Residence Insurance in Türkiye 2026: Renewal, Cancellation and Refunds

[TURKIYE]

Residence-Permit Health Insurance in Türkiye: Renewal, Cancellation and Refunds​

Expiry, renewal and cancellation are different​

• Expiry: the policy reaches its stated end date.
• Renewal: a new contract continues cover after the previous term.
• Cancellation: the policy ends early on a permitted ground.

Renewing a residence permit does not automatically renew the insurance. Nor does the insurer necessarily issue a replacement merely because the old policy expires.

When should you start renewing?​

The migration authority allows a residence extension application from 60 days before expiry, and the application must be made before the current permit ends.

Start early enough to:

• Decide the new residence period requested.
• Compare premiums and provider networks.
• Arrange dates without a gap.
• Issue suitable cover before completing the extension application.
• Check the identity details and dates before paying.

Allow time for an official correction endorsement if something is wrong.

What is continuous renewal?​

SEDDK's Sector Announcement 2022/2 describes a specific situation where renewal, or a new policy with the same insurer, before the end of the ten-day period mentioned in that announcement can be treated as continuous renewal after residence, visa or visa-exemption expiry. Under that residence-product rule, the waiting period is not imposed again on the qualifying renewed or new policy.

This is a specific insurance-continuity rule. It is not general permission to overstay or advice to leave the permit or policy expired. Arrange the new cover without a gap and ask the insurer to confirm continuity in writing.

It also does not mean all treatment during an uninsured gap is covered.

Why does continuity matter?​

A gap may lead to:

• No cover for treatment during the intervening period.
• Reassessment of health conditions.
• A dispute about whether the policy is a renewal or a new contract.
• Missing insurance evidence in the residence-extension file.
• Waiting-period issues, depending on the applicable rules and circumstances.

Continuity is particularly important when treatment or follow-up care is already underway.

Can this product be paid in instalments?​

Under Circular 2024/34, effective 1 April 2025, premiums for insurance issued for residence and visa applications are payable upfront.

Older descriptions of instalment payments for this product should not be treated as the current rule. Keep the receipt linked to the policy number.

Cancellation ground	Evidence	Refund basis
Replacement policy	Cover for the residence period	Days on risk and applicable contract rules
Residence cancellation or non-extension	Official decision	Days on risk and contract rules
Joining GSS	SGK document	Days on risk and contract rules
Refusal or withdrawal before decision	Official evidence	Full premium where no claim was paid

Making an online payment​

Can you cancel whenever you wish?​

A residence policy is not cancellable simply because you want the premium back. The special framework requires at least one permitted ground, including:

1. Presenting a replacement health policy that covers the residence period.
2. Cancellation or non-extension of the residence permit.
3. Joining GSS and providing the supporting SGK document.
4. Refusal of the residence application, or withdrawal before a decision.

The ground does not cancel the contract automatically. Submit a request and the required evidence to the insurer.

Reasons that do not by themselves guarantee cancellation​

These include:

• Having obtained the residence permit.
• Finding a lower price without arranging valid replacement cover.
• Not having used the policy.
• Moving to another Turkish city.
• Disliking the provider network without another applicable ground.
• Wishing to stop insurance while the residence permit continues.

If you intend to switch, first arrange suitable replacement cover, then submit it to the original insurer under the cancellation rules.

When is a full refund available?​

For refusal of a residence application, or withdrawal before a decision, the special rule provides a refund without deduction if no claim has been paid to or on behalf of the insured person.

The refund is due within five working days following receipt of the qualifying cancellation request. Provide the necessary evidence so the request can be assessed.

If a treatment claim has been paid, do not assume a full refund is due.

When is the refund calculated by days?​

For a valid replacement policy, residence cancellation/non-extension or entry into GSS, the special rule uses a daily calculation under insurance principles after the necessary evidence is submitted.

Illustration only: suppose an annual premium is TRY 12,000 and the insurer has been on risk for 90 days:

TRY 12,000 × 90 ÷ 365 ≈ TRY 2,959 for the elapsed period.
The arithmetic balance is approximately TRY 9,041.

This is not a guaranteed refund. Claims already paid and the applicable contract and insurance rules may affect the final calculation. Ask for a written breakdown.

Documents for each cancellation ground​

Replacement insurance

• The new policy.
• Dates showing cover for the required residence period.
• The new policy number.
• A written request to cancel the old policy.

Residence cancellation or non-extension

• The official decision or notification.
• The residence document or application details.
• The cancellation request.

Joining GSS

• SGK evidence of cover.
• The entitlement start date.
• The cancellation request.

Residence application refusal

• The official refusal.
• The application number.
• The cancellation and refund request.

Withdrawal before a decision

• Evidence that the application was formally withdrawn before a decision.
• The application number.
• The cancellation and refund request.

The insurer may also require identity documents, the old policy number, bank details and the payment receipt.

