Moving to another region within Germany

If a dentist moves to a region within Germany outside the Westphalia-Lippe Dental Association’s area of responsibility, their membership in the association will end. In this case, their membership in the VZWL will be suspended.


In this event, dentists will generally join the pension scheme of their new regional dental association. In this case, they will have two options concerning the contributions paid to the VZWL: They can leave their contributions with the VZWL or apply for them to be transferred to their new pension scheme.


However, this will only be possible subject to the existence of a transfer agreement between the VZWL and the other pension provider and the observance of the application period of 6 months set out in Art. 31 AOA.

It will not be possible to transfer the contributions if

  • The member is already 50 or older upon becoming a member of the new pension scheme,
  • The VZWL was paid more than 96 months of contributions for the member,
  • The member has already applied for a disability pension from the VZWL
  • Or the member’s entitlements from the VZWL have been seized.


Dentists will only be able to continue their VZWL membership as a follow-on insurance if they are not members of another occupational pension scheme to which they are required to pay contributions. To apply for the follow-on insurance, applicants have to submit a written application to the VZWL within one month of the end of their membership.

Moving abroad

If a dentist moves abroad and ends their membership in the Westphalia-Lippe Dental Association for that reason, their membership in the VZWL will be suspended.
In that case, dentists generally have the option to continue their VZWL membership voluntarily as a follow-on insurance. To apply for the follow-on insurance, applicants have to submit a written application to the VZWL within one month of the end of their membership.


Members who start practising dentistry in another EU or EEC member state will be subject to the EU regulations on compulsory pension insurance. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more detailed information on the above.

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