsorily insured, for periods from the age of 16; this also applies to Germans habitually resident abroad (§ 7(1) SGB VI).

By when must I pay?

Voluntary contributions are effective if paid by 31 March of the year following the year they are meant for (§ 197(2) SGB VI).

How much must I pay?

The contribution base is any amount between the minimum contribution base and the contribution ceiling (§ 161(2) SGB VI). The minimum base equals the marginal-employment threshold in force on 1 January (§ 167 SGB VI). The euro amounts change every year.

Do voluntary contributions count towards the reduced earning capacity pension?

They are contribution periods (§ 55(1) SGB VI). But where a set number of compulsory contributions is required, they count only insofar as they are treated as compulsory contributions (§ 55(2) no. 1 SGB VI). The guide to compulsory insurance on application explains what follows.

Can I change the amount later?

According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, yes, at any time for future contributions. A contribution already paid cannot be changed afterwards.

How do I apply?

With form V0060 of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, online through eAntrag — which the insurer recommends — or as a PDF form.

Go further

Related forms

Official sources

§ 7 SGB VI — voluntary insurance (Gesetze im Internet, Federal Ministry of Justice) — September 23, 2026
§ 197 SGB VI — effectiveness of contributions (31 March deadline) — September 23, 2026
§ 161 SGB VI — contribution base — September 23, 2026
§ 167 SGB VI — minimum contribution base for voluntary insurance — September 23, 2026
§ 55 SGB VI — contribution periods — September 23, 2026
§ 171 SGB VI — who bears voluntary contributions — September 23, 2026
§ 173 SGB VI — payment directly to the insurer — September 23, 2026
Deutsche Rentenversicherung — FAQ on voluntary pension insurance — September 23, 2026
Deutsche Rentenversicherung — form V0060, application to pay voluntary contributions — September 23, 2026

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Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.