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Opting into German statutory pension insurance as a self-employed person

A self-employed person who is NOT already compulsorily insured by law can opt into the statutory pension scheme as a compulsory member: persons who are self-employed other than merely temporarily become compulsorily insured on application if they apply within FIVE YEARS of starting the activity (Versicherungspflicht auf Antrag, § 4(2) SGB VI). This is not the same as voluntary insurance (freiwillige Versicherung, § 7 SGB VI): only compulsory contributions count towards the three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years that a reduced earning capacity pension requires (§ 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI). Apply within three months and cover starts from day one (§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI) — and § 4 SGB VI provides for no withdrawal: the obligation ends only when its conditions cease to be met (§ 4(4) sentence 2 SGB VI).

Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 23, 2026Official procedure, no printed formGuide: about 25 min

This content is part of the path: Social security cover as a self-employed person· Step 7 of 7· Last step of the path

Deadlines

Application: within five years of starting the self-employed activity
§ 4(2) SGB VI — alternatively five years after the end of a compulsory insurance based on that activity
Cover from day one: apply within three months of the conditions first being met
§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI — if later, compulsory insurance starts only on the day after the application is received
End: at the close of the day on which the conditions ceased to be met
§ 4(4) sentence 2 SGB VI — § 4 SGB VI knows no termination at will
Income tax assessment: submit it no later than two calendar months after it was issued
§ 165(1) sentence 6 SGB VI — where earned income different from the reference amount (Bezugsgröße) is to be proven

Documents to prepare

  • Pension insurance number
  • Date the self-employed activity started (trade registration or notice to the tax office)
  • Description of the activity and the clients — to check that no compulsory insurance by law applies
  • Latest income tax assessment, if different earned income is to be proven
  • Overview of past compulsory and voluntary contribution periods (insurance record)
See the procedure on the official site

No form is attached to this procedure: the link leads to the official page that describes it.

What this page gives you

The guide above and the link to the official site. ActioFin does not produce any document for this page: whatever you fill in or file is done on the official medium.

Who this applies to

  • Self-employed people whose activity is not merely temporary and who are NOT already compulsorily insured by law under § 2 SGB VI — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, all other self-employed people may become compulsorily insured on application
  • Anyone acting within five years of starting the self-employed activity (§ 4(2) SGB VI)
  • Anyone acting within five years of the END of a compulsory insurance based on that activity — § 4(2) SGB VI names both starting points
  • Anyone wanting to keep or build the reduced earning capacity cover that depends on compulsory contributions (§ 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI)
  • NOT anyone already compulsorily insured by law — for instance self-employed teachers, carers, midwives or people working essentially for a single client (§ 2 sentence 1 SGB VI): they have a duty to register, not an application to make
  • NOT anyone who is self-employed only temporarily (§ 4(2) SGB VI)
  • NO LONGER possible once the five-year period has run out — only voluntary insurance under § 7 SGB VI then remains

Worked example

Jonas Brenner, an IT consultant with many clients, decides in his third year

Jonas has advised mid-sized companies on a self-employed basis since 1 February 2024, always for several clients and with no staff. He belongs to none of the groups in § 2 sentence 1 SGB VI and is therefore not compulsorily insured by law. In autumn 2026 he expects a profit of around 45,000 euros and wonders how to protect himself. Voluntary insurance (§ 7 SGB VI) would let him choose the number and amount of contributions — but for a reduced earning capacity pension § 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI requires three years of COMPULSORY contributions in the last five years, and voluntary contributions count only to the extent they are deemed compulsory ones (§ 55(2) no. 1 SGB VI). So on 15 October 2026 Jonas applies for compulsory insurance: within five years of starting, and therefore admissible (§ 4(2) SGB VI). Because he does not apply within three months of starting, cover begins only on 16 October 2026, the day after receipt (§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI). Until the end of the third calendar year after the year he started — the end of 2027 — contributions are based on earned income equal to 50 percent of the reference amount, or the full reference amount if he applies for it (§ 165(1) sentence 2 SGB VI); after that, the reference amount or his proven earned income (sentence 1 no. 1). He bears the contributions himself (§ 169 no. 1 SGB VI) and pays them directly to the pension insurance (§ 173 SGB VI). The figures are illustrative.

