It is possible to receive pension payments from both Turkey and a foreign country. Even people who worked abroad but did not acquire a pension there can become eligible for a Turkish pension. Those who want to be retired from both Turkey and abroad must apply to the Social Security Institution (SGK) and complete an overseas service debt payment (yurtdışı borçlanması). With this debt payment, periods spent working or residing abroad can be counted toward Turkish retirement, provided the required conditions are met. Applicants who qualify and pay the overseas debt can start receiving a pension from Turkey.
Who Can Benefit from Both Turkish and Foreign Pensions?
The primary requirement to receive pensions from both Turkey and abroad is Turkish citizenship. Dual nationals who hold Turkish citizenship can also use this right. Periods after the age of 18 can be credited toward Turkish retirement. Men can credit periods worked after age 18 and periods of unemployment up to one year by means of debt payment.
Women may count periods spent abroad toward retirement even if they did not work after age 18. Debt payment is possible only for periods during which the person was a Turkish citizen. In other words, only periods after turning 18 and while holding Turkish citizenship can be credited for retirement. Broadly, people who work abroad and later retire fall into two groups.
The first group consists of those who had social security coverage in Turkey and later went abroad to work or were homemakers. The second group includes those who had no social security in Turkey before going abroad and then worked or retired. People in both groups may be eligible to receive pensions from abroad and from Turkey. Turkish citizens who worked abroad must complete overseas debt payment to have their foreign periods counted in Turkey.
What Is Overseas Debt Payment (Yurtdışı Borçlanması)?
Overseas service debt payment is a procedure that allows periods spent abroad to be counted as insured service time in Turkey. The qualities and rules for this debt payment are set by Law No. 3201, “On the Evaluation of Periods Spent Abroad by Turkish Citizens for Social Security Purposes.” Under this legislation, Turkish citizens may credit periods spent abroad by paying the relevant debt so they can qualify for retirement from Turkish social security institutions.
Which Periods Spent Abroad Can Be Counted?
To have foreign periods counted toward retirement, the person must be a Turkish citizen. Those who were Turkish by birth but later lost citizenship with permission may, for periods after age 18;
- Count periods they worked as insured employees,
- Include gaps in insured employment or concluding periods each up to one year in length,
- Have time spent as a homemaker abroad counted toward retirement through overseas debt payment.
What Are the Conditions for Overseas Debt Payment?
The main condition for overseas debt payment is Turkish citizenship. Those who are Turkish citizens, or who were Turkish by birth and later reacquired citizenship with permission, can make overseas debt payments to qualify for retirement in Turkey. Debt payment can be made to count periods for retirement, disability, old-age, and survivors’ benefit evaluations.
Applicants must be Turkish citizens both at the times they claim the periods and at the time of application. A written petition is required to initiate the debt payment process. Those who meet these conditions can pay to credit periods they worked or spent as homemakers abroad and become eligible for a Turkish pension.
How to Apply for Overseas Debt Payment?
To apply for overseas service debt payment, applicants must submit a written petition to the Social Security Institution. The debt payment petition is available from provincial SGK directorates and SGK centers, and other written petitions can be accepted if they contain the required information. If the petition is incomplete, SGK will request completion by having the applicant fill out the “Overseas Service Debt Payment Request Petition.” Example petition templates related to being retired from both Turkey and abroad can be downloaded from the SGK website.
What Documents Are Required for Overseas Debt Payment?
Applications must include the Overseas Service Debt Payment Request Petition along with documents proving the periods spent abroad. In addition to the petition, service records from abroad that document the applicant’s foreign employment or residence are required.
Documents required from countries that have a social security agreement with Turkey;
- A service statement or insurance record issued by the foreign country’s social security institution,
- A service document from the relevant tax office or professional organization in that country,
- Appropriate documents issued by Turkish representations in that country that demonstrate the nature of the foreign service for use in the debt payment process.
Documents required from countries without a social security agreement;
- Service documents obtained from Turkish consulates in the country of residence to be used for debt payment,
- Work termination certificates (bonservis) from employers abroad and translations of residence or work permits found in passports.
Can Homemakers Living Abroad Retire in Turkey?
Homemakers living abroad can retire in Turkey. They do not need to have worked previously or have prior insurance records to benefit from this right. By paying overseas debt for the periods they resided abroad, homemakers can use this option. The criteria for homemakers who wish to retire through overseas debt payment are:
- Being at least 18 years old,
- Not working in an insured job abroad or having worked fewer than 30 days,
- Not already receiving a pension from another social security scheme under their own insurance,
- Residing in Turkey at the time of application,
- Documenting the periods lived abroad as a Turkish citizen.
How Are Overseas Debt Periods Evaluated?
The method for determining the period when applying for overseas retirement varies according to the applicant’s situation. If the petition specifies the period to be credited, that period is assessed. If not specified, written records and available documentation are used to calculate the days to be credited and the amount the applicant must pay.
If the applicant already has an SGK registration, the foreign periods will be added to existing contribution days. If the foreign residence occurred before any Turkish insurance registration, the start date of insurance will be set as the first day of that foreign residence. If there was no prior SGK registration, the insurance record will be backdated to the amount of time for which debt payment was made.
How Is Overseas Debt Payment Made?
Overseas service debt payments are made in Turkish Lira. Payment must be made in a single lump sum within three months from the date the payment notice is issued. If payment is not completed within three months, the application will be canceled. A canceled application does not cause the applicant to lose the right to Turkish retirement; they may reapply. Because the calculation is based on the minimum wage in effect at the time of debt payment, the amount payable will increase according to changes in the minimum wage.
Countries with Social Security Agreements with Turkey
Turkey has social security agreements with 23 countries. These include Germany, Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Georgia, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (K.K.T.C.), Canada, Quebec, Libya, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Norway, Romania, and Serbia. For countries with agreements, the date of starting employment abroad is accepted as the first employment date for Turkish purposes.
This recognition can enable earlier retirement for those who worked abroad. For Turkish citizens employed in agreement countries, their first employment date abroad is treated as their initial employment date in Turkey as well. This is especially beneficial for individuals who never had Turkish insurance but worked abroad, as well as for those who had Turkish insurance but whose foreign insurance began earlier. In such cases, counting foreign service can reduce the required number of contribution days in Turkey and may lower the age requirement for retirement.