Retiring to Thailand from Germany: pensions, taxes, and what you should know
- Jun 22
- 12 min read
Updated: Aug 6
Updated June 2026 · Based on publicly available information · Not legal or financial advice
The three-pillar pension system · How to approach the authorities · Which payments can and cannot be transferred to Thailand
Many of you have worked in Germany for 20 to 30 years, paying into the Rentenversicherung every month, yet you are still not sure whether, on the day you decide to go home, that money will follow you.
01 Germany's three-pillar pension system Drei-Säulen-Modell
Germany designed its pension system around three main pillars, so that no one has to depend on a single source. What matters most for Thai residents planning to return home is this: each pillar follows very different rules when it comes to how much you can take out of Germany.
▶︎ Pillar 1: mandatory
Gesetzliche Rente
state pensionDeducted from your salary automatically every month at 18.6% (employer and employee each pay half). Everyone who works in Germany already has this pillar, with no need to sign up. The state pension is designed to replace around 48% of the average wage, and what people actually receive averages roughly 955€/month for women and 1,405€/month for men.
⎮ For Thai residents thinking of returning: it can be transferred, but only if you have worked in Germany for 5 years or more.
▶︎ Pillar 2: you sign up yourself
Betriebliche Altersvorsorge (bAV)
employer pensionYou arrange this yourself through your employer. Contributions are taken before tax and social security are calculated, so they save you tax along the way. One point to keep in mind: once you return to Thailand, bAV payouts are still fully taxable in Germany when you receive them, wherever in the world you live.
⎮ The account usually needs to be closed or frozen before you move, and this is a point where you may want advice from a specialist advisor.
▶︎ Pillar 3: your own free saving Private Altersvorsorge private savingThe most flexible pillar, and one you shape yourself. It includes the ETF Sparplan, the Rürup-Rente, and the Altersvorsorgedepot (new law from 2027). Each follows different rules on moving money outside the EU, which has a direct bearing if you are planning to return to Thailand. ⎮ ETFs held in a Depot generally need to be sold first or moved to another broker. You may want to check this directly with your own broker.
A common misunderstanding
"The German state pension only replaces about 48% of the average wage. If you spend 3,000 euros a month while you are working but receive only 1,100 euros in retirement, the remaining 1,900 euros has to come from pillars 2 and 3, and everyone plans those differently."
02 What money can and cannot be transferred to Thailand
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is more layered than people expect. It depends on the type of savings, not the amount.
▶︎ Can be transferred to Thailand: no need to sell up
✔︎ | State pension Gesetzliche Rente (Rentenversicherung) Can be paid directly into an account in Thailand, but only if you have worked in Germany for 5 years or more, and you must notify the Deutsche Rentenversicherung before you move. |
✔︎ | Savings Tagesgeld / Festgeld / money in a bank account Can be transferred freely, with no restrictions. If you transfer more than 10,000 euros at once, the bank is required to report it to the authorities automatically. This is not unlawful, but you should be able to show clearly where the money comes from. |
✔︎ | Private pension Rürup-Rente / Basisrente Paid only as a monthly amount for life, it cannot be taken as a lump sum. You cannot draw on it until age 62, but once you can, it can be transferred even while you are living in Thailand. |
▶︎ Must be sold or closed before returning to Thailand
✘ | ETF funds ETF / shares held in a Depot Most brokers require the account holder to have an address within the EU. You will need to check directly with your broker, as some may offer a transfer option. |
✘ | Employer pension Betriebliche Altersvorsorge (bAV) In most cases this cannot be moved outside the EU while you are still working. Once you reach retirement age you can receive it, but German tax applies. |
✘ | Riester pension Riester-Rente Cannot be taken outside the EU. You would have to repay all of the state subsidies you received. It is being phased out and replaced by the Altersvorsorgedepot in 2027. |
▶︎ Wait and see how the new law develops
? | The new 2027 vehicle Altersvorsorgedepot (replacing Riester) In force from 1 January 2027. It is not yet clear whether moving it outside the EU will require repaying the subsidies. The implementing regulations are still to come. |
Note: The figures and rules above are based on publicly available information as of June 2026. The law can change, particularly regarding the Altersvorsorgedepot. You may want to consult a Steuerberater experienced with expats before making any decisions.
03 How many months ahead should you start?
From the experience of those who have already moved back to Thailand, the most common problem is not running short of money. It is a missed piece of timing: closing a German account too early so the pension has nowhere to land, or deregistering in the wrong month and ending up taxed twice. The timeline below is based on publicly available information as of June 2026, and is a starting point for your own research, not personal advice.
● 18 to 24 months before: start by knowing your own real numbers
First, make sure you know how much pension you will actually receive. Do not guess. Every year the state sends you a short summary letter called the Renteninformation, but it is not detailed enough. Ask instead for the full version, the Rentenauskunft, from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV), because it shows your complete picture.
