Your acceptance letter has arrived and your learning agreement is signed. Now come the visa, the permit and the practical preparations. Health insurance is often the last thing on the list, yet it is one of the most asked-about documents. This guide covers both directions: students coming to Türkiye and students leaving Türkiye for an exchange.
Coming to Türkiye on Erasmus+
If you are coming to a Turkish university and will stay longer than 90 days, you will apply for a student residence permit. This application requires valid health insurance covering your permit period.
A few things to know:
- Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not accepted in Türkiye. Türkiye is not part of the EHIC system, so you need another form of cover for your permit and your stay.
- You may have more than one option. Besides private health insurance, registering with Turkish general health insurance (GSS) may be possible in some cases. Your host university's international office can tell you which option suits your situation.
- Dates matter. If you choose a private policy, its dates should match your residence permit application. We explain this in detail in our guide to health insurance for a Turkish residence permit.
Leaving Türkiye for an exchange
Students going abroad from Türkiye cannot use the EHIC either, so they need private travel health insurance covering the exchange period. The requirement can come from three places:
- The visa application: for Schengen countries, consulates ask for insurance covering your whole stay with at least €30,000 coverage. Requirements for long-stay national visas differ from country to country.
- The host university: many universities ask for proof of insurance at enrolment. Some countries, such as Germany, may require a policy accepted by their own health insurance system for university registration.
- Your home university: your international office may ask for a copy of the insurance certificate before you leave.
Setting the policy term
The policy should cover every day from your arrival in the host country until your return. Exchange periods often run a little longer than the academic calendar: orientation week, exams and moving out can add a few weeks. If your return date is not fixed, leaving some margin saves you from rushing to extend at the end of the semester.
If your stay is extended, contact us before your policy expires to renew it or update the dates.
Traineeships need a little more
If you are going on an Erasmus+ traineeship, you may also be asked for accident and liability cover, for accidents at the workplace and damage to third parties. Your learning agreement usually states whether this is your responsibility, your university's or the host organisation's. Check it before your traineeship starts.
Checklist
- Have you read the insurance requirements of the host university and the visa centre or migration office?
- Does the policy cover every day from arrival to departure?
- If you are going to a Schengen country, is the coverage at least €30,000 and valid across the whole area?
- If you are doing a traineeship, do you need accident and liability cover?
- Do the name and passport number on the policy match your passport?
Requirements vary by country, university and visa type. Always rely on the current information from your host university and the relevant authorities.