Health insurance isn't optional for a residence permit application — it's a mandatory document, and it has to meet specific minimum requirements.
Step 1: Confirm the minimum coverage threshold As of 2025, the migration authorities require a minimum of 15,000 TL outpatient coverage and 150,000 TL inpatient coverage per year. Confirm the current threshold directly with your chosen insurer before buying, since these figures are updated periodically.
Step 2: Buy from a Turkish insurer specifically — not foreign travel insurance Foreign travel insurance, even comprehensive international policies, is not accepted for residence permit purposes. Buy directly from a Turkish insurance company. Established options that regularly issue this specific policy type include Allianz Sigorta, AXA Sigorta, Mapfre Sigorta, and Anadolu Sigorta.
Step 3: Make sure the policy period matches your permit request exactly If you're applying for a 1-year residence permit, your insurance needs to cover the full 1-year period without gaps. A policy that expires partway through your requested permit period is a common cause of application delays.
Step 4: Know the alternative — public healthcare (SGK) Once you hold a valid residence permit, you become eligible to pay into Turkey's public healthcare system (SGK), which offers considerably lower monthly costs than private insurance for ongoing coverage. This isn't available before you have the permit, so private insurance is the only option for your first application.
Step 5: Compare quotes before committing ● Get quotes from at least 2-3 insurers — pricing varies meaningfully between them for equivalent coverage ● Confirm exactly what's excluded — pre-existing conditions and specific treatments are common exclusions worth knowing about upfront ● Ask specifically: 'Does this policy meet the current Goc Idaresi minimum coverage requirement for a residence permit?' — get this confirmation in writing if possible