How to submit a cancellation and refund request​

1. Prepare evidence of the permitted ground.
2. Include your complete details and policy number.
3. Submit through a channel that records the receipt date.
4. Ask for a registration or tracking number.
5. Keep the request and attachments.
6. Request a written refund calculation.
7. Monitor the payment during the applicable period.
8. Check the policy status afterwards in e-Devlet.

A telephone conversation alone may not establish when the insurer received the request.

Step	Responsibility	Evidence to keep
Cancellation request	Insured person	Request, attachments and receipt date
Refund calculation	Insurer	Breakdown of days and relevant claims
Termination confirmation	Insurer	Notice and liability end date
Registration check	Insured person	Replacement policy or GSS evidence

Discussing care during a medical consultation​

Turkish cancellation and refund request template​

Adapt the following to your actual circumstances:

Konu: Yabancı Sağlık Sigortası Poliçe İptal ve Prim İade Talebi

Sayın Yetkili,

Şirketiniz tarafından düzenlenen, aşağıda bilgileri bulunan yabancı sağlık sigortası poliçemin iptal edilmesini ve ilgili mevzuat kapsamında iade edilmesi gereken prim tutarının tarafıma ödenmesini talep ediyorum.

Sigortalının Adı Soyadı:
Pasaport / Yabancı Kimlik Numarası:
Poliçe Numarası:
Poliçe Başlangıç Tarihi:
Poliçe Bitiş Tarihi:
İptal Talebinin Nedeni:
Banka / IBAN Bilgisi:

İptal nedenini gösteren resmi belge dilekçe ekinde sunulmuştur.

Başvurumun kayıt numarasının ve hesaplanan prim iade tutarının tarafıma yazılı olarak bildirilmesini arz ederim.

Tarih:
Ad Soyad:
İmza:
Telefon:
E-posta:

English meaning: “I request cancellation of the foreign health policy identified below and payment of any premium refund due under the applicable rules. I enclose official evidence of the cancellation ground and request written confirmation of the application reference and calculated refund.”

The fields ask for the insured person's full name, passport/foreign identity number, policy number, start and end dates, cancellation reason, bank/IBAN details, date, name, signature, telephone and email.

Useful terms:

• Poliçe İptal Talebi: policy cancellation request.
• Prim İade Talebi: premium refund request.
• İptal Nedeni: cancellation reason.
• Başvuru Kayıt Numarası: application registration number.

What happens when the policy ends?​

If the insurance ends for any reason, the insurer must notify the Presidency of Migration Management within five working days.

That duty is separate from the refund deadline:

• The refund rule concerns the insured person's rights when the cancellation conditions are met.
• The migration notification concerns the insurer's duty when cover ends.

Understand the effect on your residence file before cancelling.

How to confirm cancellation​

After approval:

• Obtain the cancellation document or notice.
• Check the date the insurer's liability ends.
• Obtain the refund calculation.
• Check receipt of the payment.
• Check the policy enquiry in e-Devlet.

An intermediary's short message saying “cancelled” is not enough.

If cancellation or a refund is refused​

1. Ask for the decision and reasons in writing.
2. Check which document is missing or why the ground is considered inapplicable.
3. Submit a formal written objection.
4. Keep proof of the original request date.
5. If unresolved, complain to SEDDK through e-Devlet.
6. For a monetary dispute, check eligibility for insurance arbitration after first applying to the insurer and meeting the Commission's conditions.

Common mistakes​

• Extending a residence permit without cover for the new period.
• Leaving a gap between policies.
• Switching insurers without checking waiting periods.
• Cancelling as soon as the residence permit is issued.
• Assuming no claims means an unconditional full refund.
• Requesting cancellation without official evidence.
• Confusing refusal of an application with simply deciding not to continue.
• Relying on an agent's oral promise.
• Deleting receipts and correspondence.

Renewal checklist​

• Start well before the permit and policy expire.
• Decide the requested new period.
• Arrange continuous dates.
• Check the name, identity number and dates.
• Check the provider network.
• Check waiting periods.
• Pay upfront and keep the receipt.
• Verify registration.
• Confirm replacement cover before cancelling the old policy.
• Keep both policies and renewal/cancellation notices.

Continuous cover supports the residence application and treatment access. Cancellation requires a permitted ground and evidence. A full refund for refusal or pre-decision withdrawal depends on no claim having been paid; other permitted cancellations normally use a daily calculation under the applicable rules.

Organising documents and an online application​

Related topics​

• Residence Health Insurance in Türkiye 2026: Requirements and Cover
• Verifying Residence Health Insurance in Türkiye 2026
• Using Residence Health Insurance in Türkiye 2026
• GSS for Foreign Residents in Türkiye 2026: Registration and Family Cover
• GSS Premiums for Foreign Residents in Türkiye 2026: 60/d, Debt and Payment
• Work Injuries in Türkiye 2026: SGK, Reporting and Occupational Diseases
• e-Nabız for Foreign Nationals in Türkiye 2026
• SGK on e-Devlet in Türkiye 2026: Eligibility, Premium Debt and Records

​