Turkey requires health insurance for the student residence permit (ikamet izni). The state GSS scheme costs ₺1,321.20/month in 2026 (≈ €24) — provided you apply within 3 months of your first enrolment.
Apply in writing at the SGK provincial directorate or social security centre where your university is located, with a student certificate (öğrenci belgesi) showing your first enrolment date. Cover starts the day after your application. Covers family doctors, state hospitals, emergency care, surgery and prescriptions (20% co-pay).
Sold by insurers licensed in Turkey. The policy must meet the minimum cover set by Turkey's insurance regulator and cover the whole permit period. Check which private hospitals are in the insurer's network — outpatient benefits are often limited.
Many Turkish universities run a campus health centre (sağlık merkezi or mediko) with basic GP care for enrolled students. It does not replace health insurance: hospital stays, surgery and specialist care are not included.
| Item | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SGK / GSS premium (student rate 2026) | ₺1,321.20/month (≈ €24) = ₺15,854/year (≈ €285) | 12% of one third of the gross minimum wage (₺33,030/month in 2026), reset every January. You pay it yourself every month. |
| Family doctor visit (aile hekimi) | ₺0 with GSS | No examination co-payment at family doctors and other primary care. Outpatient examinations cost ₺26 at state hospitals and ₺60 at SGK-contracted private hospitals (2026); a family-doctor referral halves this. |
| Private hospital with an SGK contract | ₺60 co-pay + possible additional fee | Contracted private hospitals may charge an additional fee (ilave ücret) of up to twice the SGK tariff. No additional fee may be charged for emergency procedures and emergency observation within 24 hours. |
| Prescription medication | 20% co-pay with GSS | You pay 20% of the price of covered outpatient medicines at the pharmacy (eczane), plus a small fee per prescription. |
| Treatment without insurance | Full cost | Uninsured patients pay the full price of treatment — and cannot obtain or renew a residence permit without valid health insurance. |
Turkey’s state health insurance for international students is affordable: ₺15,854 (about €285) per year in 2026. The catch is a strict deadline. Here’s what you actually need to know.
SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) is Turkey’s Social Security Institution. International students can join its General Health Insurance (GSS, Genel Sağlık Sigortası) for ₺1,321.20/month (≈ €24) in 2026. The premium is 12% of one third of the gross minimum wage (₺33,030 in 2026) and is reset every January.
What this buys you:
Private hospitals (özel hastane) with an SGK contract also accept GSS, but they may charge an additional fee of up to twice the SGK tariff — except for emergency care.
The 3-month rule: you must apply within 3 months of your first university enrolment. If you miss it, you cannot join GSS for the rest of your studies.
Go to the SGK provincial directorate or social security centre (Sosyal Güvenlik Merkezi) where your university is located, with:
Cover starts the day after your application. Keep the SGK document — you’ll need it for your ikamet application.
You cannot stay in Turkey for more than 90 days without a residence permit (ikamet izni). Health insurance is one of the required documents — and students who applied for GSS within the 3 months need no extra private policy.
Apply online at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr within one month of arrival.
Residence-permit health insurance from a Turkish insurer makes sense if:
Only policies from insurers licensed in Turkey are accepted for applications made inside Turkey — an international plan bought at home is not enough.
Complete guide to health insurance and the SGK system for international students in Turkey.
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