Turkish citizens residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may become eligible for retirement benefits in Turkey by buying back (i.e., crediting) their time spent abroad—either as insured employees or as housewives. To apply for this crediting process, these conditions must be met.
1. Crediting Overseas Work Periods Toward Turkish Retirement
Turkish citizens residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may become eligible for retirement benefits in Turkey by buying back (i.e., crediting) their time spent abroad—either as insured employees or as housewives. To apply for this crediting process, the following conditions must be met:
Turkish Citizenship: The applicant must be a Turkish citizen at the time of application or a former citizen who left Turkish nationality with official permission (i.e., Blue Card holders).
Proof of Time Abroad: Men must provide documents proving periods of insured employment in the UAE, while for women, proof of residence is generally sufficient.
Written Application: A formal written request must be submitted to the Social Security Institution (SGK) in Turkey.
2. Periods Eligible for Crediting
The following periods can be credited toward retirement for Turkish citizens living in the UAE:
Insured Employment: Periods of official, documented employment in the UAE.
Time as a Housewife: Periods during which women resided in the UAE without formal employment, as full-time homemakers.
3. Voluntary Insurance and Residency Requirement
In general, voluntary insurance in Turkey requires that the individual resides in Turkey. However, Turkish citizens living in countries without a social security agreement with Turkey—such as the UAE—may still enroll in voluntary insurance programs, despite residing abroad.
4. Applying for Retirement & Required Documents
To receive retirement benefits from Turkey, Turkish citizens residing in the UAE must apply to the SGK. The following documents are typically required:
Documents showing periods of work or residence abroad
A copy of the passport
A copy of the national ID card
A signed petition for the crediting request
Once the application is submitted, SGK calculates the total debt amount to be paid for the credited periods. This amount must be paid within the specified deadline—either as a lump sum or in installments.
5. Continuing to Work in the UAE After Receiving a Turkish Pension
If a person continues to work in the UAE after being granted a retirement pension from Turkey, their Turkish pension payments will be suspended. Therefore, those planning to work in the UAE while receiving a pension should consider this rule carefully. However, if the individual is residing in the UAE without a work permit—i.e., holding only a residence permit—their Turkish pension payments will not be affected.
6. Dual Retirement and Social Security Agreements
Turkey does not have a bilateral social security agreement with the UAE. As a result, employment periods in the UAE cannot be directly transferred to the Turkish retirement system. However, individuals may buy back these periods through the crediting process, making them count as if they had been insured in Turkey, by paying the necessary contributions.
Conclusion
Turkish citizens living in the UAE can obtain retirement rights in Turkey through options like foreign service crediting and voluntary insurance. Each option involves specific requirements and procedures. Therefore, seeking professional legal guidance is crucial to identifying the most suitable route based on each individual’s circumstances.
