SGK stands for ‘Social Security Institution’, ‘Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu’ in Turkish.
If you already have SGK, you can obtain the health insurance policy from e-Devlet as mentioned here.
International students are highly recommended to activate a Student Social Security (SGK – Public General Health Insurance) within 3 months of registration at KU. If you missed this time period, you will be charged without a student discount.
How to Apply
1. Collect the required documents
- Passport and tax number
- Residence Permit Card (if you have)
- A Student Enrollment Verification that indicates your temporary or permanent foreign ID number
2. Visit the Sarıyer SGK Office
The staff will give more instructions on how to proceed (how much you should pay, where and how you can make the payment, etc.). If you are within the first 3 months of your student enrollment to KU, please mention that you want to pay the student SGK amount (“Öğrenci olarak sigorta yaptırmak istiyorum”).
For more details, you can call SGK’s hotline: 170. They have an English option too. You may also email SGK at: gss@sgk.gov.tr
There are certain European countries that have an agreement with Türkiye regarding general health insurance where you can access emergency public health care services in Türkiye equivalent to health care services in your home country.
If your country is listed below, please check the Home Country Social Security page and read up on how to activate it.
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), Romania
You can obtain private health insurance upon your arrival in Türkiye from any private health insurance company. You must have a tax ID number for this transaction.
There is Allianz Health Insurance and Doğa Sigorta which the university works with that you may have a look at. For detailed information regarding fees and coverage, you may consult them directly.
Alternatively, you may also look for and find other companies by yourself. In that case, please specify that you are going to apply for a residence permit with your insurance. Your insurance must be issued accordingly.
Disclaimer: We do not provide assistance or assume any responsibility with health insurance. You must contact the agencies, follow through with all transactions, and make sure you understand your policy coverage very well.
It is very important that your private insurance policy has the following statement:
İşbu poliçe 16/06/2021 tarih ve 2021/8 sayılı Vize ve İkamet Taleplerinde yaptırılacak özel sağlık sigortalarına ilişkin genelgede belirlenen asgari teminatın yapısını kapsamaktadır.
In English: “This policy covers the structure of the minimum coverage determined in the circular numbered 2021/8 regarding private health insurance to be obtained for visa and residence permit applications dated 16/06/2021.”