Health Insurance & Healthcare
Incoming Erasmus+ students must have appropriate health coverage during their mobility period in Türkiye.
Please note that insurance used for travel or Erasmus+ mobility purposes and health coverage accepted for a residence permit are not necessarily the same.
Maintain appropriate health coverage throughout your Erasmus+ mobility.
Not every travel or international insurance policy is automatically accepted for residence permit purposes.
Some students may qualify through SGK or a bilateral social security agreement.
Public, university and private healthcare facilities are available in Sivas.
Your existing health or travel insurance may not be valid for the residence permit application
An insurance policy purchased for travel, Erasmus+ mobility, emergency healthcare or general international coverage does not automatically mean that the policy will be accepted as valid health insurance for a Turkish residence permit.
For residence permit purposes, the student must provide a form of health coverage accepted under the current rules of the Presidency of Migration Management.
If your existing insurance cannot be used for the residence permit application, you will need to obtain an additional health insurance policy or other eligible health coverage specifically acceptable for the residence permit procedure.
Health Insurance During Your Mobility
Incoming students are responsible for ensuring that they have appropriate healthcare coverage for the duration of their stay in Türkiye.
Existing International Insurance
A student may arrive in Türkiye with international, travel or mobility health insurance arranged in the home country.
Students should check the policy’s territorial validity, duration, healthcare coverage, exclusions and reimbursement conditions before travelling.
Private Health Insurance in Türkiye
Students may obtain private health insurance from an authorised insurance provider in Türkiye.
The type of policy required may depend on whether the insurance is being used for general healthcare coverage, Erasmus+ mobility requirements or a residence permit application.
Do not rely on the European Health Insurance Card alone
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) system does not generally cover Türkiye. An EHIC should therefore not be considered, by itself, sufficient evidence of healthcare entitlement or residence-permit health insurance in Türkiye.
Students from countries that have a bilateral social security agreement with Türkiye should instead check whether they can obtain the relevant healthcare entitlement document from their national social security institution.
Health Insurance for Residence Permit Applications
Residence permit applications have specific health coverage requirements. Having an existing Erasmus+, travel or private insurance policy does not automatically mean that this requirement has been satisfied.
Residence-permit-valid health coverage must be documented
The insurance or health coverage used for the residence permit must satisfy the current requirements of the competent Turkish authorities and must cover the applicable period.
If the student’s existing insurance does not meet these requirements, an additional residence-permit-compatible health insurance policy must be obtained.
What May Be Accepted for a Residence Permit?
Bilateral Social Security Agreement
Where applicable, an official document obtained through the Turkish Social Security Institution confirming that the student benefits from healthcare in Türkiye under a bilateral social security agreement may be used.
SGK / General Health Insurance
Eligible foreign students may use documentation showing their coverage or application under the Turkish Social Security Institution’s General Health Insurance system, subject to the applicable rules and deadlines.
Private Health Insurance
A private health insurance policy suitable for residence permit purposes may be used where the student is not covered through an eligible SGK or bilateral social security arrangement.
General Health Insurance may be an alternative
Under the applicable student residence permit rules, foreign students who apply for General Health Insurance through SGK within the prescribed period following enrolment may use their SGK coverage for the residence permit procedure.
Students who do not obtain or cannot benefit from this coverage may be required to provide private health insurance that is acceptable for residence permit purposes.
Not Every Insurance Policy Is Accepted
A standard travel policy should not automatically be assumed to satisfy residence permit requirements.
Foreign private insurance may provide healthcare coverage but may not necessarily be accepted as the required residence permit insurance document.
Insurance obtained for mobility purposes may have different coverage and documentary requirements from residence permit insurance.
The insurance or SGK documentation submitted must be acceptable under the current residence permit procedure.
Do not purchase a second policy unnecessarily before checking
Students may already have travel or mobility insurance before arriving in Türkiye. Keep this policy for the purpose for which it was issued.
When the residence permit process begins, first determine whether your existing health coverage, bilateral social security rights or SGK status can be used for the residence permit application.
If none of these options is accepted, obtain a separate private health insurance policy that is suitable for the residence permit application.
Bilateral Health Coverage
Türkiye has bilateral social security agreements with a number of countries that include provisions concerning healthcare benefits.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
Countries with Health Provisions
SGK currently states that healthcare benefit implementation has not yet started for Azerbaijan, Italy and Tunisia. Eligibility and scope also differ between agreements.
Healthcare Through Bilateral Agreements
Health Benefit Certificate & YUPASS
Eligible foreign insured persons from contracting countries should obtain the appropriate health-benefit certificate from their home-country social security institution.
The document is presented to the relevant Social Security Directorate / Social Security Centre in Türkiye. Where the applicable agreement permits, the individual may then receive a YUPASS number for access to contracted healthcare providers.
Official Insurance & Residence Resources
Hospitals & Health Services
Students can access university, public and private healthcare facilities in Sivas according to their insurance and healthcare entitlement.
Erasmus+ Institutional Coordination Office
The Office can provide procedural guidance regarding incoming mobility and residence permit documentation. The final assessment of whether a health insurance document is acceptable for residence permit purposes belongs to the competent public authorities.
