Turkey (TR)

Turkey is a transcontinental nation straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, uniting 85 million people under a rich civilisational heritage stretching from the ancient Hittites and Romans to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire.

Capital: Ankara

Region: Europe

Language: Turkish

Currency: TRY (₺)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 35)

Emergency: 112

Social Security in Turkey

Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.

Turkey's social security system is managed by SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu — Social Security Institution). The system covers: pension (emeklilik), health insurance (GSS — Genel Sağlık Sigortası), work injury (iş kazası), occupational disease, maternity, and unemployment insurance. There are three main contributor categories: 4/a (wage employees — SSK), 4/b (self-employed and Bağ-Kur), and 4/c (civil servants). Foreign workers with Turkish work permits are automatically enrolled in 4/a status through their employer. Turkey has social security totalization agreements with approximately 28 countries. The system is under ongoing reform — retirement ages are being gradually raised.

SGK Number / TC Kimlik Numarası

SGK Sicil Numarası

For employed foreigners: SGK registration is done automatically by your employer (işveren) when you start work. Your TC identity number (YKN — Yabancı Kimlik Numarası for foreigners) serves as the main identifier. For voluntary/self-employed enrollment: apply at local SGK İl Müdürlüğü (Provincial Directorate) with YKN, passport, and address proof.

Used for

Healthcare access (Genel Sağlık Sigortası — GSS)
Pension contributions tracking
Maternity and sickness benefit claims
Unemployment benefit (İşsizlik Ödeneği) through İŞKUR
Work injury (İş Kazası) compensation
Social assistance applications (some)
Verification of employment status

Benefits & Support Payments

General Health Insurance

Genel Sağlık Sigortası (GSS)

Covered services at public hospitals with co-payments (katılım payı). Employee pays 5% of salary as GSS contribution; employer 7.5%.

Health insurance coverage for worker and dependents — access to public hospitals, Aile Hekimi (family doctor), and partially subsidised medications.

Eligibility

All employees registered with SGK (4/a). Self-employed with Bağ-Kur (4/b). Voluntary enrollment possible for foreigners with residency. Low-income individuals (yeşil kart holders historically) covered through state.

How to Apply

Automatic through employer registration. Voluntary: apply at SGK office with YKN. Access via Aile Hekimi registration at local health centre.

GSS is the backbone of Turkish public healthcare access. Without it, public hospital visits require out-of-pocket payment. Foreign workers on work permits have the same rights as Turkish employees for GSS.

State Pension

SGK Emeklilik (Yaşlılık Aylığı)

Calculated based on: years of service, total contributions, and entry age. Average pension in 2026: approximately TRY 15,000–25,000/month (very low in EUR/USD terms due to TRY depreciation — approximately €400–700). Subject to annual inflation adjustment.

Contributory state pension based on years of SGK premium payment and age at retirement.

Eligibility

Requirements for retirement: women: 58 years old (being raised to 65 by 2048 under reform); men: 60 years old (being raised to 65 by 2048). Plus minimum 7,000 days (approximately 20 years) of premium contributions. The 2023 EYT (Emeklilikte Yaşa Takılanlar) reform allowed millions to retire early based on contribution days without age requirement — that reform is specific to those who had accumulated contributions before 1999 law changes.

How to Apply

Apply through SGK (sgk.gov.tr) or e-Devlet portal. Submit with YKN, contribution records, and bank account details. Processing: 2–4 months.

Foreign workers who accumulate SGK contributions but leave Turkey before retirement age retain their contribution records — pension payable at retirement age to any country with a totalization agreement or directly if contribution period met. For short-term stays: refund (toptan ödeme) available under certain conditions for non-Turkish citizens.

Unemployment Benefit

İşsizlik Ödeneği

40% of average gross daily earnings over the last 4 months × 30 days. Maximum monthly amount: approximately TRY 20,000–25,000 (2026 — check İŞKUR for current rate). Minimum: minimum wage level.

Monthly cash benefit for involuntarily unemployed workers who have accumulated sufficient SGK contribution days.

Eligibility

Requirements: involuntary unemployment (layoff — not resignation or dismissal for just cause); 600 days of İşsizlik Sigortası premium in last 3 years; applied to İŞKUR within 30 days of unemployment; must be actively seeking employment.

How to Apply

Apply at İŞKUR (iskur.gov.tr) online or in person within 30 days of unemployment. Submit: SGK contribution record, termination document (fesih belgesi), bank account details.