How to fill it in, step by step

  1. First check that you are not already compulsorily insured by law (§ 2 sentence 1 SGB VI) — if you are, the route is registration, not this application.
  2. Establish the date you started your self-employed activity and work out the five-year period (§ 4(2) SGB VI).
  3. Compare the two routes: compulsory insurance on application (§ 4(2) SGB VI) or voluntary insurance (§ 7 SGB VI) — the deciding question is whether you need the reduced earning capacity cover tied to compulsory contributions (§ 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI).
  4. Before applying, bear in mind that § 4 SGB VI provides for no withdrawal: the obligation ends only when its conditions cease to be met (§ 4(4) sentence 2 SGB VI).
  5. Open form V0020 on the Deutsche Rentenversicherung site — it expressly also serves as the application for compulsory insurance as a self-employed person, online via eAntrag or as a PDF.
  6. Apply within three months of starting if you can, so that cover runs from the first day (§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI).
  7. In the first three calendar years after the year you started, decide whether to stay at 50 percent of the reference amount or to apply for the full amount (§ 165(1) sentence 2 SGB VI).
  8. After that, where your income differs from the reference amount, submit your income tax assessment no later than two calendar months after it was issued (§ 165(1) sentence 6 SGB VI).

Good to know

  • Compulsory insurance on application and voluntary insurance are mutually exclusive: only persons who are NOT compulsorily insured may insure voluntarily (§ 7(1) sentence 1 SGB VI).
  • According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, a voluntarily insured person chooses the number and amount of contributions, between a minimum and a maximum, and may pay the contributions for a calendar year up to 31 March of the following year. Compulsory contributions instead follow § 165 SGB VI.
  • Compulsory and voluntary contribution periods are both contribution periods (§ 55(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) — the difference shows where an entitlement requires a given number of COMPULSORY contributions (§ 55(2) SGB VI).
  • The five-year period runs not only from the start of the activity but alternatively from the end of a compulsory insurance based on that activity (§ 4(2) SGB VI).
  • Contributions are in principle based on earned income equal to the reference amount, or the lower or higher income proven, but at least twelve times the marginal employment threshold (§ 165(1) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI). The values change each year.
  • For self-employed people insured on application, earned income also includes receipts treated for tax purposes as income from employment (§ 165(3) SGB VI).
  • Where current earned income is expected to be at least 30 percent below the figure from the last income tax assessment, current income may be used on application (§ 165(1a) SGB VI).
  • Anyone compulsorily insured by law will find the related registration in the guide to compulsory pension insurance for the self-employed — the same form V0020 serves both purposes.

Common mistakes

  • Treating compulsory insurance on application and voluntary insurance as the same thing. Voluntary insurance is open only to those not compulsorily insured (§ 7(1) SGB VI), and only compulsory contributions count towards a reduced earning capacity pension (§ 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI).
  • Applying after more than three months and expecting cover from the first day. Cover then starts only on the day after the application is received (§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI).
  • Believing compulsory insurance can be cancelled at any time. § 4 SGB VI provides for no withdrawal; it ends when the conditions cease to be met (subsection 4 sentence 2).
  • Letting the five-year period lapse. After that, an application under § 4(2) SGB VI is no longer possible.
  • Making this application although already compulsorily insured by law. The obligation exists anyway, and the duty to register must be met.
  • Treating the half contribution as an option to be claimed. Under § 165(1) sentence 2 SGB VI it is the default basis in the early years; what you apply for is the FULL reference amount.

Frequently asked questions

How does this differ from voluntary insurance?

Compulsorily insured people pay compulsory contributions under § 165 SGB VI; voluntarily insured people choose the number and amount of contributions themselves. Only those not compulsorily insured may insure voluntarily (§ 7(1) SGB VI). And a reduced earning capacity pension requires three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years (§ 43(1) sentence 1 no. 2 SGB VI); voluntary contributions count only to the extent they are deemed compulsory ones (§ 55(2) no. 1 SGB VI).

By when can I apply?

Within five years of starting the self-employed activity or of the end of a compulsory insurance based on that activity (§ 4(2) SGB VI).

When does cover start?

On the day the conditions are first met if you apply within three months of it; otherwise on the day after the application is received (§ 4(4) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB VI).

Can I end compulsory insurance later?

§ 4 SGB VI provides for no withdrawal. Compulsory insurance ends at the close of the day on which the conditions ceased to be met (§ 4(4) sentence 2 SGB VI) — the condition being self-employment that is not merely temporary.

How high are contributions at the start?

Until the end of the third calendar year after the year you started, contributions are based on earned income equal to 50 percent of the reference amount, or the full reference amount on application (§ 165(1) sentence 2 SGB VI). The reference amount is set anew each year.

Which form do I use?

Form V0020 of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, which is both the questionnaire establishing compulsory insurance by law and the application for compulsory insurance as a self-employed person — online via eAntrag or as a PDF.

Go further

Related forms

Official sources

Read in German

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.