Social security rights in Turkey are governed mainly by the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510, administered by the Social Security Institution (SGK). Before suing the SGK, a written application to the Institution is generally mandatory; if it does not respond within 60 days, the request is deemed rejected and the case can be filed. Work that the employer did not report can be established by a service determination action, which must be filed within five years from the end of the year in which the work was performed. Foreign employees working in Turkey are, as a rule, covered by the Turkish system unless a social security agreement provides otherwise. Social security disputes are heard by the labour courts.
The Turkish social security system
Social security law protects employees, the self-employed and public servants against risks such as old age, invalidity, death, work accidents, occupational diseases, sickness and maternity. Since 2008 the core legislation has been Law No. 5510, under which insured persons fall into three main groups:
| Status | Who is covered | Former scheme |
|---|---|---|
| 4/a | Employees working for one or more employers under an employment contract | SSK |
| 4/b | The self-employed (tradespeople, professionals, company partners and similar) | Bağ-Kur |
| 4/c | Public servants employed by public administrations | Emekli Sandığı |
The most common disputes concern rejected pension applications, missing or unreported periods of work, conflicts between statuses, buy-back (borçlanma) applications, objections to invalidity ratings, recovery of benefits paid in error and administrative fines imposed on employers. For employee claims and work accident compensation against employers, see our labour law guide.
Foreign nationals and the Turkish system
- Foreign employees in Turkey: Foreign nationals working in Turkey under a work permit are, as a rule, insured under the 4/a status and the employer must register and pay contributions for them, in the same way as for Turkish employees.
- Social security agreements: Turkey has bilateral social security agreements with a number of countries. Depending on the agreement, an employee temporarily posted to Turkey may remain insured in the home country (usually proven with a certificate of coverage), and insurance periods in both countries may be taken into account (totalisation) for pension rights. Whether an agreement exists and what it provides must be checked for each country.
- General health insurance: Foreign residents who are not insured under another country's legislation may, under the conditions set by Law No. 5510, register for general health insurance after a minimum period of residence. Residence permit applications usually require private health insurance until then. See our immigration law guide.
- Company directors and shareholders: Foreign partners or directors of Turkish companies may fall within the 4/b status depending on their role; their position should be clarified at the outset to avoid unexpected contribution debts.
Retirement (old-age pension) conditions
Entitlement to an old-age pension generally requires three conditions together: age, length of insurance and number of premium days. These vary considerably according to the date of first insurance, the status and the person's sex. For those insured before Law No. 5510, the gradual conditions in its transitional provisions apply; for those insured afterwards, Article 28 applies.
For those first insured before 8 September 1999, the age requirement was abolished by Law No. 7438 in 2023 (widely known as EYT). They can apply for a pension regardless of age once they meet the length of insurance and premium-day requirements.
Periods in different statuses, bought-back periods and service abroad directly affect pension conditions. Before applying, review your service record on e-Devlet and identify any missing periods.
Service determination action
Work that the employer never reported, reported late, or reported with missing days or a lower wage can be recorded through a service determination action (hizmet tespiti davası). This matters greatly for pension rights, as every unreported day can delay retirement or reduce the pension.
- The action is filed against the employer and the SGK, which joins as an intervening party.
- Unlike other SGK cases, no prior application to the Institution is required.
- The action must be filed within five years from the end of the year in which the work was performed (Law No. 5510, Art. 86). This is a peremptory time limit, but it does not apply if the work was reported to or established by the Institution in any way.
- Proof is provided through witnesses, co-workers on the payroll, workplace records, bank transfers and inspection reports. The court investigates of its own motion.
Combining periods and status conflicts
Periods worked as an employee (4/a), self-employed (4/b) and public servant (4/c) are combined for retirement (Art. 53). The status from which the pension is paid is generally the one with the most premium days in the last seven years of actual service; in case of equality, the last status applies.
Working in more than one status in the same period, for example being an employee while also a company partner, creates a status conflict, resolved by an order of priority set in the law. A common problem in practice is that periods with unpaid 4/b contributions are not counted and the pension application is rejected; such periods generally do not count until the debt is paid.
