If you are a citizen of a country that has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement with Türkiye, you do not need to buy private health insurance. Instead, you can use your home country’s social security coverage, provided it is activated in Türkiye.

Common countries with such agreements include:

• Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and T.R.N.C. (Northern Cyprus). (https://www.sgk.gov.tr/Content/Post/ae180cac-8b02-465d-b637-99f2ca238213/Yurt-Disi-Saglik-Islemleri-2024-11-08-02-49-54 )

How to get an exemption (Provizyon Belgesi)

To prove you are exempt, you must follow these steps:

1. Obtain the required form: Before leaving your home country, get the specific social security document (for example, the A/T 11 form for Germany or the S1/SE 208 form for other countries) from your local insurance provider.

2. Visit an SGK office: Take this original document to a local Social Security Institution (SGK) office in the city where you will reside in Türkiye.

3. Get your Activation Document: The SGK office will verify your form and issue a "Provizyon Belgesi" (Activation or Coverage Document).

Using your Provizyon Belgesi

When you apply for your residence permit,( https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ )you will select the option for "Bilateral Social Security Agreement" in the insurance section. You must then:

• enter the dates and details of your Provizyon Belgesi into the online form.

• bring the original document to your residence permit appointment.

If you have this document, you do not need to pay for any additional private health insurance or monthly GSS premiums.