Foreign nationals planning to come to Türkiye – whether as tourists, students, employees or long-term residents – should be aware that health insurance is not just a practical need, but often a legal requirement. The type of insurance required, and whether it must be taken out from a Turkish insurer, depends on the purpose and duration of stay and on whether a residence permit will be requested.
Below is a practical legal guide in plain English.
1. Short-Term Visits (Tourists and Business Travelers)
For most foreigners who need a visa to enter Türkiye, health insurance is a mandatory part of the visa application. Consulates typically require:
- A travel health insurance policy covering the requested visa period,
- Valid in Türkiye,
- Providing at least basic emergency medical coverage and repatriation.
Important points:
- The policy does not have to be issued by a Turkish company, as long as it is valid in Türkiye and meets the consulate’s conditions.
- The insurance is normally checked at the visa application stage, not at the border.
- Visa-exempt nationals (who can enter Türkiye without a visa) are not systematically asked for proof of health insurance at the border, but they are still strongly advised to have one, because public health costs are not automatically covered for foreigners.
In practice, for short-term stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, a standard international travel health insurance is usually sufficient, provided it clearly states geographical coverage “Türkiye” or “worldwide”.
2. Stays Longer than 90 Days – Residence Permit Applications
If a foreigner intends to stay in Türkiye more than 90 days, they will generally need to apply for a residence permit (e.g. short-term residence, family residence, student residence).
Under Turkish legislation and immigration practice:
- A valid health insurance covering the entire residence permit period is compulsory for most residence permit types.
- Ordinary “travel insurance” is typically not accepted for residence permit applications. Authorities expect a more comprehensive health policy, similar to domestic coverage for outpatient and inpatient treatment.
Commonly accepted forms of health insurance for residence permit purposes include:
- Private health insurance issued by an insurer operating in Türkiye, specifically compliant with the minimum coverage standards set for foreigners’ residence permits.
- General Health Insurance (GSS) under the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK), where the foreigner is already registered (for example, in certain work permit or long-term situations).
- In some limited cases, social security agreements between Türkiye and the foreigner’s home country may allow the use of forms from the home institution showing that health coverage is extended to Türkiye.
Because immigration directorates and online residence permit platforms are integrated with domestic insurance systems, in practice, having a policy from a Turkish insurer is the simplest and most reliable way to satisfy the health insurance requirement for residence permits.
3. Work Permits and Employer-Based Coverage
Foreigners coming to Türkiye with a work permit are usually employed by a Turkish company or a Turkish branch of a foreign company. Under Turkish labour and social security law:
- Employees must be registered with SGK, and
- The employer pays social security premiums, which include general health insurance contributions.
For such foreigners:
- Once SGK registration is completed, they are effectively covered by public health insurance in Türkiye.
- Additional private health insurance is optional (unless required by the employer), but may still be useful due to faster access, better private hospital networks and extra benefits.
However, at the initial application stage, before SGK registration is fully active, consulates or immigration offices may still ask for interim private health insurance, especially if the person will enter Türkiye before work formally starts.
4. Students and Long-Term Residents
Foreign students and long-term residents face specific rules:
- Foreign students are generally required to have health insurance throughout their studies. They may either:
- Obtain a private policy meeting the residence permit criteria, or
- Under certain conditions and within a specific time frame, register with SGK voluntarily and pay their own general health insurance contributions.
- Long-term residents or those transitioning from one permit type to another must ensure uninterrupted health coverage. Gaps in coverage may cause difficulties during residence permit renewals or in accessing public healthcare services.
In all cases, it is important to check updated requirements of the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, as practice can change and there may be specific instructions for each residence permit category.
5. Practical Legal Tips for Foreigners
- Check the legal basis for your stay (tourist, student, worker, family member, property owner, etc.) and plan your health insurance accordingly.
- For stays up to 90 days, an international travel health policy that clearly covers Türkiye is generally enough for visa purposes.
- If you intend to apply for a residence permit, assume that you will need:
- A comprehensive health policy, not just travel insurance; and
- In practice, a policy issued by a Turkish insurer or coverage recognized by Turkish authorities (SGK or a social security agreement).
- Keep policy documents and translations readily available, especially if your policy is not in English or Turkish.
- Remember that uninsured medical treatment in private hospitals can be expensive, and unpaid healthcare debts may create immigration and enforcement problems in the future.
- Requirements and minimum coverage limits can change, so it is wise to consult:
- The nearest Turkish consulate,
- The official residence permit website, or
- A lawyer experienced in foreigners’ law and health insurance issues in Türkiye.
By understanding these basic legal rules and planning health insurance in advance, foreigners can enter and stay in Türkiye more safely, while complying with immigration and social security regulations.
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