When foreign nationals start working in Turkey, they must inform this to the Social Security Institution. If the citizens of the countries that are parties to the bilateral social security contract are insured in their home country, they can benefit from health services in Turkey within the scope of this insurance within the period specified in the contract.

For the citizens that are non-parties to the bilateral social security contract, Social Security and General Health Insurance Law has addressed this situation as follows:

‘’Foreigners who work on service contract, excluding the citizens of countries with which international social security contract is entered based on reciprocity principle, deemed to be insurance holders.’’

Which foreign nationals can benefit from universal health insurance?

Considering the principal of reciprocity, foreign nationals

• who has receive residence permit,

• who are not insured under any foreign social security legislation and have no right to benefit from health insurance,

• whose residence duration exceeds continually one-year in Turkey and applied to benefit from universal health insurance as of this date shall benefit from universal health insurance.

It is not obligatory for foreign nationals to apply for universal health insurance. Foreign nationals who want to benefit from universal health insurance are required to submit their application to the nearest provincial/central directorate of social security institution in the place of their residence.

Dependants of foreign nationals can receive healthcare services under universal health insurance as described below.

On condition that they reside in homeland territory, except for those who study abroad, and are not insured under the legislation of any country, foreign nationals’

• Partners,
• Children under the age of 18,
• Unmarried children under the age of 20 in case of receiving high school education,
• Unmarried children under the age of 25 in case of receiving university education,
• Unmarried children who are ascertained disabled regardless of their age,
• Parents who are identified to be looked after by foreign nationals according to the criteria determined by the Institution, shall benefit from healthcare services.