Buying back periods: military service, childbirth and periods abroad
Certain periods listed in the law can be added to the insurance record by paying contributions for them (Art. 41). This can bring retirement forward and affect the pension amount:
- Military service as a private or non-commissioned officer
- Certain periods after childbirth for insured women, up to the number of births set by law
- Unpaid maternity leave, periods missing in part-time work, doctoral studies and some other periods
- Periods abroad: Turkish citizens, and former citizens holding the Blue Card, can buy back periods of work and of being a homemaker abroad under Law No. 3201
The buy-back amount is calculated on the insurable earnings at the date of application and must be paid within the period set by law after notification; otherwise the buy-back lapses. Periods spent in countries with which Turkey has a social security agreement are assessed under that agreement's rules, which may be more favourable than buying them back.
Invalidity pension and objections to the invalidity rating
An insured person who has lost at least 60% of their working capacity due to illness or disability, as determined by the SGK Health Board, is considered invalid (Art. 25). An invalidity pension generally requires at least ten years of insurance and 1,800 premium days; the insurance-length condition does not apply to those who need permanent care from another person.
- ApplicationThe insured person applies to the SGK and is referred to an authorised hospital for a medical board report.
- SGK Health BoardThe report and medical documents are examined by the Health Board, which determines the degree of loss of working capacity.
- Decision and objectionThe Board's decision can be challenged by objection to the Institution; if the objection is rejected, an action can be filed in the labour court.
- Court proceedingsThe court usually obtains a report from the relevant specialist board of the Forensic Medicine Institute; any contradictions between reports must be resolved.
Permanent incapacity resulting from a work accident or occupational disease is compensated by a permanent incapacity income rather than an invalidity pension. Claims against the employer are discussed in our compensation guide.
Survivors' pensions
The spouse, children and, under the conditions in the law, the parents of a deceased insured person or pensioner can receive a survivors' pension (Arts. 32–34). Children's entitlement depends on age, education, marriage and employment; daughters' entitlement is subject to special conditions. A survivor's marriage or employment can lead to the pension being stopped.
A frequent problem is that payments continue after the conditions for stopping them arise and are reclaimed years later as overpayments. Whether the overpayment resulted from the beneficiary's fault or the Institution's error directly affects how much can be reclaimed and whether interest applies (Art. 96). Objections to such debt notices should be filed in time.
Contribution debts and administrative fines
Employers and self-employed persons may be pursued by the SGK for unpaid contributions. SGK receivables are collected under Law No. 6183 on the Collection of Public Receivables, through payment orders, attachment and other means. Company partners and managers can be held liable for company debts under the conditions in the law.
Administrative fines are imposed on employers for late registration, under-reporting and unregistered employment. The procedure for challenging them is (Art. 102):
- Objection to the InstitutionAn objection is filed with the provincial social security directorate within 15 days of notification. The objection suspends collection.
- LawsuitIf the objection is rejected, an action can be filed in the labour court within 30 days of notification of the rejection.
The law also provides for a reduction if the fine is paid within a set period after notification; check the current rate and conditions. Objections to payment orders are subject to a separate, short time limit. Similar issues for tax debts are covered in our tax law guide.
Mandatory prior application to the SGK
In actions by insured persons or beneficiaries against the SGK, a written application to the Institution must be made before suing (Labour Courts Law No. 7036, Art. 4). If the Institution does not respond within 60 days, the request is deemed rejected. An action filed without this application may be dismissed on procedural grounds. Service determination actions are exempt.
Unlike employment disputes, social security disputes are not subject to mandatory mediation.
Competent courts
| Dispute | Court |
|---|---|
| Retirement, invalidity, survivors' pensions, service determination, buy-back, overpayments | Labour court (civil court of first instance where there is no labour court) |
| SGK administrative fines and contribution debts | Labour court |
| General regulatory acts of the Institution and certain public servant matters | Administrative court |
| SGK recourse actions against employers for work accidents and occupational diseases | Labour court |
Jurisdiction generally lies with the court of the insured person's domicile or the place of work. For some disputes concerning the retirement of public servants (4/c), the administrative courts are competent.
