Students who come to Germany from Turkey to study usually have to be health insured in Germany. This guide explains whether the student health insurance (studentische Krankenversicherung, KVdS) applies, what role the social security agreement with Turkey plays, and when private cover can be an option.
Short answer: Students from Turkey are in most cases obliged to have health insurance in Germany, normally through the student health insurance (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V). A social security agreement with Turkey can affect the position, but it requires a form from your home insurance. Your residence permit also sets limits on part-time work. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- Compulsory insurance for students at a state or recognised university applies regardless of nationality, up to the age of 30 (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V).
- You must show proof of health insurance when you enrol. The statutory health insurer reports your status electronically to the university.
- Turkey is one of the countries with which Germany has a social security agreement. Whether your home insurance is recognised depends on that agreement.
- Private cover is only possible if you are exempted under § 8 SGB V. The application must be made within three months.
- A residence permit for study allows employment of up to 140 working days per year (§ 16b para. 3 AufenthG).
Do I Have to Be Insured in Germany as a Student From Turkey?
According to Barmer, most students from non-EU countries are obliged to have health insurance in Germany. Proof of insurance status is required when you enrol, and the statutory health insurer confirms this to the university. Without that proof, enrolment is generally not possible.
The obligation for students depends on the university and your age, not on your nationality. It ends at the close of the semester in which you turn 30 (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V). What happens afterwards is explained in the German guide Studentische KV nach dem 30. Geburtstag: Was sich ändert (in German).
The Social Security Agreement With Turkey
Germany has a social security agreement with Turkey. It sets out when insurance periods or benefits from the home country are taken into account. For students, the key question is whether the Turkish health insurance is recognised in Germany. That is decided under the agreement in the context of your individual case, not by the university.
According to Barmer, proof requires a form from the home country. For Turkey, the insurer names form A/T 11. The form is sent to a statutory health insurer, which reports your status to the university. Ask your health insurer which documents it needs in your case.
| Question | What you should clarify | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Is the Turkish insurance recognised? | Whether the social security agreement applies to your situation | Statutory health insurer |
| Which form do you need? | Home-country form; for Turkey, per Barmer, A/T 11 | Statutory health insurer |
| When must you show proof? | At enrolment at the university | Student administration of the university |
Student Health Insurance or Private Cover?
For most students the student health insurance is the standard solution. If you are obliged to be insured, you are placed there unless another rule applies. Private cover is only possible through exemption under § 8 SGB V. The exemption must be applied for within three months of the start of the compulsory insurance (§ 8 para. 2 SGB V).
By law, the exemption cannot be revoked and only takes effect if you prove other cover for illness (§ 8 para. 2 SGB V). Further conditions are explained in the German guide PKV für internationale Studenten in Deutschland (in German).
What Does Student Health Insurance Cost?
Contributions do not depend on nationality. The basis is one thirtieth of the BAföG requirement for students who do not live with their parents (§ 236 SGB V). For 2026 this gives a contribution base of 855 euros per month. At a rate of 10.22 percent, the health insurance contribution without the supplementary contribution is 87.38 euros, plus the supplementary contribution of your fund. The average supplementary contribution for 2026 is 2.9 percent. Including long-term care insurance without the childless surcharge, the total is about 143 euros per month.
| Component (2026, assumption) | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Health insurance without supplementary contribution | 87.38 euros |
| Supplementary contribution at the average rate (2.9 percent) | 24.80 euros |
| Long-term care insurance without childless surcharge | 30.78 euros |
| Total without childless surcharge | 142.96 euros |
The figures come from the GKV-Spitzenverband calculation fact sheet for 2026. They apply only if you do not live with your parents and meet the conditions for compulsory insurance. A comparison with private cover should include benefits, deductibles and how premiums develop over time.
Working Alongside Your Studies With a Residence Permit
Students from non-EU countries are also subject to the rules of residence law. A residence permit for study allows employment of up to 140 working days per year in total (§ 16b para. 3 AufenthG). Student part-time work is not counted against this limit under the law.
How this affects your contributions depends on the type and scope of the work. According to Barmer, the working student privilege, under which in many cases no health, long-term care or unemployment contributions are due, can apply up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period. Each case still needs to be checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study in Germany with Turkish health cover?
That depends on whether the cover is recognised under the social security agreement or through an exemption. Without proof of recognised cover, enrolment can fail. Clarify this point before you travel.
Do I have to apply for an exemption from student insurance?
No, the exemption is an option, not an obligation. If you want to use it, you must apply within three months (§ 8 para. 2 SGB V). If you miss the deadline, you stay in the student health insurance.
What applies to family members who come with me?
Family members need their own cover. Whether they can be insured through you depends on the conditions of § 10 SGB V and on residence law. Your health insurer checks this on the basis of the documents.
Where can I get a binding answer?
Binding information comes from your statutory health insurer, the university and the responsible immigration office. For questions about the visa, contact the German diplomatic mission in Turkey.
What You Should Do Now
- Ask a statutory health insurer whether your Turkish insurance is recognised and which form is needed.
- Ask the university which proof it requires at enrolment.
- Check whether an exemption under § 8 SGB V is an option for you and note the three-month deadline.
- Clarify the limits on part-time work with your visa or residence permit before you start.
- Arrange your cover before enrolment so that no gap arises.
Related Guides
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Public or Private Health Insurance for International Students
- Health insurance for students with a disability
- Health insurance abroad as a student (in German)
Sources: § 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); § 8 SGB V, exemption (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); § 16b AufenthG, study (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution calculation (status 1 January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
