Health Insurance in Turkey for Foreigners
Health insurance in Turkey for foreigners — often called foreigner health insurance or residence permit insurance — is a private health policy that non-Turkish citizens must hold when applying for a residence permit. The obligation comes from Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, and the minimum coverage every policy must provide is fixed by the Turkish insurance regulator (SEDDK) in Circular 2016/16, most recently amended by Circular 2024/34, in force since 1 April 2025. Under the Implementation Regulation on Residence Permits, an application filed without valid health insurance on the application date is rejected. This page explains, with references to the current rules, what the policy must cover, who is exempt, how it relates to Turkey's public health system (SGK/GSS), and what determines the price.
What must the policy cover? The legal minimum (Circular 2024/34)
The minimum coverage is not set by insurance companies; it is fixed by regulation, so every compliant policy — whichever insurer issues it — must contain at least the following. Outpatient treatment (doctor visits, laboratory tests, imaging such as X-ray and MRI, physiotherapy): an annual limit of at least TRY 15,000, with a 20% co-payment at contracted providers and at the public hospitals listed in the Circular's annex, and 40% at non-contracted providers. Inpatient treatment (surgery, room and board, intensive care, medication and diagnostics during hospitalisation): unlimited at contracted providers with no co-payment; TRY 150,000 per year at non-contracted providers with a 20% co-payment; TRY 250,000 at the twenty public hospitals listed in the annex, with no co-payment. The same Circular also states that emergency treatment for sudden illness cannot be excluded from cover. Insurers may offer higher limits and extra benefits on top of this floor, but they cannot go below it. If a circular update changes these amounts, the figures above (set by Circular 2024/34) will be revised accordingly.
Who needs it — and who is exempt
The policy is required for foreigners applying for a first residence permit or an extension covering a stay of more than ninety days, including student residence permits. The exemptions are also set by regulation, not by insurers: applicants under eighteen and over sixty-five are not asked for this insurance. Foreigners already covered by Turkish social security (SGK), and citizens of countries whose insurance is recognised in Turkey under a bilateral social security agreement, do not need a separate policy. The Implementation Regulation further allows the requirement to be waived for residence permits based on judicial or administrative decisions, and for training or study placements whose costs are covered by a Turkish public institution.
SGK and GSS: when can a foreigner join the public system?
This is the most misunderstood part of the process. Under Article 60/1(d) of Law No. 5510, a foreigner holding a residence permit and not insured under their home country's system may register for Turkey's General Health Insurance (GSS) only after having resided in Turkey for more than one year. The practical consequence: during your first year in Turkey you cannot join GSS, so a private residence-permit policy is your only route. After the first year you may switch; proof of GSS registration is one of only three grounds on which this policy can be cancelled, and the premium for the remaining days is refunded. Students follow a special rule: foreign students may register for GSS without the one-year wait if they apply within three months of first enrolling at their school — in that case no private policy is required. A student who misses the three-month window loses the GSS option for the duration of their studies and must hold a private policy instead. Foreigners working in Turkey with a work permit are already insured under Article 4 of Law No. 5510 and do not need this policy at all. The GSS premium is indexed to the gross minimum wage and changes every year; private policy premiums depend mainly on age and the insurer's tariff.
What determines the price?
There is no single price list. Premiums vary with the applicant's age (the strongest factor — premiums rise in older age bands), the permit duration the policy must cover (one or two years), the insurer's tariff, and whether the plan offers only the regulatory minimum or higher limits and a wider hospital network. Because the minimum coverage is identical by law, the meaningful comparison is not "does this policy qualify" — every compliant policy qualifies — but which insurer offers the network and co-payment structure that fits how you actually use healthcare. Working with more than twenty-five insurers, we compare these structures for your age and permit length and tell you plainly which options make sense; if your situation is better solved by GSS registration, we tell you that too.
Buying the policy and submitting it to the Migration Administration
The policy document submitted to the Göç İdaresi (Presidency of Migration Management) must carry the annotation confirming that it provides the minimum coverage defined in the applicable circular; a compliant insurer prints this on the policy. The policy dates must cover the entire permit period you request — even a single missing day can cause rejection. You do not need a Turkish ID number to buy: your passport details are sufficient, and the foreigner ID number can be added later. The realistic process with us: you reach us by phone or WhatsApp, we confirm your age, permit type and dates, compare compliant options from the insurers we work with, and issue the policy; the signed and stamped PDF is then sent to you for your e-ikamet file, and a printed copy can be prepared for your appointment. Consultations are available in Turkish and English; for other languages we work with written communication and translation support.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory for a Turkey residence permit?
Yes. Law No. 6458 requires valid health insurance for residence permit applications, and the Implementation Regulation states that an application without valid insurance on the application date is rejected. The only exceptions are those defined in the regulations themselves — for example applicants under 18 or over 65, and foreigners already covered by SGK.
How much does foreigner health insurance cost in Turkey?
The premium depends mainly on your age, the permit duration (one or two years) and the insurer's tariff. Because the minimum coverage is fixed by Circular 2024/34, price differences reflect the insurer's network and any benefits above the legal floor. Contact us with your date of birth and permit dates and we compare current offers from more than twenty-five insurers.
Can I use this policy at state hospitals?
The policy works through the insurer's contracted network, which consists of private providers, plus the twenty public hospitals listed in the Circular's annex, where inpatient treatment is covered up to TRY 250,000 with no co-payment. It is not a general pass for all state hospitals.
Does the policy cover pre-existing and chronic conditions?
No. Conditions that existed before the policy start date, and their complications, are excluded. The policy covers new and unexpected illness and accidents. Emergency treatment for sudden illness cannot be excluded, by explicit rule of Circular 2024/34.
Can foreign students use GSS instead of private insurance?
Yes, if they act in time: students who apply for GSS within three months of first enrolment join without the one-year residence condition, and no private policy is required. Missing the three-month window closes the GSS route for the duration of study.
Can I cancel the policy after getting my permit?
Only in three cases defined by the Circular: presenting a new policy covering the same period, rejection or cancellation of the residence permit, or documented registration under GSS. Outside these, the policy cannot be cancelled while your permit is valid — which also protects you from being left uninsured.
Are waiting periods allowed?
Yes, but they are capped by Circular 2022/7: at most half the policy term (max six months) for outpatient benefits and three quarters of the term (max nine months) for inpatient benefits, and the conditions subject to waiting must be listed openly in the special terms.
My application was rejected — do I get a refund?
Yes. Rejection of the residence permit application is one of the three cancellation grounds. Submit the official rejection document to the insurer and the cancellation and refund process starts; we follow it up on your behalf.
For the Turkish version of this guide, see our main page: Yabancı Uyruklular Sağlık Sigortası (Türkçe).