Life Certificates
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Please refer to the back of the life certificate for detailled information on the administrative procedures
Recipients of a German pension are required to submit a „Declaration for Further Collection of Pension from the Federal Republic of Germany (life certificate)“ to the pension authority once a year. A form will be mailed directly to the pensioner by the competent pension authority in Germany.
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You have to return the signed and certified form directly to the pension authority in Germany on time. The time limit is given on the top right hand corner of the life certificate form. If the pension authority does not receive the life certificate within the set time limit, a reminder containing a second form will be sent out. If you fail to submit the form in time, your pension will be suspended.
Your signature on the life certificate needs to be certified. If the pensioner is not able to sign, the holder of a valid power of attorney can sign instead. Please make sure to provide the pension authority with a copy of the relevant power of attorney.
The authorities which are entitled to certify your signature are listed on the form. These are, for example:
-a Canadian notary public
-Human Resources and Social Development Canada/Service Canada
-your family doctor
-a bank manager
We highly recommend to contact one of the above mentioned authorities for certification.
Please note that in some cases, additional certification/legalisation may be required by a German Foreign Mission (Embassy, Consulate or a German Honorary Consul). If this is the case, it will be clearly indicated on the form.
If additional certification is required, you can mail duly filled forms, which bear certification by one of the above mentioned authorities, to the competent German Foreign Mission for further processing. The pensioner does not have to come in person for this additional certification. No additional legalisations (e.g. by Document Services) are necessary. The German mission processes life certificates in pension matters free of charge.
In exceptional cases, your signature can also be witnessed directly at a German Foreign Mission. If you chose to have your signature witnessed, you will have to present yourself in person with a proof of identity and citizenship with a recent photo (e.g. a passport or citizenship card).
Please note:
The German Foreign Missions are no longer authorized to forward your life certificate to Germany. Please send your life certificate directly to the respective German pension authority.
Life certificates are usually sent out until July of each year. Should you not have received your life certificate by that time, please contact your Pension Authority directly, as the German missions are not involved in this process.
