How to retire with voluntary insurance — in short: a person who enrolls in voluntary insurance in 2026 can gain the right to retire by applying to SGK and paying premiums; however, these paid periods are generally evaluated under Article 4/1-b (4/b). Therefore, retirement conditions in most cases are calculated according to the Bağ-Kur status. Retirement is not possible without submitting an application, paying premiums regularly and completing the required age and premium days.
According to the SGK information published for 2026, the following people can apply for voluntary insurance: those who have reached age 18, those who do not have employment that requires compulsory insurance under the law, those who work fewer than 30 days in a month, and those who do not receive old-age or disability pension due to their own insured status. After application, insurance coverage starts from the day following the date the application is recorded by the Institution.
What Is Voluntary Insurance?
Voluntary insurance allows a person who is not employed full time by an employer to join the social security system by paying their own contributions. From the SGK perspective, this structure lets individuals accumulate days toward retirement. According to the 2026 SGK notice, premiums paid under this arrangement for those first enrolled as voluntary insured after 01.10.2008 are considered as Article 4/1-b of Law 5510, that is, 4/b insured periods.
This distinction is important. Many people think of voluntary insurance as “paying SSK from home.” The general rule today is that voluntary premiums are counted under the Bağ-Kur status, and that directly affects retirement calculations.
Who Can Be Voluntarily Insured in 2026?
According to the updated SGK statement for 2026, the following groups may apply for voluntary insurance:
- Those aged 18 and over.
- Those not working in a way that requires compulsory insurance under Law 5510.
- People who, even if they work as insured employees, work less than 30 days in a month or are not full-time.
- Those who do not receive an old-age or disability pension due to their own insured status.
- Residents of Turkey and Turkish citizens living in countries without a social security agreement under certain conditions.
Housewives, freelancers, people who have taken a break from work, part-time workers and those whose active insurance has ended are among the groups that most commonly consider voluntary insurance.
How to Apply for Voluntary Insurance?
According to the SGK information for 2026, first-time voluntary insured persons can apply to the provincial social security directorate or social security center with the “Voluntary Insurance Entry Declaration”. Applications can also be submitted online via e-Devlet. Those who were previously voluntary insured and want to restart may be able to use a written request.
An important point at application is the effective start date. Voluntary insurance does not begin on the application day but from the day following the date the application is recorded by the SGK. Even a delay of a few days can affect total service time for those planning retirement.
What Is the Voluntary Insurance Premium in 2026?
Per SGK’s 2026 announcement, the voluntary insurance premium is calculated on the declared earnings between the lower and upper daily earnings bases. The voluntary insurance premium rate in 2026 is applied at 33%. Of this, 21% is the contribution for disability, old-age and survivor insurance, and 12% is the general health insurance premium. SGK announced the monthly minimum voluntary premium for those declaring the minimum base as 10,899.90 TL. The 2026 monthly lower earnings base is 33,030 TL and the upper base is 297,270 TL. Based on this upper limit, the monthly maximum voluntary premium is approximately 98,099.10 TL.
2026 Premium Table
| Item | 2026 Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Premium rate | 33% |
| MYÖ premium share | 21% |
| GSS premium share | 12% |
| Monthly lower earnings base | 33,030 TL |
| Monthly upper earnings base | 297,270 TL |
| Minimum monthly voluntary premium | 10,899.90 TL |
| Maximum monthly voluntary premium | 98,099.10 TL |
Within What Time Must Premiums Be Paid?
According to SGK’s 2026 statement, if the premium for the month is not paid within 12 months, the opportunity to pay for that month ends and the unpaid month is not counted as service. Irregular payment is one of the biggest risks that directly undermines a retirement plan for voluntary insurance holders.
A common mistake for those who pay intermittently is believing that coverage continues when some months do not convert to recognized service. To avoid surprises of missing days at retirement application, it is essential to track payments regularly.
According to What Are Retirement Conditions Determined in Voluntary Insurance?
The key issue for retirement from voluntary insurance is which status those periods are counted under. SGK states that voluntary periods paid after 01.10.2008 are considered 4/b insured periods. Therefore, retirement conditions are largely determined according to 4/b old-age pension rules.
SGK’s 4/b information page clearly explains that conditions for granting an old-age pension vary based on the date of first insurance. There is no single age and day calculation that applies to everyone; the first insurance registration date determines which legal provisions apply.
Basic Logic
In voluntary retirement, generally three elements are evaluated together:
- First insurance start date.
- Total number of premium days.
- Age requirement according to the applicable status.
Conditions for Those Insured After April 30, 2008
According to SGK’s 4/b page, the provisions of Law 5510 apply to those who became insured after 30.04.2008. Accordingly, until 2036, the condition is 9,000 days of premium payments together with an age requirement of 58 for women and 60 for men. SGK also states that after 2036 the required age will gradually increase depending on the date when the 9,000 days are completed.
Therefore, for a person who begins voluntary insurance for the first time in 2026 and builds their retirement plan entirely on this status, the main framework is generally 9,000 days + age condition. This explains why voluntary insurance is a long-term retirement strategy rather than a short-term one.
Main Table for Post-30.04.2008 Entries
| Insured Status | Premium Days | Age Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 9,000 days | 58 |
| Male | 9,000 days | 60 |
This table summarizes the basic framework SGK indicated is valid until 2036.
Those First Insured Between September 8, 1999 and April 30, 2008
For 4/b insured persons whose first insurance date is between 08.09.1999 and 30.04.2008, SGK provides two main options for old-age pension eligibility:
- Women 58, men 60 + 25 full years of contributions, or
- Women 60, men 62 + at least 15 full years of contributions.
The term “full year” refers to contribution payment periods within the 4/b system. For those with older insurance start dates, voluntary payments are evaluated together with prior service periods.
Why Are Those with Entry Before September 8, 1999 Calculated Differently?
SGK’s 4/b information notes that for those with insurance start dates before 08.09.1999, vested rights and transitional provisions come into play. After Law No. 7438, some age conditions were removed, so results for older entrants can differ from newer entrants. SGK expressly states that evaluations for this group may be based on 20 full years for women and 25 full years for men.
Therefore, for someone with prior SSK or Bağ-Kur history, the question “how many years of voluntary payments do I need to retire?” cannot be answered solely by looking at the current payment plan. The original registration date and accumulated days must be reviewed together. SGK’s “When Can I Retire (4B)” application is useful for this reason; it provides an informational calculation based on entered data while noting that the Institution’s records govern official transactions.
How Does Voluntary Insurance End?
According to SGK’s 2026 statement, voluntary insurance ends in the following cases:
- If the person requests termination, it ends from the day following the last paid premium day.
- If the person applies for a retirement pension and is deemed eligible, it ends from the date of application, provided pension entitlement exists.
- In the event of the insured person’s death, it ends from the date of death.
These termination conditions are particularly important before applying for retirement. Once a person transitions to pension receipt, the voluntary insurance status no longer continues for premium payments.
Practical Roadmap to Retire via Voluntary Insurance
Obtain Your Service Statement
First, review your full service statement on e-Devlet. Your first insurance start date, how many days you have in each status and any missing periods should be clearly identified.
Understand 4/b Status Correctly
Since voluntary premiums are treated as 4/b in the 2026 SGK practice, structure your plan accordingly. Treating it as if it were SSK can cause significant time loss.
Set a Realistic Premium Amount
Paying the minimum reduces monthly cost but requires long-term disciplined payments. With the 2026 minimum monthly amount at 10,899.90 TL, the annual total becomes substantial.
Do Not Delay Premium Payments
Months whose premiums are not paid within 12 months are not counted as service, so keep a strict payment schedule.
Check 4B Retirement Calculations Before Applying
SGK’s “When Can I Retire (4B)” tool is not an official document but provides a useful preliminary check for age and day planning.
In 2026 it is possible to retire with voluntary insurance, but the system’s underlying rules must be understood. Applying and paying premiums alone is not enough. As voluntary contributions are generally counted under 4/b, retirement calculations follow that framework. For entries after 30.04.2008, the main requirement is typically 9,000 days plus the age condition; for older entries different provisions apply based on the initial registration date. The 2026 premium rate is 33% and the minimum monthly payment is 10,899.90 TL. If premiums are not paid within 12 months, those months are not counted as service. Thus, voluntary retirement requires planned, consistent execution rather than ad hoc payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is voluntary insurance considered SSK or Bağ-Kur?
Periods paid voluntarily after 01.10.2008 are accepted by SGK as 4/b. Therefore, retirement calculations are mostly carried out according to Bağ-Kur conditions.
What is the minimum voluntary insurance premium in 2026?
According to SGK’s 2026 announcement, the monthly minimum voluntary premium for those who declare the lower base is 10,899.90 TL.
Who can apply for voluntary insurance?
Those who have reached 18, those not employed in work requiring compulsory insurance, those working fewer than 30 days a month, and those not receiving old-age or disability pensions due to their own insured status can apply.
What happens if a premium is paid late?
If the premium for its month is not paid within 12 months, the right to pay for that month is lost and that month is not counted as service.
Is the retirement age same for everyone in voluntary insurance?
No. Retirement conditions vary according to the individual’s first insurance start date. Transitional provisions apply for older entries, while 4/b conditions under Law 5510 apply to newer entries.