In the past, Turkish citizens who worked abroad for long periods—or who still work abroad—could not secure retirement rights or social security in Turkey even if they permanently returned. Because social security contributions were paid to the foreign country’s institution, those periods were not recorded with Turkey’s social security system (SSK). However, a subsequent law change now allows Turkish citizens to purchase (“buy back”) all or part of their foreign working periods and pay the equivalent SSK contributions to qualify for retirement. In this article we examine which countries’ social security records are accepted by Turkey for SSK credit.
Although this right was initially granted only to Turkish citizens, a large number of successful legal cases brought against the Social Security Institution led to an important amendment. With the omnibus law enacted in September 2014, the requirement of current Turkish citizenship for foreign-service buyback was removed. Now persons who were Turkish at birth but later renounced citizenship voluntarily—holders of the “blue card”—also qualify for foreign-service buyback.
How is foreign-service SSK entry performed?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to make regular SSK contributions in Turkey while working abroad as if you were employed domestically. When you work in another country, you are subject to that country’s labor laws and social security system, so your insurance payments are made there. Under the new law, however, you can buy back periods worked abroad, as well as one unemployment period of up to one year between two jobs and periods during which you were a homemaker, by paying contributions to SSK. Once you have paid the required contributions, you will acquire retirement rights, access to health coverage, and other social benefits as if you had contributed in Turkey.
There are three main eligibility criteria for foreign-service buyback. First, you must be a current Turkish citizen or a blue-card holder. Second, you must have worked abroad and be able to document those working periods with the required official documents listed below. Third, you must be over 18 years old. If you meet these conditions, you can apply to SSK for foreign-service buyback.
Applications for foreign-service buyback must be submitted in person to the provincial Social Security Institution (SGK) directorate where you reside, together with the required documents listed below. The application must be filed by the applicant personally—applications sent by mail or submitted by an authorized representative are not accepted.
Documents Required for Foreign-Service Buyback
- Foreign-Service Buyback Request Petition (available from any SGK Provincial Directorate)
- All service records or insurance cards issued by the foreign country’s social security institution
- Document from the foreign country’s tax office confirming the periods worked
- A service certificate issued by a Turkish consulate, labor and social security attaché, or other Turkish representation in the foreign country, indicating the periods to be used for the buyback
Which countries’ SSK records are accepted?
The ability to count foreign working periods toward Turkish retirement depends on bilateral social security agreements signed between Turkey and other countries. Therefore, for a foreign working period to be accepted by SSK, the country where you worked must have a social security agreement with Turkey. Currently, Turkey has signed bilateral social security agreements with 23 countries.
In short, if you have worked or are working in any of the countries listed below that have bilateral social security agreements with Turkey, your foreign social security entry will be accepted in Turkey and you can qualify for retirement. The countries whose social security records are accepted by Turkey are:
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- Switzerland
- France
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Libya
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- North Macedonia
- Azerbaijan
- Romania
- Georgia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Canada
- Quebec
- Czech Republic
- Albania
- Luxembourg
- Croatia
Unfortunately, periods worked in countries not listed above are not accepted for SSK credit, and only insured work periods completed in Turkey will count toward retirement.
Foreign-Service Buyback Request Form
If you need the official foreign-service buyback request form, obtain it from your local SGK provincial directorate. (Note: The original article referenced a downloadable form on the SGK website; please request the form directly from SGK if required.)