Social Security and Retirement for Turkish Expats

Turkish expats living and working abroad may apply for retirement if they meet the eligibility requirements. Turkish residency is not a requirement during the initial application process, even though, it becomes mandatory in order receive pension payments. In order to benefit from this option, applicants will need to make contribution payments in order to receive their pension.

The retroactive payment due date is significant in determining the contribution amount owed. In this respect, for applicants applying between 01/01/2015 and 30/06/2015, the daily amount of 12,82 TL will apply. For applicants applying between 01/07/2015 to 31/12/2015, the amount will be 13,58 TL.

The eligibility requirements for expats living abroad are:

- To be a Turkish Citizen, or

- To hold a valid blue card, including the blue card holders who lost Turkish citizenship due to other country's ban on double nationality,

It is not possible to make contribution payments for the entire time spent abroad. Time during which the applicant was insured under the foreign country's regulations; time spent as housewife and one year prior and after the said durations are acceptable for contribution.

If the applicants were not priorly insured in Türkiye, they will be registered under the 4/B (aka Bağkur) system by default. On the other hand, applicants who were priorly insured under 4/A will be at an advante since they will be entitled to retirement under 4/A.

In sum, applicants making on or after 01/07/2015 will be subject to an additional payment of 4.104 TL.