Unemployment (2024)

If you are not taking up employment immediately upon your return to Germany, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You will need to visit your local employment agency in person to register. If you are not residingin Germany, you do not have tonotify the agency three months prior to the end of your employment. However, this requirement is not waived for those who have been abroad on secondment or working abroad whilst living in Germany. In these cases, you can meet the notification requirement by contacting the agency over the phone, in writing, or online, or you can register immediately upon your return to Germany.Advice on open questions and placement support even before your return can be obtained from the BA's International and Specialised Services (ZAV) at ZAV.Hotline-Germany@arbeitsagentur.de or via telephone: 0049 228 713 1313.

• If you wishto register yourself as jobless, you can call the followingnumber: 0049 911 1203 1010 (without phone charges)
• Or you can use this link
• For additional information on registering as a jobless person, please go to the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

Proof of entitlement to unemployment benefits

If you have been paying into an unemployment insurance scheme in the EU, the EEAor Switzerland, you can transfer these entitlements to Germany. You will need to ask the competent employment agency in your host country for form PD U2. Please contact your local employment agency for further information on the portability of benefits from other countries.

Unemployment benefits

As a general rule, those who are unemployed in Germany are onlyentitled to financial support if they have previously had a job subject to social security contributions in Germany prior to registering themselves as unemployed and filing an application for unemployment benefits. This is why most people returning to Germany are not entitled to unemployment benefits. However, if you do take up employment in a job that is subject to social security contributions after returning to Germany and then become unemployed, any time you have spent working in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland can count towards your entitlement in Germany. However, this will only be the case,if you are able to provideproof of employment for these periods. The exact rules here differ vastly between different countries, which is why you should consult the EURES website to find out what proof you can obtain, what you need, and to arrange a meeting with a local EURES advisor. For an overview of the various national rules, consult the European Commission’s website on “Your Rights Country by Country”. You will also find detailed information in the “Unemployment Benefit & Employment Abroad” leaflet. Please contact your local employment agency for further information on the portability of benefits from other countries.

1. Federal Employment Agency Webinar: Your return to Germany
2. Federal Office of Administration Information for emigrants and returnees to Germany
3. German Pension Insurance Information on international provisions around pensions
4. Alumniportal Deutschland Social networking for alumni of German universities, including job offers
5. Raphaelswerk e.V. Personal advice

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