Time limits
| Item | Period | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Service determination action | 5 years from the end of the year in which the work was performed | Law No. 5510, Art. 86 |
| SGK response to an application | 60 days (no response = rejection) | Law No. 7036, Art. 4 |
| Objection to an administrative fine | 15 days from notification | Law No. 5510, Art. 102 |
| Lawsuit after rejection of the objection | 30 days from notification of the rejection | Law No. 5510, Art. 102 |
| Work accident determination, compensation and other claims | Varies with the type of dispute | Law No. 5510; Code of Obligations |
Retirement age and premium-day transition tables, buy-back amounts, minimum and maximum insurable earnings, fine amounts and reduction rates change frequently. Check the current legislation and SGK announcements before taking action.
Documents usually required
- An up-to-date SGK service record and registration document from e-Devlet
- The Institution's rejection letter, debt notice or fine notification
- For service determination: employment contract, payslips, bank statements, workplace entry cards, correspondence and witness details
- For buy-back: military discharge document, children's civil registry records, documents on service abroad (translated where necessary)
- For foreign employees: work permit, residence permit and, where relevant, a certificate of coverage under a social security agreement
- For invalidity: medical reports, discharge summaries, test and imaging results
- For survivors' pensions: certificate of inheritance or civil registry record, death certificate
Relevant legislation
Turkish legislation is published (in Turkish) at mevzuat.gov.tr:
- Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 — Arts. 4, 25–28, 32–34, 41, 53, 86, 96, 102
- Labour Courts Law No. 7036 — Art. 4
- Law No. 7438 (2023)
- Law No. 3201 on periods spent abroad by Turkish citizens
- Law No. 6183 on the Collection of Public Receivables
- Bilateral social security agreements to which Turkey is a party
Social Security Law: topics
The main topics within Turkish social security law are listed below. Detailed guides for each are in preparation.
- Retirement and EYT
- Service determination actions
- Foreign employees and social security agreements
- Buying back periods abroad
- Invalidity pensions
- Survivors' pensions and overpayments
- SGK administrative fines
Frequently asked questions about social security in Turkey
Do foreign employees in Turkey pay social security contributions?
As a rule, yes. Foreign nationals working in Turkey under a work permit are insured in the same way as Turkish employees. An employee temporarily posted from a country with which Turkey has a social security agreement may remain insured at home, depending on the agreement.
Do my years of work abroad count towards a Turkish pension?
They may. Turkish citizens and Blue Card holders can buy back periods abroad under Law No. 3201, and periods in countries with which Turkey has a social security agreement can be taken into account under that agreement. The better option depends on your situation.
My pension application was rejected. What can I do?
Review the reason and your service record. You can object to the Institution and, if unsuccessful, file an action in the labour court. Missing periods may be completed through a service determination action or buy-back.
Do years I worked without insurance count towards retirement?
Yes, if proven through a service determination action, which must be filed within five years from the end of the year in which the work was performed.
Do I need to apply to the SGK before suing?
Yes. A written application to the Institution is mandatory before suing; if there is no response within 60 days, the request is deemed rejected. Service determination actions are the exception.
Who can retire under EYT?
Law No. 7438 abolished the age requirement for those first insured before 8 September 1999. They must still meet the required length of insurance and premium days.
The SGK is reclaiming a pension paid years ago. Do I have to pay?
It depends on why the overpayment occurred; the beneficiary's fault and the Institution's error lead to different results (Law No. 5510, Art. 96). Object to the debt notice in time.
How do I challenge an SGK administrative fine?
File an objection with the provincial social security directorate within 15 days of notification; if rejected, sue in the labour court within 30 days of notification of the rejection.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer about your specific situation. Legislation and court practice change over time, so check the current legislation before taking any step. Last updated: 14 October 2026