The Era of the Accompanying Person/Dependent Document in Foreign Nationals' Health Activation Procedures

Following the Regulation Amending the Temporary Protection Regulation, published in the Official Gazette No. 33091 dated 28 November 2025, important changes have been introduced in practice regarding the documents required for the health activation procedures of foreign nationals.

In this context, where family relationship or the dependent relationship cannot be established through other documents, the "Applicant and Accompanying Person Information (Accompanying Person/Dependent) Document" issued by the Presidency of Migration Management has also been included among the documents that may be used in health activation procedures.

For foreign nationals residing in Türkiye within the scope of the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, the foreigner identification number must first be determined for health activation procedures.

This practice is particularly important for persons under temporary protection, as well as persons who are applicants for or beneficiaries of international protection, refugees, stateless persons, and other foreign nationals residing in Türkiye within the scope of the relevant legislation. Following the determination of the foreigner identification number, family relationship must be established, particularly for the health activation of dependents.

Where it is requested that the foreign national's mother or father benefit from health coverage as a dependent, in addition to documents demonstrating the family relationship, a residence permit document will also be required. However, if the duration of the residence permit can be viewed in the Health Provision Activation System (SPAS), there will be no need to submit the physical residence permit document separately.

When assessing the duration of a foreign national's residence permit for health activation purposes, the records in the Health Provision Activation System (SPAS) will be taken as the basis. If the residence permit period is visible in SPAS, the person will not be additionally required to provide a physical residence permit document.

On the other hand, residence permit periods shown in the Civil Registration and Nationality Affairs Information System (KPS) will not, by themselves, be taken as the basis for determining the duration of the residence permit.

A residence permit document will not be required for persons who have exited Turkish citizenship by obtaining permission pursuant to Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, as well as for citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The following order of priority is important in determining whether foreign nationals qualify as dependents for health activation procedures:

1. The foreigner identification number is determined.
2. The family relationship is examined.
3. The family relationship may be established through:
• An identity document,
• Passport,
• Driver's licence,
• Marriage certificate, or
• A document issued by a consulate evidencing the family relationship.
4. If these documents cannot be obtained, the Applicant and Accompanying Person Information (Accompanying Person/Dependent) Document issued by the Presidency of Migration Management may be used.
5. If activation of the mother or father as a dependent is requested, the necessary checks regarding the residence permit must also be carried out.
6. If the residence permit period is visible in SPAS, the physical residence permit document is not additionally required.
7. If there is a discrepancy between the SPAS and KPS records, the period recorded in SPAS will be taken as the basis for health activation purposes.

You can access the announcement regarding the amendment to Circular No. 2017/26 here. (In Turkish)