For foreigners planning to live in Türkiye, health insurance is not just a sensible precaution. Under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458), most types of residence permit, including short-term, family and long-term permits, require proof of valid health cover. Migration authorities check this at the first application and again at each renewal.
There are broadly three ways to meet the requirement: a private health insurance policy issued in Türkiye, enrollment in the state's general health insurance (GSS) run by the Social Security Institution (SGK), or coverage under a bilateral social security agreement between Türkiye and the applicant's home country.
Private insurance for newcomers
Because access to the state scheme normally requires a period of residence first, most newcomers start with a private policy. Such policies must be issued by an insurer authorized to operate in Türkiye and must meet minimum coverage standards set out in a 2014 government circular on private insurance for residence permit applications.
The policy should cover the full length of the requested permit. If an applicant asks for a two-year permit but holds a one-year policy, the permit may be limited to the policy's term. Each family member on an application needs their own cover, and the name and passport details on the policy must match the other documents. Standard travel insurance bought abroad is generally not accepted.
Applicants aged 65 and over are generally not required to submit a private policy, though practice can vary and should be confirmed before applying.
Joining SGK's general health insurance
Foreigners who have lived in Türkiye for one year with a valid residence permit can apply to SGK to join the general health insurance scheme voluntarily and pay monthly premiums. Registration is not automatic. Applicants typically need their residence permit and a document from their home country's social security institution showing whether they are insured there. People already covered under another country's system are excluded.
GSS coverage is tied to legal residence: according to the migration authority's guidance, it ends if the residence permit expires. Premium amounts are set by the state and updated periodically, so current figures should be checked directly with SGK.
There are special arrangements for some groups. Foreign students who apply within three months of their first university registration can join GSS without waiting a year. Foreigners employed by a Turkish company are insured through their employer. For people under international or temporary protection and recognized stateless persons, the state pays GSS premiums.
Rules and document requirements change from time to time. This article is for general information and is not legal advice; applicants should check with the Presidency of Migration Management, SGK or a qualified adviser before applying.
Sources
- Yabancılarda Sağlık Sigortası: İkamet İzni Şartı ve GSS – Hukukçular Evi
- Sağlık Sigortası Sistemi (brochure) – Presidency of Migration Management
- Health Insurance for Turkish Residence Permit: 2026 Guide – Karanfiloğlu Law
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
