Turkey
Digital Nomad Visa (Identification Certificate): health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
Yes, and uniquely it wants a local policy. Turkey's digital nomad route (launched 2024 via the official goturkiye portal) leads to a short-term residence permit, and Turkish residence permits require a Turkish-licensed private health insurance policy meeting the regulator's minimum cover, not just any international plan. It is for remote workers aged 21 to 55 with a university degree, earning at least US$3,000 a month from a company outside Turkey.
The requirements at a glance
| Local-licensed insurer required | Yes: international IPMI alone is usually rejected |
|---|---|
| Accepted proof | A Turkish-licensed private health insurance policy ('yabancı sağlık sigortası') meeting the regulator's minimum cover for the full permit duration. International-only policies are generally not accepted on their own for the residence permit. |
Apply online at goturkiye for a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, then obtain the visa and a short-term residence permit (Article 31, Law 6458). Eligibility: age 21–55, university degree, remote work for a company outside Turkey, income of at least US$3,000/month. Minimum insurance cover levels are set in Turkish lira and adjusted over time (a regulated outpatient/inpatient minimum has applied since April 2025); confirm the current figures when you buy.
Our take
Turkey is the exception to the usual nomad-visa pattern: your existing international plan probably will not satisfy the permit on its own, you will need a compliant Turkish policy.
Budget for that local policy, and keep your international cover for medical evacuation and care outside Turkey, which the local policy may not handle.
What happens if you get it wrong
Submitting an international-only policy can stall the residence-permit step, since the regulator expects a Turkish-licensed policy.
Because the lira-denominated minimums change, a policy bought to an old figure can fall short, so check the current minimum at purchase.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in Turkey without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$1,500–$6,000
A private surgery or multi-day admission; indicative.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
A Turkish-licensed private health insurance policy meeting the regulator's minimum cover, for the full permit duration. An international-only policy is generally not enough on its own.
Usually not on its own for the residence permit. Plan to buy a compliant Turkish policy, and keep international cover for evacuation and care elsewhere.
Age 21 to 55, a university degree, remote work for a company outside Turkey, and income of at least US$3,000 a month.
Turkey sets minimum outpatient and inpatient cover levels in lira, adjusted over time. Confirm the current figures with a Turkish insurer when you apply.
Apply online at the official goturkiye portal for a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, then convert it to a visa and a short-term residence permit.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: digitalnomads.goturkiye.comLast verified
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