Then file what is called a Kontenklärung, which simply means asking the DRV to check that your full contribution history is on record. Many Thai residents have periods that quietly went missing from the system, such as years spent working abroad, time taken off to raise children (in German,
Kindererziehungszeiten, which can count as pension credit), or spells of unemployment that were never recorded. Every missing period is missing pension. Put it right now, and you receive the full amount for the rest of your life.
Two things worth getting a clear answer on from the DRV during this window:
First, have you completed five years of contributions? Germany calls this the Wartezeit, and five years is the minimum that gives you the right to a pension and the ability to have it paid to Thailand.
Second, will your pension be reduced if you are a Thai national, rather than a German one, living outside Europe? This rule genuinely exists, but it applies only in certain cases, so it is worth asking the DRV directly whether it affects your situation before you plan any numbers in your head.
● 12 months before: build the two-country structure before your bank decides for youMany German banks close the accounts of customers who move their address outside the EU, yet the state pension needs a destination account that can receive it. If you close your German account first without a plan, the money can end up with nowhere to go. Use this window to confirm which account you will keep, look for a bank that accepts non-resident customers, and check whether your pension can be paid straight into a Thai account or has to pass through an EU account first. For the bAV, ask the provider directly whether it pays out as a lump sum or monthly, whether it can pay into an account outside the EU, and how the payout is taxed. The answers vary a great deal from one contract to the next.
● 6 months before: start what takes long and is hard to reverseThe Thai retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O-A or O-X) has financial and health-insurance conditions to prepare in advance, such as a deposit in a Thai account or a qualifying monthly income, and the O-A category requires health insurance to a set standard. This is also when you begin winding down long-term German contracts, such as your lease, insurance, mobile plan, and the Rundfunkbeitrag, keeping every cancellation confirmation, since some can serve as evidence that you have genuinely moved.
● 1 to 3 months before:
the timing of your deregistration is a tax matter, not just paperworkThe date you complete your Abmeldung, giving up your German residence, determines whether you are taxed as a full or a limited taxpayer for that year. If you move to a lower-tax country, Germany may apply extended limited tax liability (erweitert beschränkte Steuerpflicht) for several years afterwards. This is a date to set together with a Steuerberater, not one to pick around your moving van. Keep a contact address in Germany as well, such as a relative or a mail-forwarding service, because official and tax correspondence will keep arriving for a while.
● After the move: the work is not finished, the long-term phase has just begunThe point most people overlook is that the DRV asks for a Lebensbescheinigung, a proof-of-life certificate, every year. If you do not return it on time, the pension is suspended, so it is worth setting a reminder well ahead. You should also confirm your Thai tax position, since living in Thailand for more than 183 days in a year makes you a Thai tax resident, and Thailand has guidance on foreign income brought into the country that is worth checking with a Thai tax specialist. Note: The information above is based on publicly available sources as of June 2026. Rules can change. You may want to consult a Steuerberater experienced with expats before making any decisions.
04 Which authorities and advisers to contact
These are the authorities and specialists who will play a part along your path, so that you know which questions to prepare before you sit down with each of them.
1 Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV)
Check your pension entitlement
The DRV is the first office to speak to, so you know how much entitlement you have built up and how much monthly pension you would receive if you move to Thailand. The answer is the real figure that the rest of your financial plan is built on.
Questions to prepare: have I completed five years, and what is the figure I will actually receive based on?
2 Steuerberater / tax adviser
Plan cross-border tax before you move
Double taxation between Germany and Thailand, together with the Thai Revenue Department's 2024 rules, is something to discuss with an adviser who has specific experience with expats. Not every general Steuerberater is familiar with cases of moving outside the EU.
This is where most people quietly pay more than they need to, because they seek advice too late.
3 Broker / Bank (ETF Depot)
Check the status of your investment account
Each broker has a different policy on accounts for customers who move outside the EU. Some allow you to keep the account, some do not, and there are capital-gains tax details to work out before you decide to sell. The order in which you sell has a large effect on the tax you pay, which is something to plan for your own situation.
4 Thai Consulate in Germany
Begin the Thai retirement visa process
There are several Thai consulates across Germany, and each has slightly different document requirements. It is worth checking in advance before you travel to submit your application.
5 Einwohnermeldeamt (Bürgerbüro)
Deregister from Germany (Abmeldung)
The date you choose for your Abmeldung affects your tax status for your final year in Germany, a detail to decide together with your Steuerberater rather than by convenience.
What to have ready before this date: Thai health insurance that takes effect the moment your German cover ends.
6 Deutsche Rentenversicherung & Finanzamt
Close matters in Germany, open them in Thailand
The final stage is giving your new address to the pension authority and filing your closing tax return for your last year in Germany. Both have specific details that depend on your circumstances, such as whether you still have income from Germany.
Pension tax after moving is often more complex than expected, so it is worth having someone check your particular case.
05 Thailand's retirement visas
O-A · O-X · LTR — three options
Thailand offers three main long-stay visa types for retirees, and each carries very different financial conditions, durations, and nationality restrictions. The information below is based on announcements from the Department of Consular Affairs, the Immigration Bureau, and the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) as of June 2026. Please check again with a Thai consulate before you apply, as the conditions can change at any time.