Duration of benefit: 180 days if 600–900 days contributions; 240 days if 900–1,080 days; 300 days if 1,080+ days. Foreign workers with work permits who are involuntarily unemployed are equally eligible if contribution requirements met. While receiving benefit: must report to İŞKUR monthly and confirm active job search.

Work Injury Benefit

İş Kazası ve Meslek Hastalığı Yardımı

Temporary incapacity: 50% of average daily earnings (inpatient) or 66.6% (outpatient). Permanent partial disability: pension based on degree of disability. Death: survivor pension to dependents.

Compensation for injuries sustained in workplace accidents or from occupational diseases. Covers temporary incapacity, permanent disability, and death.

Eligibility

All SGK-registered employees. No minimum contribution period required — effective from first day of work. Employer must report injury within 3 working days.

How to Apply

Employer reports to SGK. Employee or family applies for benefits at SGK. Work injury must be officially recorded. Legal action against employer possible for negligence.

Employer is criminally and civilly liable for work accidents caused by negligence. Turkey has a significant work injury problem — construction, mining, and manufacturing sectors particularly affected. Foreign workers have the same protections as Turkish employees.

Maternity Benefit

Analık Ödeneği

100% of daily earnings for 16 weeks (8 before birth + 8 after). Based on SGK contribution base (prime esas kazanç).

SGK pays maternity benefit equivalent to full salary for the statutory maternity leave period (8+8 weeks).

Eligibility

Minimum 90 days of GSS contributions in the year before birth. Mother must be SGK-registered. Foreign mothers with work permits and SGK contributions are fully eligible.

How to Apply

Through employer SGK system. Birth certificate required. Apply within 2 years of birth.

SGK pays the maternity benefit directly to the employee or via employer depending on company arrangement. If employer has paid salary during leave: SGK reimburses the employer.

Death and Survivor Pension

Ölüm Aylığı / Cenaze Yardımı

Survivor pension: based on deceased's contribution history. Cenaze yardımı (funeral benefit): approximately TRY 5,000–10,000 one-off payment (2026).

Survivor pension for dependents of deceased SGK contributor; funeral benefit (cenaze yardımı) for immediate family.

Eligibility

Dependents of deceased active SGK contributor or pensioner. Minimum contribution requirements apply.

How to Apply

Apply at SGK with death certificate, family records, and bank account details.

Foreign national dependents of Turkish or foreign SGK contributors may be eligible — subject to totalization agreement conditions.

Contribution Overview

SGK contributions for employees (4/a): Employee: 9% pension + 5% health + 1% unemployment = 15% total employee contribution. Employer: 11% pension + 7.5% health + 2% unemployment + 2% work injury (variable by sector risk) = approximately 20.5–22.5% total employer contribution. Contributions calculated on monthly premium base (prime esas kazanç) up to the premium ceiling (tavan — approximately 7.5 times minimum wage in 2026). Stamp duty (damga vergisi) on salary: 0.759%. Minimum premium base: minimum wage (asgari ücret). Maximum premium base: approximately TRY 165,000–175,000/month in 2026 (adjusted regularly for inflation).

International Social Security Agreements

Turkey has bilateral social security agreements (ikili sosyal güvenlik anlaşmaları) with approximately 28 countries: Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, UK, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA (partial), Canada, Australia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Cyprus, Albania, Libya, Qatar, and others. These agreements allow: contribution periods in both countries to be totaled for pension eligibility, healthcare access for workers on temporary assignment, and pension portability. Check the full list at sgk.gov.tr. Countries without agreements: your Turkish SGK contributions may still be portable as pension rights but you must meet Turkish minimum contribution requirements independently.

The EYT (Emeklilikte Yaşa Takılanlar) reform of 2023 allowed approximately 2.3 million Turkish workers to retire without meeting the minimum age requirement (based only on contribution days) — this was a one-time measure that created a massive strain on the pension system and highlighted Turkey's pension sustainability challenges. New entrants to SGK face the standard age-based retirement requirements. The BES (Bireysel Emeklilik Sistemi — Private Pension System) provides a voluntary supplement: the government matches 30% of contributions up to certain limits. For long-term Turkey residents: consider BES contributions as an inflation-hedging additional pension vehicle.

Premium Section

Social Security

Unlock the complete Social Security guide for Turkey — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.

Become a Supporter

Support the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere