Voluntary insurance allows people to become insured by paying voluntary premiums, making it easier to maintain social security coverage and qualify for retirement later. However, special attention must be paid to the 3.5-year rule regarding voluntary insurance.
What to Watch for with Voluntary Insurance
Voluntary insurance refers to registering with the Social Security Institution (SGK) and paying premiums from outside employment by personal choice. It covers those who are not working, homemakers, students, and part-time workers. Voluntary insurance, which enables people to continue their social security and complete missing days to reach a full 30 days per month, is available to both Turkish citizens and those living abroad.
In general, the following conditions apply for voluntary insurance:
- Being at least 18 years old,
- Not being covered by compulsory insurance, i.e. not working under 4A (employees),
- If working under 4A, working less than 30 days in the month — excluding leave days,
- Not receiving a monthly benefit due to their own insurance records,
- Submitting a written notification to SGK.
Those applying for voluntary insurance for the first time must submit the “Voluntary Insurance Entry Declaration” form to SGK through the e‑Government portal.
Method of Insurance for Those Not Working
When applying for voluntary insurance, the insurance period begins on the date of application and is treated under the same provisions as 4A, 4B, and 4C, as well as the provisional 20th article of Law No. 506 where applicable.
An exception is that those insured under 4A who work less than 30 days in a month, or who do not work full days and therefore have fewer than 30 days in the month, can pay voluntary premiums to make up their missing days and complete the month to 30 days.
The voluntary insurance premium is calculated as 32% of the monthly earnings declared in writing by the insured, between the lower and upper limits of earnings subject to premiums. Of this premium, 20% is allocated to disability, old-age, and survivor insurance, and 12% is allocated to general health insurance.
For Turkish workers employed abroad in countries that do not have a social security agreement with Turkey, or for those working at foreign workplaces where the employer covers contributions, no general health insurance premium is collected for voluntary insured persons; therefore, their premium rate is set at 20%.
Those whose total working days in a month are kept below 30 days, those working under part-time contracts who complete their month to 30 days, or those who choose to do so also receive a 3% support for unemployment insurance premiums.
It is important to pay voluntary insurance premiums by the end of the following month. If premiums are not paid within 12 months from the related month, neither the person nor their beneficiaries can later have unpaid periods counted as service; amounts due will be subject to penalties and late interest, and unpaid periods are not evaluated as service until settled.
Pay Attention to the 3.5-Year Rule
An important point is the 3.5-year rule. Prior to October 1, 2008, voluntary premium payments could be made under both 4A and Bağ-Kur (self‑employed) schemes. However, from October 1, 2008 onward, the voluntary insurance status is considered only within the Bağ‑Kur framework.
Therefore, those who plan to retire under SSK (4A) conditions or who wish to receive an SSK pension through voluntary contributions must take this change into account. If, within the last seven years (the last 2,520 days) there are 1,260 days (3.5 years) or more of voluntary insurance premium payments, it may be possible for those insured to retire under the Bağ‑Kur scheme.