01 Non-Immigrant Visa O-A · Retirement Visa | 1 year, renewable annually. Open to all nationalities. |
Minimum age 50 and above | Money in a Thai account 800,000 THB, or a monthly income of 65,000 THB (or a combination totalling 800,000 THB per year) |
Health insurance Total cover of no less than 3,000,000 THB (100,000 USD) per policy year, including COVID-19 | Reporting Every 90 days (can be done online) |
Where to apply A Thai consulate or embassy in your country of residence (for example Berlin or Frankfurt), or through the online e-Visa system | What you cannot do You cannot take paid work in Thailand |
02 Non-Immigrant Visa O-X · Long Stay | 5 years, renewable for a further 5 (up to 10 years in total). For 14 countries only. |
Minimum age 50 and above | Eligible nationalities 14 countries, including Germany, alongside Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States |
Money in a Thai account 3,000,000 THB, or 1,800,000 THB plus an income of 1,200,000 THB per year (the full 3,000,000 THB must be in place within one year of entering Thailand) | After the first year The minimum balance can be reduced to 1,500,000 THB, but must not fall below this at any point during the visa |
Health insurance Outpatient cover of no less than 40,000 THB and inpatient cover of no less than 400,000 THB per year | Reporting Every 90 days, the same as the O-A |
Where to apply The same channels as the O-A: a Thai consulate or embassy in your country of residence (for example Berlin or Frankfurt), or through the online e-Visa system |
03 LTR Visa · Wealthy Pensioner | 5 years, renewable for a further 5. Administered by the BOI, not the Immigration Bureau. |
Minimum age 50 and above | Eligible nationalities All nationalities |
Income Passive income (pension, rent, dividends, interest) of no less than 80,000 USD per year. Income from work does not count. | If your income falls short With an income of 40,000 to 80,000 USD per year, you must also invest 250,000 USD in Thai government bonds, listed Thai company shares, or Thai property (the investment must be in place before you apply) |
Reporting Once a year only, with no need for a re-entry permit | Additional benefits You may apply for a digital work permit, and foreign income is exempt from tax in many cases |
Where to apply Apply online first through the BOI system (ltr.boi.go.th) to obtain a qualification endorsement, then collect the actual visa at a Thai embassy in Germany or at the TIESC centre in Bangkok. This is a separate system from the O-A and O-X. |
A note for German spouses Germany is one of the 14 countries eligible to apply for the O-X, which gives German spouses an option that people of other nationalities do not have. The deposit required is nearly four times higher than for the O-A, though, so it is worth calculating carefully whether the convenience you gain (fewer renewals) is worth the lump sum you have to keep tied up.
A fourth option worth knowing: the Thailand Privilege Visa |
This visa (formerly the Thailand Elite Visa) is fundamentally different from the three above. It is a residence right bought through a one-time membership fee, not a visa based on age, pension, or income. Anyone can buy it without proving any financial qualification. The membership fee ranges from roughly 650,000 to 5,000,000 THB depending on the tier (5 to 20 years), and it is administered by a state-owned company rather than the Immigration Bureau or the BOI.
For anyone who already meets the pension or savings thresholds for the O-A, O-X, or LTR, this visa is often not the most cost-effective choice. It suits specific cases rather than serving as a main option. |
*** Obligations to meet throughout your stay (all visa types above)
☐ Regular reporting (TM.47): Report your current address to the Immigration Bureau on the required cycle (every 90 days for the O-A and O-X, once a year for the LTR). This can be done in person, by post, or online. |
☐ Notification of accommodation by the host (TM.30): The owner or landlord of the place where you stay has a legal duty to notify the Immigration Bureau of their foreign tenant's details. It is worth confirming with your host that this has been done. |
☐ Re-entry permit (O-A and O-X only): If you need to travel outside Thailand and want to return on the same visa, you must obtain a re-entry permit before each departure, otherwise the visa is cancelled automatically. (The LTR is exempt from this.) |
06 What to think about before you move
This is not a checklist you complete and put away. It is a set of question areas you should be able to answer for yourself before you decide on an actual moving date. The detail of each point depends very much on your own situation.
Finances and pension ☐ Do you already know how much pension you will receive, and when? ☐ Each type of savings you hold (bAV, ETF, deposits) carries different restrictions when you move outside the EU ☐ Do you have someone to advise you on cross-border tax? |
Documents and registration ☐ The timing of your visa, your deregistration, and your closing tax return all affect one another ☐ The transition period for health insurance, between your German cover ending and your Thai cover beginning |
Settling in Thailand ☐ The right city for you may not be the one others recommend, as it depends on your lifestyle and your real budget ☐ Access to healthcare and to a community that speaks a language you can communicate in ☐ An "exit" plan in case life in Thailand does not turn out as you expected |
This document is prepared as a starting point for planning only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. The information is based on publicly available sources as of June 2026 and may change. Eldwi recommends consulting appropriate specialists before making any decisions. Prepared by Eldwi.com · Entiverse Co., Ltd. · Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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