How to Get Health Insurance in Turkey

Yes, for most applicants. You must submit proof of valid health insurance covering the full duration of your permit application, issued by an insurer licensed to operate in Turkey. There are exceptions: applicants under 18 or over 65 are not subject to the standard mandatory insurance requirement (see the age exemption section below), and some categories — those with expenses covered by a public institution, or already covered by mandatory Turkish insurance — are also exempt.

No — not in the same way younger applicants do. Per Göç İdaresi (Turkey's Presidency of Migration Management) guidance, applicants over 65 are exempt from the standard valid-insurance requirement. For long-term residence permits specifically, an over-65 applicant only needs to provide documentation showing they were unable to obtain insurance (e.g. an insurer's rejection letter due to age), rather than an active policy. In practice many over-65 retirees still choose to buy an international policy for genuine medical protection, even though it isn't required for the permit itself.

Only in specific circumstances. Foreigners who hold a residence permit and have been legally resident in Turkey for more than one continuous year become eligible to enrol voluntarily in SGK's Genel Sağlık Sigortası (GSS), under Article 60(1)(d) of Law No. 5510 — provided they aren't already insured under their home country's system and reciprocity conditions are met. This makes SGK a realistic option after your first year, but it cannot be used to satisfy the insurance requirement during your first residence permit application, since that one-year clock hasn't started yet.

For 2026, the general health insurance (GSS) premium set by SGK is 6% of the gross national minimum wage for anyone whose income is above one-third of minimum wage — which works out to 1,981.80 TL per month for 2026, based on the 33,030 TL gross minimum wage. Those with per-capita household income below one-third of minimum wage have their premium subsidised by the state. This figure changes each year when the minimum wage is revised.

A basic Turkish private policy for a healthy adult under 30 typically starts around €30–45/month. Standard adult coverage runs €40–90/month depending on age and scope. International policies (Allianz Care, Cigna Global) start around €90–140/month for younger applicants and rise significantly with age and coverage breadth. Exact quotes always depend on age, declared health history, and whether you want outpatient-only or full inpatient + outpatient cover.

Turkey's insurance regulator, SEDDK, sets minimum coverage (teminat) limits that all residence-permit-compliant policies must meet — covering both outpatient (ayakta tedavi) and inpatient (yatarak tedavi) treatment, and, since the most recent update (effective April 2025), acute/sudden illnesses can no longer be excluded from the minimum package. The exact TL limits are revised periodically by SEDDK circular, so always confirm the current minimums with your insurer rather than relying on an old figure — and get written confirmation that the specific policy meets the current residence permit standard.

Yes. You need to show a valid policy covering the new permit period at the time of renewal. If your current policy does not extend far enough to cover the full renewal period, buy a new policy or an extension before submitting your renewal application. Start this process 4–6 weeks ahead — insurers can take a few business days to issue the certificate, and appointment slots for renewal fill up.

It depends on the insurer and policy. Many Turkish insurers exclude pre-existing conditions entirely or apply a premium loading and a waiting period once disclosed. International insurers are more likely to offer some pre-existing condition cover, at a materially higher price. Always disclose honestly on the application — non-disclosure is grounds for an insurer to deny a related claim later, even after the policy has already been accepted for the permit application.

Turkish insurers (Acıbadem Sigorta, Allianz Türkiye, Mapfre) are cheaper, satisfy residence permit requirements easily, and give strong access to Turkey's private hospital network, but coverage is generally limited to Turkey. International insurers (Allianz Care, Cigna Global) cost more but add worldwide coverage, medical evacuation, and higher annual limits — useful if you travel frequently or want cover outside Turkey too. Confirm any international policy is specifically underwritten to satisfy Turkish residence permit rules before relying on it for that purpose.

Basic Turkish policies aimed at satisfying the permit requirement usually exclude or sharply limit dental and vision care. If these matter to you, look for a mid-tier or comprehensive plan that explicitly lists dental/vision benefits, or budget to pay out of pocket — dental care in Turkey is inexpensive by Western European standards even without insurance.

At larger private hospitals (Acıbadem, Memorial, Florence Nightingale, Medipol, Anadolu Medical Center, Liv) the hospital's international patient department verifies your policy and bills the insurer directly, so you usually only pay any co-payment at the counter. For outpatient visits, opticians, or smaller clinics, you may need to pay upfront and submit the receipt for reimbursement through the insurer's app or portal — Turkish insurers typically process straightforward claims within 1–2 weeks.

Yes — most Turkish and international insurers offer family policies covering a spouse and children under one plan, usually at a lower combined cost than separate individual policies. For family residence permit applications, the supporting family member must hold insurance that covers every family member included in the application.

No. Standard travel insurance (built for short trips) is not designed to satisfy Turkish residence permit rules and is typically rejected. You need a health insurance policy specifically marketed and underwritten as valid for ikamet applications — ask the insurer to confirm this explicitly before buying.

The most common reasons are: the policy doesn't cover the full requested permit period, the insurer isn't licensed to sell ikamet-compliant policies in Turkey, or the coverage limits fall below SEDDK's current minimums. If rejected, contact the insurer immediately for a corrected certificate — most can reissue one within a few business days — then resubmit before your appointment or file expiry.